Are you an active duty service member looking to drive a vehicle you own? If so, you may be able to do so without registering in California, as long as the vehicle has a valid license plate in your home state or in the state of military destination at the time of registration and is not used in a trade or business. To take advantage of the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) exemption, military personnel must complete a military exemption declaration form for non-residents (REG 504) and NATO members must complete a form of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Statute of Forces Agreement (REG 504). If you are currently licensed and have worked or been employed for the past year (12 months) in a military position that requires operating a military motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial motor vehicle, you may be eligible for an exam exemption. It is important to note that military orders do not include military orders for leave, temporary service, or any other assignment of any nature that requires the military's presence outside the foreign jurisdiction where the owner was regularly assigned and assigned for service.
If you have any questions about operating a military truck, it is best to contact your local DMV office for more information.
