Theo's got it right. The only problem is that you can just about put any plate on any vehicle regardless of its actual GVWR. I've seen 7k plates on Eagle Summit Wagons (yeah, riiiiiiiight, that'll move 7k), and I've seen passenger car plates on 1-ton vehicles. The BMV doesn't MAKE you plate properly. The only trouble is that when you get in an accident, an alert cop could give you some trouble if you don't have the proper plate for the weight you actually were at the time of the accident. And, yes, you can put a heavier plate on, but the heavier the plate rating, the more you pay.

Jason