Neil Gould wrote:

For example, is
there a different rate for vehicles licensed as "trucks" than for those
rated as "cars" in such states as NJ (which has some of the worst
infrastructure, btw)?

There is a different rate for commercial versus non-commercial vehicles, and
there are several categories (for example, cabs and limos have "omnibus" tags).
Things like pickup trucks and SUVs are licensed the same as cars. They base the
fee on the maximum gross vehicle weight, and there are several classes. My small
pickup falls into class 8 below. The larger SUVs would also be in that class.
Here are the fees for non-commercial passenger-carrying vehicles.

1 1970 or older Under 2700 lbs. $32.50
2 1970 or older 2700 lbs--3800 lbs. $41.50
3 1970 or older Over 3800 lbs. $62.50
4 1971 – 1979 Under 2700 lbs. $35.50
5 1971 - 1979 2700 lbs--3800 lbs. $46.50
6 1971 - 1979 Over 3800 lbs. $69.50
7 1980 and newer Under 3500 lbs. Fewer than 2 years old $56.00
More than 2 years old $43.50
8 1980 and newer Over 3500 lbs Fewer than 2 years old $81.00
More than 2 years old $68.50
9 Commuter Van* ** Fewer than 2 years old $81.00
More than 2 years old $68.50

You can get more details than you would want to know by checking out
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/bc_vehicl...tion_fees.html

George Patterson
"Naked" means you ain't got no clothes on; "nekkid" means you ain't got
no clothes on - and are up to somethin'.