Unregistered Farm Vehicles (Farm Use)

Unregistered Vehicle Conditions

Beginning July 1, 2024, unregistered farm use panel trucks, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles must display a DMV-issued permanent farm use placard. Previously, an unofficial farm use tag, not issued by DMV, was sufficient.

A DMV-issued farm placard will be required for unregistered farm use panel trucks, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles:

  1. Used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the vehicle's owner, and not operated on or over any public highway for any purpose other than:
    • Crossing a highway
    • Operating along a highway for a distance of no more than 75 miles from one part of the owner's land to another, regardless of whether the tracts adjoin
    • Taking the vehicle or attached fixtures to and from a repair shop for repairs
    • Taking another vehicle exempt from registration or any part or subcomponent of such a vehicle, to or from a repair shop for repairs, including return trips
    • Operating along a highway to and from a refuse disposal facility for the purpose of disposing of trash generated on a farm and incidental refuse from the farmer's or his employee's home
    • Operating along a highway for a distance of no more than 75 miles for the purpose of obtaining supplies for agricultural or horticultural purposes, seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, or animal feed
    • Transporting the vehicle owner between their residence and the land being used for agricultural or horticultural purposes.
  2. Used by the farm owner or lessee on a seasonal basis in transporting farm produce and livestock along public highways for a distance of no more than 75 miles or to a storage house, packing plant or market.
  3. Owned by a farm owner when the vehicle is operated or moved along a highway for no more than 75 miles between a sawmill or sawmill site and their farm to transport sawdust, wood shavings, slab wood and other wood wastes.
  4. Or fertilizer spreader drawn by a farm tractor, used by a farmer, their tenant, agent or employee or a cotton ginner, peanut buyer, or fertilizer distributor to transport unginned cotton, peanuts or fertilizer owned by the farmer, cotton ginner, peanut buyer or fertilizer distributor from one farm to another, from farm to gin, from farm to dryer, from farm to market, or from fertilizer distributor to farm and on return to the distributor.
  5. Making a return trip from any marketplace, transporting back to a farm ordinary and essential food, including procuring a meal for a farmer or his employees, and other products for home and farm use while engaged in activities stated above, or transporting supplies to the farm.

The DMV-issued permanent farm use placard is nontransferable and is valid for as long as the owner or lessee uses the vehicle exclusively for one of the farm use purposes listed above. It must be returned to the DMV within 30 days of the vehicle being sold or if the vehicle is no longer being used exclusively for one of the purposes listed above.

Cost

The DMV-issued permanent farm use placard costs $15. The application can be mailed in or brought to the DMV nearest you. If you do not already hold the title for the vehicle there will be an additional $15 titling fee.

When the application process is available, be prepared to provide:

  • Your name and DMV customer number/FEIN/SSN
  • Vehicle year, make, model and vehicle identification number
  • Approximate location and acreage of the farm or farms
  • Type of commodity farmed
  • A signed statement that the vehicle is insured and will be used only for authorized purposes

Conditions

A DMV-issued permanent farm use placard will not be required for the following categories of unregistered farm use vehicles:

  1. A vehicle with a securely attached machine for spraying fruit trees and other plants cultivated by the owner or lessee of the vehicle.
  2. Farm machinery or tractor when operated on a highway between one tract of land and another regardless of whether the land is owned by the same person or to and from a repair shop for repairs.
  3. Farm vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 7,500 pounds
  4. Farm trailers and semitrailers

Insurance

Unregistered farm use vehicles must be insured under a general liability policy that includes personal injury liability insurance and property damage liability insurance, under a policy of motor vehicle insurance, or under an umbrella or excess insurance policy pursuant to Virginia Code § 46.2-684.1. Failure to furnish proof of insurance within 30 days when required by a law-enforcement officer is a traffic infraction punishable by a $600 fine. Customers cannot self-insure.

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