VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Ohio Historical License Plate Problem

I went to my local DMV to apply for Model Year plates - also called Year of Manufacture in other states. The requirements are simple - your vehicle must be registered with regular historical plates, you must present a plate of the model year that is the correct color combination for that year and pay a $4.50 registration fee. I took everything with me except my registration. I could not find it because I registered for these plate back in 1973. In Ohio, you keep these plates without any additional fees until you sell the car. Here comes the problem. The state changed to a new system for keeping records sometime ago and when the clerk pulled up my account, there were no records for my cars. That means for sometime, if I was pulled over in my Historical Vehicle, the police would not be able to find me in the system and probably have written me a ticket and towed my car. So, if you live in Ohio and have had your Historical Plate for some time, I would strongly suggest calling Columbus and find out if you are one of the lucky ones like me. Just some food for thought.

This probably will not help Hawkeye but it may help others prevent the problem. My brother and I each had vintage vehicles we had for a long time. We went to Columbus to register year of manufacture on our cars. We did have our titles with us. Neither car was in the system. They told us it would take some time to complete the transaction. We took advantage of the situation and went to the German Village for lunch and when we returned everything was done.

My point is that if you have a vehicle you have had for a long time you may want to update your registration title before you need it for something.

Arizona takes care of that problem for you. YOM plates are 25.00 to register & 25.00 a year there after plus the registration fee...Joe

In NC you can run either of these on the car:

a. Horseless Carriage (35 years or older)

b. Antique Auto (pre-war -1942 or earlier)

c. Regular plates, or

d. Year of Car (manufacture)

For "d" above you must have one of the other plates on board with the current sticker applied. I run 1941 NC plates and I have never been stopped because of them or asked to show current plates.

BTW: NCDMV apparently does not know that for "antique" it must, by definition, be 100 years old. Also, you must present a "title" to get any plate for the old cars.

Charlie

Here is what finally happened at the DMV. I presented the clerk with the title, registration, the actual Ohio Historical Plates and the Model Year Plates. All of the information was faxed to Columbus so my records could be updated. These are the same records that were inplace went I purchased the Historical Plates back in 1973 BUT not kept. After approx. 2 hours and a few questions from the clerk in Columbus, I was issued a new registration. This new registration shows the Historical Plate number and the Model Year number. I was told that I MUST have the registration and the Historical Plates in the car at all times of travel if I display the Model Year plate. By the way, you only have to have ONE Model Year Plate in Ohio. Government sure does not believe in the KISS method! (keep it simple stupid)

I have a 52 chevy. Ohio did not issue a plate in 52 because of the Korean War. You kept the 51 plate and they issued a sticker for the window. I have a set of 51 plates and the sticker,but they still will not register them because they are not current year. They tell me the system will not let it go through.

I sent you a PM with regards to your 1951 plates and Ohio Model Year plates. The 3rd bullet item refers to 1943 and 1952 Ohio plates. Good Luck.