license for stallion and operator

[nklosterman]

I bought a brand new Stallion and finally went to see what I need for a driver's license. Here in North Dakota the 2009 legislature determined that since it has 3 wheels and a STEERING WHEEL instead of handlebars that it should be licensed as an unconventional vehicle and have a plate with a "UC" on it and not a motorcycle plate. Sounds good to me They also determined that an operator of an unconventional vehicle with 3 wheels and a STEERING WHEEL needs only a class D license to drive it, thats just the normal car one... SWEET, right? Now, I go in to the DMV to pay sales tax and get plates... mass confusion. They finally find the UC plates and in the process of entering things into the computer for a UC plate they have to call the state. Oh, yes, the state says... here is how you do it... finally. And they also say,"Oh, by the way, unconventional vehicles cant be ridden on controlled access highways and that means the interstate. WTF??? I told them, ok, license it as a motorcycle and I will get a motorcycle license. She said NO, it has a steering wheel. Anyone else get the runaround like me? I may have a 2013 Stallion for sale with .8 miles on it. Anyone?????

[vstrommer]

It is a motorcycle!!.(trike)..Look at your VIN sticker on the frame and take a pic of it and bring it into them and see what they say then..It says MOTORCYCLE!!!!!..It is titled as a motorcycle and here in MN you need to have an endorsement for a motorcycle or trike to operate it.. I have a motorcycle plate on mine....Good Luck......

[Dartz]

All I know is that here in Utah and also in Az. they are licensed as a motorcycle.

[nklosterman]

I know that my MSO says it is a motorcycle. I thought I was doing the right thing when I went to the driver's license division to inquire about the operator license and found out, like some have told me, that I wouldn't need a motorcycle license to drive it. I thought that was just peachy but then found out otherwise because I can't drive it down the interstate because it will be licensed as unconventional. I suppose I will take it to another county office to register it and say nothing about the steering wheel and call it a motorcycle and go get the motorcycle drivers license and enjoy driving it until one day the po-po pull me over on the interstate and tell me I don't have the right plates....

[saab9k]

I know that my MSO says it is a motorcycle. I thought I was doing the right thing when I went to the driver's license division to inquire about the operator license and found out, like some have told me, that I wouldn't need a motorcycle license to drive it. I thought that was just peachy but then found out otherwise because I can't drive it down the interstate because it will be licensed as unconventional. I suppose I will take it to another county office to register it and say nothing about the steering wheel and call it a motorcycle and go get the motorcycle drivers license and enjoy driving it until one day the po-po pull me over on the interstate and tell me I don't have the right plates....

some states do trike license

[nklosterman]

I can get a motorcycle operator's license with a 'trike only' endorsement and not sure what the difference is in taking the test and thats no big deal. The big deal is that if I license it as an unconventional vehicle, which is what it is by North Dakota's definition, I can't drive on interstates.

[John Luciano]

Here in Conn. it is a very gray area. Steering wheel, not a motorcycle , inclosed motor, not a motorcycle, inclosed driver, ( can't put get on the ground) not a motorcycle. I have seen 2 or 3 riding around here so I do not know what they went through to reg and ride them. They most likely never showed them the trike. In Conn. no inspection is needed to Reg. it. It says Stallion trike on the title right?
There are so many makes they rarely ask. With my CF Moto, I got caught because we had no dealer in Conn. they looked it up, amd it needed inspection. If your Stallion is on the state registry it will go through.
What Gloria said

[saab9k]

Don't ask, just go with title, buy a motor cycle tag, get a license to ride it and smile.

So many people know so little, lot of cases they guess.

[Gorilla]

And believe me the police will not know. If you reg. it as a motorcycle and have the proper DL they will be happy. Stallion calls it a Motorcycle on their Certificate of Origin For A Vehicle. I'm looking at my copy. So just take it in and say no more let them register it. They will not ask if it has a steering wheel. They will go by the Certificate just do not volunteer any info. Why confuse it. It is a motorcycle.

[saab9k]

Some people don't know what a trike is.

Open your mouth slightly, look as stupid as you can.

[Jerry126]

In Illinois there are different classes for motorcycles and a special call for "trikes" you take the same driving test except you don't have to make the swerving cone test.
Jerry 126

[pmar6004]

I bought a brand new Stallion and finally went to see what I need for a driver's license. Here in North Dakota the 2009 legislature determined that since it has 3 wheels and a STEERING WHEEL instead of handlebars that it should be licensed as an unconventional vehicle and have a plate with a "UC" on it and not a motorcycle plate. Sounds good to me They also determined that an operator of an unconventional vehicle with 3 wheels and a STEERING WHEEL needs only a class D license to drive it, thats just the normal car one... SWEET, right? Now, I go in to the DMV to pay sales tax and get plates... mass confusion. They finally find the UC plates and in the process of entering things into the computer for a UC plate they have to call the state. Oh, yes, the state says... here is how you do it... finally. And they also say,"Oh, by the way, unconventional vehicles cant be ridden on controlled access highways and that means the interstate. WTF??? I told them, ok, license it as a motorcycle and I will get a motorcycle license. She said NO, it has a steering wheel. Anyone else get the runaround like me? I may have a 2013 Stallion for sale with .8 miles on it. Anyone?????

Here's how your state defines a "UNCONVENTIONAL VEHICLE":"Unconventional vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is designed to travel on at least
three wheels in contact with the ground, has an unladen weight of at least three
hundred pounds [136.08 kilograms] but less than eight thousand pounds [3628.7
kilograms], has a permanent upright seat or saddle for the driver which is mounted at
least twenty-four inches [50.8 centimeters] from the ground, has a steering device for
front wheel steering control, is capable of speeds in excess of sixty-five miles [104.61
kilometers] per hour, complies with equipment listed in chapter 39-21 or 39-27, as
appropriate, and has an identifying number. The term does not include motor vehicles
that otherwise may be registered under this title.

Now the states definition of a "MOTORCYCLE": "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the
rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
but excluding implements of husbandry.

Note the definition states steering device and not a steering wheel. Must have at least 3 wheels in contact with the ground, which implies that it could have more than 3, whereas a motorcycle, by your states definition, can have no more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground, period.

I registered my Stallion as a motorcycle in your sister state, South Dakota, with no problem or any contraversary. IMHO, your county registar is incorrect, in that, your Stallion "trike" should be registered as a motorcycle.

Daydreamer

[Gorilla]

Daydreamer copied the statement that is the center of your issue. If you read the last sentence of the defination of "UNCONVENTIONAL VECHICLE" it says: "The term does not include motor vehicles that otherwise may be registered under this title." So if a vehicle being registered meets the definition of a motor vehicle ie "Motorcycle" then it should be registered as such before using the Unconventional means of registering it. And the Stallion meets your states definition of a motorcycle. Notice no reference to how it is steered.

[luongphan39]

i think that just links for iwin

[Bill Reber]

In SC we had Trike only licence and tag , The riders sued the state and won now you can ride a trike with a auto licence.But if it is a two wheeler or a voyager type kit then you need the MC licence.

[nklosterman]

I plan on taking the paperwork to a different motor vehicle office and quietly register it as a motorcycle, just like the certificate of origin says it is. I have had trouble with the old ladies that run my local registration office before and just went to a different one and I'll do it again. I guess the confusion came around after listening to all the curious people, when they look at the Stallion, wonder if you need a motorcycle license to drive it. I was pleased to find out that I didn't need the motorcycle endorsement on my license because of the new 'unconventional vehicle' plates I would get. I liked that idea but I guess it won't work that way. I'll get the motorcyle driver's license and be happy. I'll also mention the problem to legislators when I see them and maybe they can get a better clarification of what unconventional is... If unconventional isn't good enough for interstate travel maybe they shouldn't be on any roads???????????

[saab9k]

" the problem to legislators ", they don't care. They get a nice pay check for doing nothing. Exelent healthcare benefits.

[Papa Zook]

For goodness sakes DONT get legislators involved in the cluster-muck! Just say as little as possible and get the thing tagged as what the MSO says it is, a motorcycle. If anyone gets involved with those guys it needs to be Jeff Vey of Motor Trike. He and his attorneys know their way around these issues very well.

[Ed Hobgood]

I'll add my 2 cents to this, In Missouri all I did was take the title to the license office and told the I needed plates for my trike. All the girl in the office asked me was "Can I get a ride on it sometime" I told her sure and was out the door with no problems. Is this the first Stallion in your state? Hope you get this setteled so when it warms up you can get some riding in.pepper

[nklosterman]

haha! when the lady at my local office called state office the gal at state office mentioned getting a ride. I told her NO, because I need to take the interstate to get there. I'm going to register it as a trike and I WILL mention it casually to my legislators, likely over a beer, and I will ask them to clarify it. If they and Jeff Vey want to converse that's their choice. In the meantime I'll be riding my Stallion MOTORCYCLE TRIKE thingy.