License plate for a tractor to drive on the road?

[Katahdin]

In Maine, if you're a farmer, as in farming is your livelihood and not a hobby, you're exempt from registering your tractors.

If you're anybody else and you you drive it on the public roads, then in the eyes of the law, it should be registered. The registration fee is reasonable-- .25 cents for every horsepower and another .25 cents for every 100lbs of weight on the tractor.

However, where it bites is Maine also levies an excise tax on everything registered to use public roads based on MSRP, so for a brand new $25,000 tractor (which is really a $30,000 tractor based on MSRP), expect to pay about $700 for the first year, and a little less every year as the tractor depreciates. :smiley_aafz:

 

[buickanddeere]

In Ontario Canada, no plates required, and no registration or ownerships for tractors.
Just your bill of sale as proof of ownership.
You do need a drivers license.
In Quebec Canada, you need to be plated and insured, oh, and speak french too.

Don't need a license in Ontario. Just 16yr or older. No medical restrictions from driving. And no court orders banning operation of a motor vehicle on an approved roadway.
I didn't know that frog town wants plates on tractors?

 

[skyhook]

Don't need a license in Ontario. Just 16yr or older. No medical restrictions from driving. And no court orders banning operation of a motor vehicle on an approved roadway.
I didn't know that frog town wants plates on tractors?

Are you sure about that....
A friend of mine with a 'suspended license" was caught driving his lawn tractor, (motorized)
and received jail time.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

It depends, here in New Hampshire.
If you're going from field to field, SMV sign and flashers should be all you need.
However, I have a mentally handicapped neighbor who can't handle driving a car, but does okay with a slower tractor. Bunch of folks got together and set up his New Holland with regular vehicle plates in addition to the SMV, turn signals, mirrors, etc. He commutes from his home to work about 3 miles on the road every day.

 

[buickanddeere]

Are you sure about that....
A friend of mine with a 'suspended license" was caught driving his lawn tractor, (motorized)
and received jail time.

That is what I said. You can't drive any motorized vehicle on an approved road if your license has been suspended for impared, medical, fines etc.

 

[coldfingers]

I remember when I was a kid there was a guy who lost his license and couldn't get it back so he bought a john deere lawn tractor and drove it around town for the rest of his days. He used to trade every two/three years and hardly ever used his mower deck.

 

[skyhook]

That is what I said. You can't drive any motorized vehicle on an approved road if your license has been suspended for impared, medical, fines etc.

I agree.

 

[MHarryE]

Not true about driving tractor on a highway if you have your license suspended due to a DUI. Here in MN you can be arrested driving a farm tractor while under the influence but having a suspended license does not prevent you from driving a tractor on a roadway while doing farm work. We have talked about that as many farmers have drivers who need to be driven to the farm because of their suspended license and then drive our $100k+ equipment. Also in the main agriculture states there is no limit on farm equipment width, and if an automobile or truck driver hits you the auto or truck driver is responsible.

I once asked an Illinois farmer why he bought 22 foot headers for his combines as that was an odd size for us and we wanted to drop it due to low volume. His answer - the county has 24 foot bridges.

You really need to know your state laws because they vary. Also many of the law enforcement officers are often not aware of the law so keeping the information with you can save time and headaches. A neighbor was pulled over by a county deputy sheriff who cited him for over width and wanted him to park it. It took calls to the state DMV to resolve but my neighbor lost time.

Europeans have license requirements and strict width requirements but it is not unusual to find tractors and implement on major highways in major cities. I have a picture taken from my airplane window in Amsterdam showing a farmer driving a tractor with a loaded hay wagon on a 4 lane highway that went under our taxiway. As long as they had the license....

 

[AGRIMAN]

I would hate to know how many highway miles I have logged. At one time we have fields that were 30 miles apart. I have been lucky and have never been hit or hit anything (well other than a few road signs), but sometimes something has to give.

I'll also tell you that things are not as they use to be. There are many people today that have no respect or common sense and if you on the highway with a piece of equipment you better be extra careful.

 

[Looking4new]

Up here if your drivers' license is 'under suspension', you had better not get caught driving even your riding lawn mower on your own property. Dam Commies!
If your grass goes right out to the road allowance AND you get caught sucking on a beer, or the beer is open, while you are on that road allowance then you will be ticketed for open container and if you blow over .08 you will be charged with 'impaired operation of a motor vehicle' and your riding mower will be impounded for 7 days. Dam Commies!