Inspection and Safety Requirements
Farm vehicles exempt from registration are exempt from annual safety inspection requirements unless the vehicle qualifies as a Type D (Motor Carrier Vehicle) vehicle and has a gross vehicle weight, gross combination weight or registered weight rating greater than 17,000 lbs. (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Chapter 47). Farm vehicles with a Type A (10,000 pounds or less), Type B (10,001 to 17,000 pounds) and Type C (over 17,000 pounds) biennial exemption are not required to be periodically inspected. Farm vehicles with a Type D (over 17,000 pounds) biennial exemption must be inspected annually and bear a valid inspection sticker.
Registered farm vehicles must be periodically inspected and bear valid inspection stickers. Required times for inspection are the same for farm registered vehicles as for trucks and truck tractors operating under regular commercial registrations.
Regardless of whether an exempt farm vehicle is subject to periodic inspection, the following minimum safety requirements and equipment must be met while operating on public roads:
- Rear reflectors, headlamps, functional stop lamps (brake lights)
- Adequate braking system
- Tires in safe operating condition
- Rear wheel shields to bar substances from being thrown from the rear wheels at tangents exceeding 22.5 degrees from the road surface
- Rear view mirror
- Horn
- Functional exhaust and muffler system
Further information on the equipment and requirements above is located in the Pennsylvania Code, Title 67, Chapter 175, Subchapter E (light trucks) and Subchapter F (medium to heavy trucks).
Farm Vehicles
A farm vehicle is defined as a truck or truck tractor determined by PennDOT to be exclusively used for agricultural purposes. Examples include pick-up trucks, grain trucks, tanker trucks and cattle trucks.
Farm vehicles are not farm machinery and equipment. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code designates those vehicles as "implements of husbandry," when used on the farm. Different rules apply to farm vehicles than to implements of husbandry. See the related links below to find out more information on what may apply to implements of husbandry.
Farm vehicles are not passenger vehicles. Since farm vehicles only include trucks and truck tractors, cars and passenger vans do not qualify as farm vehicles.
Implements of Husbandry
An implement of husbandry is farm equipment exclusively designed and used for agricultural purposes. Implements of husbandry primarily include farm equipment that a farmer uses for their own farm. Examples of implements of husbandry include tractors, grain haulers, front end loaders, hay bailers and other agricultural implements.
Farm equipment used by businesses that commercially provide agricultural services to farms fall under the category of "commercial implements of husbandry." Some examples of commercial implements of husbandry include manure spreaders, fertilizers/sprayers and grain grinders.
Safety Information For Sharing the Road With Farm Vehicles and Equipment
Refer to the following links for safety information regarding farm vehicles and equipment: