A CARFAX report can reveal crucial vehicle history details, including whether a vehicle was ever registered as commercial. While typically passenger vehicles like sedans are registered for personal use, trucks are often registered commercially, even for personal use. New York State law generally dictates vehicle registration based on the vehicle’s make, not its usage. So, a car used for business purposes would still be registered as a passenger vehicle. Conversely, a truck, even one used solely for personal reasons, is usually registered as commercial. The New York DMV clarifies that passenger cars are correctly registered as such, even for business use, unless used for hire like taxis or livery services.
There’s an exception for certain pickup trucks under 5,500 pounds that are never used commercially; these can receive passenger plates. The DMV website provides further information under “Pick-Ups on Parkways.” Conversely, modifications to a passenger car or a commercial vehicle can lead to a registration class change, as detailed in “Modifications for Class Change” on the DMV site. This makes it unusual to find a passenger car, like a Mazda 6, registered as a commercial vehicle on a CARFAX report. This discrepancy could indicate a previous commercial use, modifications altering its classification, or potentially an error in the registration process. Further investigation might be needed to clarify the vehicle’s history and current registration status.
