Vehicle owners transferring a license plate from the family car to a pickup truck or van will find the process simpler under a new Department of State policy, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced today.

With the change, owners can transfer a passenger plate to any individually owned or leased pickup truck or van not used for commercial purposes. Furthermore, the department will issue a passenger plate rather than a commercial plate when such vehicles are purchased or traded-in.

"More people are purchasing pickup trucks and vans for use as the ‘family car’ and not as part of a business," Land said. "It makes no sense to continue plating them for commercial use when that is not the case. This new change saves taxpayer dollars and makes it more convenient for customers to transfer a plate from one vehicle to another."

Existing commercial plates can be renewed. New passenger plates will be issued if a replacement plate is needed or when vehicle ownership transfers.

Company-owned and leased pickup trucks and vans will continue to be registered with commercial plates.

In addition to convenience, the policy is estimated to save approximately $300,000 annually by reducing processing time for plate transfers and decreasing the number of commercial plates needed.

Law enforcement also benefits. Commercial vehicles are afforded certain parking privileges, and the new policy will make it easier to distinguish commercially used vehicles from those that are not.

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