licence plates

I live in Mass. out on Cape Cod and am trying to get my old J.D.50 registered so I can run it on the road. Parades and hay rides and b-day parties
But trying to find an ins. co. is like getting snow in July.Can't get farm plates,don't want to give me antique plates.I guess the registery dose not know how to handle it. Anyone in this GREAT STATE ? send me in the right direction for help with this or matter. About ready to give up.
Thanks for any help. Wayne

wayne, i have my oliver 77 insured by hagerty 888-310-8020. they offer guaranteed value that you and them agree on and many other things at a very fair price. hope this helps, chuck

I know a few people that use Hagerty.
That's the easy part - Wait till you try to get a safety inspection sticker lol.

I thought if you have a SMV sign on them you can run them down the road without it needing to be registered.

I could be wrong

Vito

License plate for a tractor? Really? Gee I'm so glad I live in Texas. SMV and or a blinking light and away you go.
As for insurance since you want to run it in a parade (which is a good idea), as the others said Haggarty. You should be able to tell them the value you consider the tractor to be worth, so you can keep the premium down low. Just be sure you intend to run it in a parade now and then for the liability....you know in case you run over a Shriner or someones kid who runs out in front of you to snatch up the piece of candy they tossed from the float in front of you...

Here in Michigan ag equipment doesn't need a license plate, just a SMV &/or flashing yellow light. I think very state in the midwest is similar, but not sure.

I"m from MA too. The registry will take your money if you get commercial plates. The JD 50 weighs less than 5000 lbs and I'm guessing the plates will cost around $100. I would also think the insurance company would give you a policy with a low mileage discount if you qualify for a plate.

Your biggest problem is putting passengers on a trailer. If you were an amusement park paying a large premium for the entire operation, you could negotiate something regarding the trailer.

If you don't have any farm income, you can't get farm plates. If your tractor activities earn any money, you can't get historical plates. There are three or four other classification including OO (owner-operator), OR (owner repair), and some strange MA plate that I saw on an antique truck at a tractor show. I would go online and see if you can qualify for something. If you can, your insurance company should be willing to cover you.

You're gonna need a horn, directionals, e-brake and what ever else it takes to get an inspection sticker. That includes a SMV sign and the $100 inspection fee.

There are plenty of backhoes that travel on MA highways. They are not allowed on the interstates but go everywhere else. Next time you see one parked, talk to the owner.

Frankly, I think you are facing significant costs trying to put that tractor on the road. But if you are successful, tell us how you did it.

I have never heard of having to have a license plate on a tractor in the USA.

Harold H

I suppose you would have to read the Motor Car Act for the particular State. It may be classed as a motor vehicle.

I think the other plate you mentioned is a transport plate - you can drive it but with no cargo or passengers.

Here is another idea. Call an insurance agent in a small town on the Conneticut River. Like Deerfield, Granby, etc. Those are ag areas and the agents have the experience. I didn't even know anybody on the Cape actually had a tractor.

I envy the guys in NH which is only three miles away from me. They get their plates for $10 and don't need an insurance endorsement. Doubt if they need an inspection either.

My insurance agent got my JD 1957 720 covered by J.C. Taylor Ins. Co. they cover a lot of old stuff.

Put on an orange triangle, don't be a nuisssace to traffic and act like you are going someplace, not out for a joy ride. Some towns- not the state, set a half mile or 5 mile limit, but in the fall there is a guy with a huge combine all over the place, but he's not being a dufus, he is a farmer. Hauling passengers is a big no no. I wouldn't even do it at an event, and certainly not on a road. Your own property only. There is nothing known in writing about farm vehicles in general, but if someone gets hurt, you will see how fast a lawyer digs something up.

We went with Hagerty several ys"ago. Very reasonable rates on about 14 antique tractors & lawn mower tractors . More coverage & less cost than F.B. here in this state . No hassel with them so far, did it all on puter and photos. They knew what they were talking about with farm things .
What is this talk about getting a "tag" on a tractor in Mass? You have a farm tractor , not a motor vechicle . Good luck . clint

The only motor vehicle allowed on MA roads without a registration is a Moped, maybe a riding lawnmower and powered wheelchair as well.

I don't even like going out in the road to plow my driveway. I could legally get a ticket but I think the judge might understand.

I wouldn't be surprised if one registered a narrow front tractor and didn't wear a helmet while on the road, he would be looking at a citation.

Here in Pa. the have a SME plate. Special Mobile Equipment. Put it on any oddball thing that is self-propelled, to travel on the highway.

It's alllowed anywhere in Mass unless a town makes it's own laws. If a town prohibits it, it will only be on certain roads that are posted with "no low speed vehicles" or something to that extent.

You can't get plates beause your tractor does not go fast enough to qualify as a "low speed motor vehicle." 16 MPH max with a Deere 50 is slow enough NOT to be subject to the MV regs.

“Low-speed motor vehicle” or “low-speed vehicle” in Massachusetts . . , a motor vehicle as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 571.3 as a vehicle that is 4-wheeled, whose speed attainable in 1 mile is more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface and whose gross vehicle weight rating is less than 3,000 pounds. All low-speed motor vehicles shall comply with the standards established in 49 C.F.R. § 571.500


“Not a motor vehicle” - vehicles used for other purposes than the transportation of property and incapable of being driven at a speed exceeding twelve miles per hour and which are used exclusively for the building, repair and maintenance of highways

A tractor, trailer or truck may be operated without such registration upon any way for a distance not exceeding one-half mile, if said tractor, trailer or truck is used exclusively for agricultural purposes, or between one-half mile and 10 miles if said tractor, trailer or truck is used exclusively for agricultural purposes and the owner thereof maintains in full force a policy of liability insurance which conforms to the provisions of section one hundred and thirteen A of chapter one hundred and seventy-five or for a distance not exceeding three hundred yards, if such tractor, trailer or truck is used for industrial purposes other than agricultural purposes, for the purpose of going from property owned or occupied by the owner of such tractor, trailer or truck to other property so owned or occupied.

There are a few guys around here in Falmouth, that run around on them with flashers on. never seen them pulled over but that doesn't mean they couldn't be.

Me neither.

Where I live, about as many farm tractors go past my house as cars and trucks.

contaced Taylor and hagerty and no problem there it is with the RMV. They do not know what to give me for a plate i guess.

(quoted from post at 20:10:26 02/03/12) Here is another idea. Call an insurance agent in a small town on the Conneticut River. Like Deerfield, Granby, etc. Those are ag areas and the agents have the experience. I didn't even know anybody on the Cape actually had a tractor.

I envy the guys in NH which is only three miles away from me. They get their plates for $10 and don't need an insurance endorsement. Doubt if they need an inspection either.

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That's correct they don't charge much, at least for ag tractor. TLB is another matter altogether. It's true we don't need insurance too, at least if you don't worry about who is living in your house next year.