                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(CONTINGENT EFFECTIVE DATE — SEE ACTS 2019, CC. 837 AND 846) FEES FOR FARM
VEHICLES (§ 46.2-698)

A. The fees for registration of farm motor vehicles having gross weights of
7,500 pounds or more, when such vehicles are used exclusively for farm use as
defined in this section, shall be one-half of the fee per 1,000 pounds of gross
weight for private carriers as calculated under the provisions of &#xA7;
46.2-697 and one-half of the fee for overload permits under &#xA7; 46.2-1128,
but the annual registration fee to be paid for each farm vehicle shall not be
less than $15.

B. A farm motor vehicle is used exclusively for farm use:

   1. When owned by a person who is engaged either as an owner, renter, or
   operator of a farm of a size reasonably requiring the use of such vehicle or
   vehicles and when such vehicle is:
   				a. Used in the transportation of agricultural products of the farm he is
   working to market, or to other points for sale or processing, or when used to
   transport materials, tools, equipment, or supplies which are to be used or
   consumed on the farm he is working, or when used for any other transportation
   incidental to the regular operation of such farm;
   				b. Used in transporting forest products, including forest materials
   originating on a farm or incident to the regular operation of a farm, to the
   farm he is working or transporting for any purpose forest products which
   originate on the farm he is working; or
   				c. Used in the transportation of farm produce, supplies, equipment, or
   materials to a farm not worked by him, pursuant to a mutual cooperative
   agreement.

   2. When the nonfarm use of such motor vehicle is limited to the personal use
   of the owner and his immediate family in attending church or school, securing
   medical treatment or supplies, securing other household or family necessities,
   or traveling between the operator&#8217;s residence and the farm.

C. As used in this section, the term &#8220;farm&#8221; means one or more areas
of land used for the production, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of
agricultural products, but does not include a tree farm that is not also a
nursery or Christmas tree farm, unless it is part of what otherwise is a farm.
As used in this section, the term &#8220;agricultural products&#8221; means any
nursery plants; Christmas trees; horticultural, viticultural, and other
cultivated plants and crops; aquaculture; dairy; livestock; poultry; bee; or
other farm products.

D. The first application for registration of a vehicle under this section shall
be made on forms provided by the Department and shall include:

   1. The location and acreage of each farm on which the vehicle to be registered
   is to be used;

   2. The type of agricultural commodities, poultry, dairy products or livestock
   produced on such farms and the approximate amounts produced annually;

   3. A statement, signed by the vehicle&#8217;s owner, that the vehicle to be
   registered will only be used for one or more of the purposes specified in
   subsection B; and

   4. Other information required by the Department.
   				The above information is not required for the renewal of a vehicle&#8217;s
   registration under this section.

E. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for those
motor vehicles registered under this section. The manner in which such license
plates are designated shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner.

F. The owner of a farm vehicle shall inform the Commissioner within 30 days or
at the time of his next registration renewal, whichever comes first, when such
vehicle is no longer used exclusively for farm use as defined in this section,
and shall pay the appropriate registration fee for the vehicle based on its type
of operation. It shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor to: (i) operate or to
permit the operation of any farm motor vehicle for which the fee for
registration and license plates is herein prescribed on any highway in the
Commonwealth without first having paid the prescribed registration fee; or (ii)
operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle, registered under this
section, for purposes other than as provided under subsection B; or (iii)
operate as a for-hire vehicle.

G. Nothing in this section shall affect the exemptions of agricultural and
horticultural vehicles under &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-664 through 46.2-670.

H. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, vehicles licensed under
this section may be used by volunteer emergency medical services personnel and
volunteer firefighters in responding to emergency calls, in reporting for
regular duty, and in attending emergency medical services agency or fire company
meetings and drills.

HISTORY: 1976, c. 323, § 46.1-154.3; 1978, c. 29; 1985, c. 424; 1989, cc. 402,
727; 1996, cc. 943, 994; 1997, cc. 774, 816; 2004, c. 663; 2015, cc. 502, 503;
2020, c. 781.