Does it ask for GVW or GVWR? Odds are they are asking GVW which is different then GVWR. If they are asking for GVW then what they want to know is the total amount of weight that you want to haul. This can be more or less then GVWR. This is how much weight you can have if you cross a scale and is called the registered weight or tag weight. The amount you set is very important when dealing with a semi tractor. Since the cost of most tags for semi trucks are based on the GVW (the higher the number the higher the price) you don't want to go too high since you would just be wasting money, but you also don't want to go too low because if you get caught weighing in excess of the registered weight they will nail you with a hefty fine. And I'm not sure if you are looking at farm tags (nor do if I know if they will have any effect on this issue) but if you want to exceed 55,000 pounds they have a heavy vehicle tax and that's another hefty fine if you get caught hauling a load ove 55,000 pounds without having paid the tax.
When you chose your GVW try to look at the fee chart first. They group the weight in ranges (10,000 to 14,999, 15,000 to 19,999, etc.) and each state has their own ranges. I have a semi truck I use for personal stuff and when I went to get tags I was going to get a GVW of 40,000 pounds. But when I looked at the Florida breakdown of weight ranges I noticed the fee range I fell in to covered from something like 36,000 to 43,999 pounds. So for the same price I would have had to pay for 40,000 pound tags I bumped the GVW to 43,999 for the same price. So ask DMV for a chart showing the ranges of fees if you could. Might even be able to find it on the web site for your state's DMV.
Edit: Sorry, just re-read the question. DMV would be asking for GVW as GVW deals with your registration and not the title itself. For the paperwork for GL for the title don't know whay they would want the GVWR. I've only seen a vehicle's empty weight on a title, not its weight rating.
Ruppster
