VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Antique license plate

Is it better to obtain an antique plate over a regular state plate? I heard that the antique plates are a one time charge but you have mileage restrictions per year. Any thoughts on this.

This all depends on the laws in your state. There is no universal law governing the use of antique plates. Beamer

Beamer is right. It generally varies from state to state. Some states may have identical or similar laws (to each other).

Most, I would think while not specifically limiting milage historically licensed vehicles do usually state the said vehicle is not to be used for commercial or general everyday use.
Charlie

kwchevy, I suggest you go to the KY Title/License bureau and check with them. This past summer I transfered one of our cars to our son in KY. It was an entirely different process than in OHIO.

Here in Tennessee you can get a antique plate good for life for $18. The restriction is that you cannot use the car as a daily driver. It can be used for almost anything related to ownning an old car. Driving to a car show or test driving ,parades,rally runs ,going to be worked on ,etc. If anyone stops you ..you are test driving!

Here in Ohio It's just about the same that Steve describes it is in Tennessee.I do not have historic vehicle plates on my 38, I have regular plates because I want to drive it any time I please and don't want to be bothered by the cop's.....ED

Being from California I just can't wrap my brain around that concept...we can "register" antique plates ( gotta have two ) through the YOM plate application program...if their "clean" , away you go...it's so cool to run those original plates..it gives you that look you just don't get otherwise...problem is the price of a nice set of plates...I paid $300 bucks last year for mine...add the cost of new/different size bracket/holders and that cool look is yours for your daily driver...Kevin

Arizona: YOM, antique, or personalized are 25.00 to start & 25.00 per year after that NOT including the regisration fee. I went regular plates on my 68 z/28 with Hagerty insurance & it was 72.00 total for 5 years with no emission testing. Pretty much a no brainer. Check with MVD for your options before you commit...Joe

California's YOM reassign is $12 bucks...and it appears their not charging yearly after that...but I find that hard to believe...think I heard her say a 10 spot yearly after that...who cares , I love them plates . And mine start out 6V...I have some '56 Calif. plates ( a pair ) I'm thinking of selling ...Quite nice..I paid $100 for them years ago...Kevin

Well I finally got in contact with the clerks office and they said that antique plates are only good for car shows, parades, car services. I guess I'll go without the antique plates, so that I'm not restricted on where I can go. It does seem a shame to have an antique plated car and to be restricted because of wanting to be able to drive anytime, anywhere you want.

I can't imagine a cop stopping an antque car and challenging the owner on his intent of where he was going. I've been stopped once,only to see the car. I guess the cops in tennessee aren't as picky.

I cant understand why folks have a problem finding out what "THE RULES" are..I don't try to talk to "No Stinkin Clerk" When I want to Know something I jump on the old computer and punch up the state law that I want to know about, down load and print it out and ( LIKE TINY 1938 ONCE SAID IN A PAST POST ) carry it with me in my car trunk and when one of those hot shot no-it all cop's who only got the job because his Uncle is the town mayor and Is only wearing a name tag on his uniform so he don't forget his own name tries to intimidate you with his ignorance of the law...you just whip it out......End of story,,(If he don't shoot you)...ED



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I guess it's more about location. Big city vs small town.

If it was the LAPD in California I'd be afraid the cop might plant drugs in my car and I'd be in jail with BUBBA in about an hour.

Here in Clinton Tn ,Population 8k, it's a little different. More than likely I know this cop. These cops home in on certain people. You could call it profiling if you like. At 3am, with blacked out windows, going 10mph over the limit you will be stopped. Have everything in order! Other than that the cops are pretty reasonable.

All our kids go to school together and you'll see him Sunday in chruch.Sorta like MAYBERRY RFD..grin

Well said Steve...Believe it or not were I grew up, in Brooklyn New York ( in the 1940's and early 1950's ) It was like that...I know that's hard to believe, but its true....A knock would come on your door and a cop would be there and say "Tell you son/daughter not to do that again...thanx. That would be the end of it...unless it happened again....ED

BTW...Say hello to Barney Fife for me.

Perhaps this might be the time to gather your old car friends and ask your state legislators to change the law so it will allow for unlimited use of the vehicle bearing antique plates. You can probably make a good case by asking the question that if I can license my car with "regular" plates and drive it anytime, why can't I license it with antique plates and drive it anytime? If licensing with antique plates is much cheaper, you may have to settle for a compromise that calls for increased fees if using antique plates to compensate the state for their loss occuring when they do not sell you a regular plate. But then you may incur the wrath of other old car drivers who only use their antique plated vehicles to drive as the state currently allows. On second thought, perhaps you should just buy the regular plate. Beamer

The whole idea behind the antique plates was to encourage people to preserve a part of history not give someone a cheaper plate for their everyday driver. Unless there are restrictions on the use of the vehicles then they will just eliminate the antique or YOM plates. Every state is looking for more revenue and that is low hanging fruit that won't upset too many voters. Except for driving to work, shopping and other routine activities we can do pretty much what we want with the antique plates. Taking a Sunday drive is okay as is visiting friends.

I don't know...I like California's take on it...if it was good enough "then" , it's good enough "now"...it's just a way to I.D. the car . BTW they also offer us "Historical Vehicle" Plates that are rather nice , too . Kevin

What's the difference in Historical and Vintage plates. Just curious.

In OHIO an Historical Plate is issued by the stare for a Historical Vehicle. In addition to that you can register a Vintage/Year of Manufactur Plate as you have on your '38. This is an additional $10.00. You must carry your Historical Plate in your vehicle. You must take your Year of Manufactur Plate to the registrar and they will make a copy of it. The Historical Plate is issued in pairs. You only need one Year of Manufactur Plate.

I have a 1974 Dealer Plate on our 74 Nova. We can register any Plate except for a municapality, City, County, or State. I have two 1935 County Plates but they can't be registered.

I hope I made this clear.

Of course they're gonna tell you that you can't drive your car. That's what the law says and that's what they have to say. NOW, here's what's going to happen out on the road. You're not going to get stopped or hassled by anyone. I'm in Tennessee and it's one license plate for life and yes, it says only drive to car shows, parades, Sunday drives, etc. However, my dad and I have been driving our cars for many years on antique plates and don't have any trouble. The only trouble we get into is being delayed by cops and folks wanting to see our cars and ask what years they are and then they take pictures. You're sweating this way too much.

I'm 20 minutes down the road from you. I agree. Maybe we'll run into each other someday.

with Chipper.

If you want to drive your old car as a daily driver or grocery getter, just buy a regular license plate and do the state inspections and emissions testing, and if it passes drive away!

We hobbyists that restore and preserve our cars as a historically correct Vintage Chevrolet believe and have petitioned out state legislators of the benefit of having these vintage cars as historical assets. We (old Timey Car clubs) pay lobbyists to keep our hobby financially fair and we want to be fair to the state. We only drive a limited miles per year and it works ok if you do what is right.

We have had abusers of the law as usual when humans are involved. One county had State Troopers stop cars (modified street rods displaying Antique Car Tags) and fined them for violating the terms of license. These cars were entering a commercial event, which the local County officials believed was not a "Club Function", etc. etc. I mean like 400 cars with AC, 350 Chevy engines and transmissions, they were burning rubber and revving the engines "showing off" and many drivers were in violation of the "open container law"
That kind of activity makes it hard on those that are trying to be good citizens and obey the law.....Ok I'm through preaching.....

State inspections and Emission check ? .. In Tennessee they're proud of you if its got a muffler !! No inspections here..no feees, and glad of it. I lived in N.C. when I was in the Army, they had all that. If you knew a guy at the gas station he'd put a sticker on the windshield for $25 and never even check anything.

Come to Tennessee...no toll roads or toll bridges, no state tax, no inspection fees ,no emission fees ,plates $24 if it's a VW or a Bugatti.

AHHHH and your accident rate reflects the regs.

And go to Dollyland and see the Titans!

Steve,
Let me bring you up to date in NC. If the vehicle is 35 years old or older there is no yearly safety inspection.

If you buy either an Horseless Carriage or a Antique Vehicle (prewar) tag and register it as such and maintain it mainly for the purposes of show, etc., and don't use it for regular everyday use then they only tax you up to a $500.00 in value. Plus the car has to be insured. I use Hagerty for this purpose and apply the law to the 1950 and 1941 convertibles. (Which, right now, are not driven at all.)

With regards to MrMack I have a regular tag for the 41 coupe so that I can drive it as often as I please without feeling I am violating the state's generous antique law.

The $500.00 value is the max amount the state applies the tax even if the vehicle is actually worth much more. That is quite a break in taxes, especially for a high dollar vehicle.

As to Tennessee having no tolls, no taxes and no inspection fees. I wonder why that is? Recruitment maybe? Grin.
Charlie