Vehicle Lifts in West Virginia: plate, lamp and DRS questions

West Virginia's Code puts the registration plate on the rear of most vehicles, and that is exactly where a hitch-mounted scooter or wheelchair lift sits. So the question families bring to us is a fair one: will the lift, or the chair riding on it, put the plate out of sight?

We could not find a West Virginia statute that excuses a carrier for blocking the plate. That makes the choice of lift, and how it is mounted, more important here.

The plate and lamp rules in the Code

W. Va. Code §17A-3-15(a) says registration plates "shall be attached to the rear of the vehicles," except for truck tractors and road tractors, which carry the plate in front. Subsection (b) adds the mounting rule: "Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than twelve inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible."

The equipment article sets the lights. Under §17C-15-5, every motor vehicle needs at least one tail lamp emitting "a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear," mounted "not more than sixty inches nor less than twenty inches" high. Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp must "illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear," wired to light whenever the headlamps do.

Put together, a lift that hides the plate or the plate lamp is a risk under these sections, loaded or empty. Practical answers include a lift with a plate mount or riser that keeps the plate in view, a hoist that stows the device inside the vehicle, or a trailer-style carrier with its own lights. Ask your installer to check the finished setup from behind the vehicle, at night, before you drive.

For paying, the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) says it "provides distinct rehabilitation technology services that can help consumers prepare for and work more effectively and efficiently," with "engineers, computer specialists and environmental modification technicians." Its client services manual lists a form titled "Used Vehicle Inspection Report" in its rehabilitation technology chapter. We could not read that chapter's rules in full, so ask a DRS counselor whether a vehicle lift fits your employment plan.

Four lifts for West Virginia drivers

• Harmar AL835 Pickup 350 HD: a truck-bed hoist for devices up to 350 lb. Its offset base fits against the sidewall and fender walls, and a dual-strapped hook keeps the device from spinning while it loads. With the chair in the bed, nothing hangs off the bumper.
• Harmar AL065 Hitch Mounted Hoist Lift: it mounts on the hitch but guides a manual wheelchair, small powerchair or scooter inside the vehicle, up to 200 lb. The heaviest component is 23 lb, and the backup camera stays usable.
• Harmar AL300 FULL Fusion Lift: a 350 lb hitch platform that comes with three ways to hold a device, which helps if a scooter may later give way to a powerchair. It includes a license plate mount.
• ComfyGO GO Lift: a portable lift on casters for loading a wheelchair or scooter into a trunk, raising it from 9.5 in to 32.8 in. Use it only on flat, non-slippery ground, ComfyGO says, and only for the mobility device, never a person.

Specifications are taken from each product's page.

Mountain weather and the back of your car

The NOAA summary for West Virginia describes frequent winter storm systems "which cause cloudy skies, windy conditions, and precipitation," snowfall in the mountains averaging 100 inches a year, and a long list of extremes including ice storms, nor'easters and flooding. Snow and grime on a plate is the "foreign materials" problem §17A-3-15 names. A device riding outside also takes the weather with it, which is one reason some West Virginia families pick an inside hoist or a truck-bed lift.

Assistive technology help in West Virginia

WVATS, the West Virginia Assistive Technology System, helps residents "of all ages and abilities make informed decisions about assistive technology," and the AT3 Center lists device loans, demonstrations and reutilization there. DRS also runs the Technology-Related Assistance Revolving Loan Fund, a statewide loan program for qualified residents with disabilities.

Delivery to West Virginia

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. Hitch class, tongue weight and lighting all have to be right, so plan the installer before the lift arrives. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Read shipping to West Virginia, or answer a few questions in the vehicle lift fit check.

Questions about vehicle lifts in West Virginia

Can a scooter lift block my license plate in West Virginia?

We found no exception for carriers. W. Va. Code §17A-3-15(b) requires the plate to be "in a place and position to be clearly visible" and "clearly legible," at least 12 inches from the ground. If a lift or its load hides the plate, look at a plate mount or riser, an inside hoist, or a carrier with its own plate holder.

What lights does West Virginia require on the back of my vehicle?

§17C-15-5 requires at least one red tail lamp visible from 500 feet, mounted between 20 and 60 inches high, and a white light that makes the rear plate legible from 50 feet. The lamps must light whenever the headlamps are on, so a lift should not cover them.

Does West Virginia DRS help with vehicle lifts?

DRS offers rehabilitation technology services aimed at helping people prepare for and do their work, and its client services manual includes a used vehicle inspection form in that chapter. We could not confirm its full vehicle rules, so ask a DRS counselor whether a lift can be part of your employment plan.

Is a truck-bed hoist a good fit for West Virginia roads?

It keeps the device off the bumper and the plate clear. Harmar's AL835 lifts up to 350 lb into the bed, with an offset base and a dual-strapped hook. NOAA describes frequent winter storms in the state, so a cover for the device in an open bed is worth planning.

Look through our vehicle lifts, start the vehicle lift fit check, or complete the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• W. Va. Code §17A-3-15, display of registration plates
• W. Va. Code §17C-15-5, tail lamps
• West Virginia DRS: specialized services
• West Virginia DRS: client services manual
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: West Virginia (2022)
• Harmar AL835 Pickup 350 HD product page
• Harmar AL065 product page
• Harmar AL300 FULL product page
• ComfyGO GO Lift product page
• West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS)
• AT3 Center: West Virginia