License plate for a tractor to drive on the road?

[Ducati07]

If I'd like to drive my tractor on the street often, can I, or do I need to get a license plate for it?

I called my local police department one time when I wanted to drive my backhoe from work and I asked if I could drive it home about 5 miles away. The road has a short distance of about a half mile of 45 MPH and the rest was 25-35 MPH side roads. The cop didn't know what to say and ended up saying "no" because, I think, he wanted to cover his end.

So I called the local Highway Patrol to see what they'd say. Without hesitation, he said, "sure you can, just have someone follow you with their hazards on." So I did.

I thought I've seen plates on tractors before but maybe not.

My question is...can I get a plate for the tractor to just drive it on roads other than hwy's a fwy's? Without a following car?

Thanks for any info!

 

[k0ua]

In most jurisdictions no. No plates for tractors.. In Europe most have plates. I don't think any state requires plates. You can drive on the road in most states for agricultural or construction purposes..

 

[Sysop]

What he said, plus you'll want a Slow Moving Vehicle sign (reflective orange triangle) in most places in the US. Flashing hazard warning lights in others.

 

[k0ua]

One thing to think about is just because you can, does not always mean you should. If you live in a rural area and need to get from farm to farm to to the corner service station for fuel, sure. But keep in mind that even with your sign and flashers you are still a rolling road block, and people behind you will sometimes do stupid things and kill themselves and/or you. I drive on the road occasionally, but only when I need to, and watch carefully for any developing traffic situations.

 

[Ducati07]

If I'm on the way to a job site from my home...would that be considered construction purposes?

I'd like to drive from my house to use the tractor for hire within a reasonable distance and was wondering if I can pull this off without the local PD giving me a hard time.

I'd always be on the lookout for traffic and pull over when I can. It's all rural with roads 25-35 MPH.

 

[k0ua]

If I'm on the way to a job site from my home...would that be considered construction purposes?

I'd like to drive from my house to use the tractor for hire within a reasonable distance and was wondering if I can pull this off without the local PD giving me a hard time.

In Missouri, yeah probably could get away with it.. In Cali?.. I dunno.. you live there not me. Go to your DMV website and look up the law, and once armed with the law, you will know what to say when you get pulled over.

 

[Ducati07]

I've rented equipment from United Rentals and when I told the guy where I lived, he let me drive the skip loader to my house so I wouldn't be charged a drop off/pick up fee. He didn't even ask for me to have a follow vehicle or anything. Just drove it off the lot, right to my house.

I'd use my tractor in the same area.

 

[4310]

Each state will vary but here (indiana) it will boil down to what you are doing. Example: a quad (4 wheeler) driving down the road is illegal. A quad driving down the road by a farmer checking his fences is legal.
Most generally you will fall under the "implement of husbandry" exemptions if you are moving from one field to another or performing anything remotely farm related. Now If you decide to start a hay ride/taxi service then you are going to have to start getting something official.
Also there is nothing here saying that you have to be followed by a vehicle with flashers. As long as you fall under the "farm" exemptions all you need is a slow moving vehicle emblem and warning lights on the tractor if it is dark.

 

[Ducati07]

In Missouri, yeah probably could get away with it.. In Cali?.. I dunno.. you live there not me. Go to your DMV website and look up the law, and once armed with the law, you will know what to say when you get pulled over.

I'll check out the DMV to see what they say. But like I said with the cops...the local PD said no, but the HWY PD said, sure. As with many things, I think it all depends on the cop that particular day in that particular situation. But the DMV would have it all written out and help be the authority in this, I'd think. I planned on asking them how I could do this legally with no issues.

Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Up her you can only put a farm implement on the road to move it from property to property that you own or rent for farming purposes. A lot of the time the sheriff will look the other way, depends on his mood at the time or if what you are doing is incidental to farming. Construction is a no no all the time except at close together job sites.

Ron