Advertisements on Vehicles?

[Dan Brelje]

Don't know where to put this post but thought I would start here. I have a small business, I do not consider any of my vehicles commercial vehicles. Would I be breaking any laws or regulations if I were to put an advertisement for my business on my vehicle? Ex. Dan's Prop Shop, City X, Call for more info: XXX-XXXX.

Do any of you law enforcement or self employed guys have any insight to this? Thanks in advance

[BobT]

Don't know where to put this post but thought I would start here. I have a small business, I do not consider any of my vehicles commercial vehicles. Would I be breaking any laws or regulations if I were to put an advertisement for my business on my vehicle? Ex. Dan's Prop Shop, City X, Call for more info: XXX-XXXX.

Do any of you law enforcement or self employed guys have any insight to this? Thanks in advance

Actually, if you use your vehicle to advertise for your business, the vehicle costs or at least a portion of them, may be a business tax deduction. Check with your tax accountant to find out for sure.

[BoxMN]

I am not sure of this, but buddy who is contractor has his info on his truck. He is then subject to commercial vehicle (truck?) DOT rules. He was stopped because he bypassed a weigh station, or did not have his numbers displayed correctly, or something. It is 3/4 ton pickup. It was also a WI in MN, so not sure if that was issue. He got a warning of some sort. Good luck.

[Brian-Mn]

If you are running a 1/2 ton pick up and not pulling a trailer, go for it. Just understand that MnDot is looking for any reason to write up over weight vehicles and to inspect vehicles under DOT rules. Guys pulling bobcats with 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks have just killed things for others. There is no way they can safely stop them with anything less then a 1 ton pick up.

So to answer your question.........if you are pulling a trailer for work know the regs.

[chad austin]

I would check with your local DMV to find out for sure, I see that you are in Canada and I would assume the laws are completely different.

[3pronghook]

commercial vehicle laws are enforced on gross vehicle weight. Also, if pulling a trailer you must factor the weight of trailer capacity and conmbine the two. I believe the magic number is 10,001 lbs gross vehicle weight. if you want to advertise your business on a vehicle i dont think you need to worry about DOT unless you are over the 10,001 pounds. guy with 3/4 ton pulling a trailer would be over 10,001 and if using for business needs to comply with DOT rules and would be subject to DOT regs.

[Powerstroke]

Advertising is completely legal as long as it doesn't interfere with vehicle lighting and the transparancy of the windows similar to window tint laws.

Outside of that, if you want to ad some words, decals, phone number etc to your car, you most certainly can.

[Macgyver55]

It is legal, and in fact there are companies that will pay you to have their advertising on your vehicle. A buddy of mine was making over 200 a month to have large ads on his cube van. He did however have to have a GPS in the vehicle to assure them that the truck was on the road for a predetermined amount of miles weekly.

[PurpleFloyd]

You can advertise on your vehicle as long as it doesn't interfere with vision or lighting as was stated.

The 10,001 weight limit for DOT is true and it is the total weight and capacity of the truck and trailer combined.

I just had my 3/4 ton Ram and 20' enclosed trailer DOT certified and it was about 150 dollars including the fire extinguisher and reflective triangles that are required and the fire extinguisher sticker on the window.

Actually instead of being a deterrent, I find it a good thing to have the DOT inspection because it certifies that I have a rig that is in proper working condition. The DOT could have a hay day if they would just go around to all of the residential and commercial developments and check the contractors and subs that haven't been certified.

[leech~~]

My in-laws have a very large two rail semi trailer they use for the Drag racing and I ask them why they don't put their company name on the side of it for advertisement and they said because they would get taxed for it?

[Macgyver55]

The DOT could have a hay day if they would just go around to all of the residential and commercial developments and check the contractors and subs that haven't been certified.

I've been certified as a Mn vehicle inspector for many years because of my job. Believe me, if the State doubled the amount of people there still wouldnt be enough inspectors to even come close to keeping up with simply inspecting the ones that are certified let alone the ones that arent. Either way, if they get stopped, they will find out quickly if they are supposed to be or not and go home with a hefty fine if they are.

[Dan Brelje]

Thank you for all the responses.

Purple Floyd, Macgyver- Do you have to carry commercial drivers insurance on your rig? I pull a trailer once in a while but it is mostly for personal use.

[Macgyver55]

I'm not familiar with insurance regs as that is only part of an official State inspection. I do them for private companies.

But, another thing to remember is, if you are using it for commercial use then you need a CDL if you drive:

1. A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.

2. A vehicle towing a unit with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.

3. A vehicle used to . . .(a.) carry 15 or more passengers (excluding the driver), or (b.) carry (15) or less people (including the driver) when carrying children to or from school and home regularly for compensation.

4. A vehicle carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.

[Tom7227]

Your insurance carrier may consider that use as being a business use and that would impact your rates. If you don't declare it with the insurance company they could deny a claim. Be sure to check with your insurance agent and if he/she says that you're OK I would ask for that answer in writing.

[PurpleFloyd]

Thank you for all the responses.

Purple Floyd, Macgyver- Do you have to carry commercial drivers insurance on your rig? I pull a trailer once in a while but it is mostly for personal use.

I have State farm and they have the Truck and trailer insured a business use. I am not sure that the rates are any different.

I do believe there is a difference between whether you are hauling items for your own business Vs. Hauling property for hire by others. The latter I believe requires different insurnce and other things.

I know that when I had my rig DOT'ed they did not require me to have a DOT nuber on my truck or trailer but I was told if I started hauling other peoples things then I would.

maybe Macgyver can clarify that part.

[Macgyver55]

My certification deals mainly with the safety inspections of vehicles. Though I could likely explain them, rather than giving a possibly unclear answer, here is a link to the MNDOT concerning those items. When it comes to this kind of thing I'd rather not be the cause of a fine due to a misunderstanding.

Everything you want to know about DOT regs.

[Powerstroke]

Taxed for what? Sounds like they are skirting proper registration somehow and adding ads would make their little ruse a little harder to prove. Either that or they don't understand the tax laws, because having their trailer be logoed for their business would actually make that trailer a tax writeoff as it would be used for the business.

To the normal person following the laws, adding ads, lettering, decals etc does absolutely nothing to the registration or legality of your vehicle unless it interferes with the lighting or visibility of the vehicle.

[Dan Brelje]

Thanks for all the insight guys! Looks like I'll be getting a DOT inspection and put some stickers for our fish camp on the Rig! Appreciate the help.

Macgyver, could you shoot me an email if you get a chance. danbrelje at yahoo . com

[TruthWalleyes]

If you are running a 1/2 ton pick up and not pulling a trailer, go for it. Just understand that MnDot is looking for any reason to write up over weight vehicles and to inspect vehicles under DOT rules. Guys pulling bobcats with 1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks have just killed things for others. There is no way they can safely stop them with anything less then a 1 ton pick up.

So to answer your question.........if you are pulling a trailer for work know the regs.

HaHa...Sure you can, But i wouldn't advise riding someones bumper!

[Down Deep]

I have had my business' name on my vehicle, which is mostly a personal vehicle, for at least 10 years. There are no laws, regulations or insurance rules that apply. The cost of the ad can be written off as a business expense. Keep the ad on the sheetmetal and you will be cool.