Compliance Corner – Changes As Of 2023

As promised, we will continue to update you on new and changing jurisdictional legislation that could potentially impact your operations or your drivers’ experience. Wheels Donlen LeasePlan’s constant monitoring allows us to proactively set procedures into motion as needed. The most recent changes that we would like to highlight started in the beginning of 2023:

IFTA Stickers – Carriers renewing their IFTA license and decals have a two-month grace period (January and February) to display the renewal IFTA license and decals. To operate in IFTA jurisdictions during the grace period, carriers must display either a valid current or prior year IFTA license and decals from the jurisdiction in which they were operating, or a valid single-trip permit from the IFTA jurisdiction from the area of operation. For details, take a look at: https://www.iftach.org/bulletins/2023%20Renewal%20Grace%20Period.pdf

California Insurance Mandate Began January 1^st – As we detailed earlier last month, effective January 1^st, 2023, commercial and fleet insurers in California must report insurance electronically to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Details can be found at: 

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=16058

Connecticut Commercial Vehicles Taxes Beginning 1/1/2023 – We’ve posted this twice previously, but it bears repeating. Commercial vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds that travel on the state of Connecticut’s public roads will be liable for paying a highway use tax/fee based off the vehicle weight bracket and number of miles travelled. The first payment is due by February 28, 2023. Connecticut joins New York, New Mexico, Oregon and Kentucky in imposing taxes on heavy vehicles. More information can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/DRS/Businesses/Highway-Use-Fee/HUF.

Idaho Registration Address Updates – Idaho’s system conversion in 2020 has resulted in old and incorrect addresses being applied to registrations. In cases where a business does not have a corporate location in Idaho, Wheels Donlen LeasePlan is working with the state to update the address. 

For example, corporate addresses located in Canyon County will be registered to that address and will require a passing emissions inspection to renew or keep the registration active.

The state has planned to end the emissions requirement in July 2023 and will communicate more details as the date draws closer. Details can be found at: https://www.emissiontest.org/

Oregon Motor Carrier Renewal Extension – Oregon Motor Vehicles with an expiration date of December 31, 2022 have been given an extension through January 31, 2023. Apparently, “Due to system issues”, the extension applies for Oregon-based carriers. “This includes both commercial registration and those who operate under the International Registration Plan (IRP)” For more information take a look at: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/MCT/Pages/Motor-Carrier-Renewal.aspx

Nebraska Plates – Nebraska will be issuing new plates in accordance with their standard six-year plate reissuance schedule. This began January 1, 2023 and will continue throughout the year. Old plates can be destroyed once the new plate is received along with the annual registration renewal. For full information view: https://theindependent.com/nebraska-dmv-launches-new-license-plate-offers-52-specialty-plates-for-2023/article_2dc88fe8-7c30-11ed-9650-6b1042e0d924.html

Pennsylvania Title Updates – The state of Pennsylvania has updated titles to include Fuel Type. All active paper titles that were issued on or after 9/1/18 will be reissued to include this information. Reissue efforts began September 18, 2022. 

Original titles will still be considered valid titles. Newly issued titles will have the same title number assigned as the original title. The newly issued titles will have the fuel typed added and a duplicate count.

Quebec Province – The Quebec SAAQ is closed until February 20, 2023 for system updates. Requests can still be submitted internally for Quebec registrations. They will be held in a queue until the SAAQ reopens.

This means that new vehicles cannot be plated, and existing vehicles being transferred to Quebec will not have plates issued until after the SAAQ reopens of February 20^th.

The SAAQ has not confirmed whether expiring registrations will be extended during the closure period. The notice is posted at: Reduced Services From January 26 to February 19, 2023 – SAAQ (gouv.qc.ca)

Other News of Interest

• West Virginia is positioned to become the first state to go digital:
  https://www.herald-dispatch.com/_zapp/west-virginia-to-become-first-state-to-digitize-vehicle-titles/article_52378d25-8cea-5884-bac9-f894a3030f28.html

• Mike Antich of Automotive Fleet discusses longer DMV times:

https://www.automotive-fleet.com/10190442/inconsistent-service-levels-for-fleet-registration-titling-persist-at-state-dmvs

Continual Updates

The rules can change constantly, with the potential for costing you time and money. Wheels Donlen LeasePlan monitors regulatory changes across 50 states and 13 provinces, in addition to tracking any local regulations that can impact your fleet. Our experienced specialists monitor changes and proactively adjust procedures to accommodate the changes—and we will inform you along the way. For any questions, contact members of your account team.

Reminders for Current Procedures:

• All Wheels Donlen LeasePlan communications will call out the format needed for vehicle requirements as the jurisdiction requires.
• Legacy Wheels Renewal requirements can be sent to  [email protected]
• Legacy Wheels Initial & Transfer requirements can be sent to [email protected]
• Legacy Donlen renewal requirements can be sent to [email protected]
• Legacy Donlen State Transfer Requirements can be sent to: [email protected]