Classic Truck Plates and vehicle classification

[Bilgamesh]

I ordered my Texas Classic Truck plates a few weeks ago. When I went to pick them up, after waiting 45 minutes in line, the clerk almost handed them to me, but noticed something on her computer screen. The original vehicle classification was SW, which presumably means station wagon. When I applied for a Classic Truck plate, the state issued the plate without verifying the vehicle classification. This put the plates out of synch with the vehicle title classification of SW. So, they sent me away telling me they had to clear it up with the state. I went back yesterday, skipped the line and dealt with the same lead clerk. She told me I had two options: Either I could reapply for a "Classic Car" plate and leave the title as-is, or keep the Classic Truck plates and reapply for a new title with a new vehicle classification of LL. I am not sure what the LL means. I chose the latter, as I cannot see my bronco as a car. Anyway since I chose the latter option, she said she had to classify it by weight too. I told her I did not believe it was rated 1/2 ton, but if she had to include one, that would be it. I got my tags, and my new title will be ready in a couple weeks. I share the info in case any of you consider getting the Classic Truck plates. - Good Luck!

 

[Dave]

I was told that some states put restrictions on the use of vehicles registered with classic plates. Anyone know what the legal implications are?

 

[Hogback]

it depends on the state. this has been talked about several times already, but it will come down to each state and most states really dont care unless you drive the vehicle a lot.
In Tenn i've never heard of anyone getting a citation and i dont think our whole "Antique Auto" policy is strong enough to stand up in court. The wording on the application is fairly subjective and open for argument. Things like "not to be used as general transportation" are used as well as "To be driven to shows and clubs meetings" and on "weekends".
I have a friend who's a Sgt at the highway patrol and he said he has never given a ticket for it and said not to worry about it as long as it's not a daily driver.

 

[Bilgamesh]

From the Texas DOT site:
"Classic license plates are issued to trucks that are 25 or more years old. Unlike antiques, which cannot be used for regular transportation or carry advertising, classic license plates require a vehicle to be fully registered like any other vehicle, allowing it be operated on any roadway. A specialty plate fee of $15 is charged in addition to the regular registration fee [pdf, 1 page,155kb] and other applicable fees."

It is strictly a novelty/vanity item.

Check your state!

 

[70 sport WA]

Something related....when I went to register my 70 wagon about six months ago, having just moved from WA to TX, the clerk mentioned it was a "truck". I piped up and said, "Well, it is classified as a wagon if that matters." She said it didn't and went about her business. I guess some don't care and some do. %)

 

[70 sport WA]

It is strictly a novelty/vanity item.

It looks like you could get an "Antique Vehicle" plate, which would be more of what you're probably associating the requirements with (good for five years, not a daily driver, etc.) but I think it's a bit cheesy. My question is: can you use a period correct plate, one that was issued during the year your vehicle was manufactured? That would be cooler.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Classic plates don't restrict your driving to club events and parades. You can drive it daily if you like, so long as it's insured and inspected.

Antique plates do restrict you.

It sounds like you got a stinker of a clerk, Bilgamesh. It shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[mp]

I registered my 1969 Bronco in Texas using vintage 1969 TX truck plates. I know my title says SW for classification, and the DMV did not give me any kind of grief. It must differentiate from TX DMV to DMV and how closely they look at the application.

 

[ET]

I seem to recall my title SW is sport wagon.

Eugene

 

[mp]

It looks like you could get an "Antique Vehicle" plate, which would be more of what you're probably associating the requirements with (good for five years, not a daily driver, etc.) but I think it's a bit cheesy. My question is: can you use a period correct plate, one that was issued during the year your vehicle was manufactured? That would be cooler.

Yes you can....

 

[4WP205]

It looks like you could get an "Antique Vehicle" plate, which would be more of what you're probably associating the requirements with (good for five years, not a daily driver, etc.) but I think it's a bit cheesy. My question is: can you use a period correct plate, one that was issued during the year your vehicle was manufactured? That would be cooler.

Yes you can, just bought some off of ebay for my 74. You can also get them at Good Guys Cars Shows from time to time. http://www.good-guys.com/ show schedule available here.

 

[ooberdoob]

i can thank the guys on carolina broncos for this...

i wanted a normal NC plate. not the ones with the ugly red lettering.

that's either on an antique auto plate or nothin'.

then i was told that as long as it's registered with a normal plate, and you keep that plate on you to be presented at all times, you can run a plate of the year of the vehicle.

i.e. i have some old 1968 plate on my bronco but i have a current plate in the glove box, and all is well.

that's only NC, i don't know about the rest of you, but it's worth looking into.

The old tags don't actually go to your vehicle. If a cop runs your classic tag number it comes up as a non existent tag. Hence the reason you have to keep you current real tag in the truck. You may have a couple dumb cops try to give you some crap about it but its legal. It is covered by NC General Statute 20-63 section(d) it reads:

"Any motor vehicle of the age of 35 years or more from the date of manufacture may bear the license plates of the year of manufacture instead of the current registration plates, if the current registration plates are maintained within the vehicle and produced upon the request of any person."
...

 

[FJB]

I just renewed the plates for my 1/2 cab here in Nebraska. The clerk noticed that the registration said pickup. Since it has a bed, it needed to be registered as as 3 ton truck and cost me an extra $20 in wheel tax fees. I know a wagon is licensed as a car. I wanted to ask her if I put a full top on would I get part of my fee back? What about a soft top? That would have just confused her more.

 

[gtown68]

HELP w/Vehicle Registration

I just registered my '68 U14 as an antique vehicle. Cost $50.00, and is good for five years. I took a 1968 Texas "Truck" license plate in with me. Texas allows a year matching vintage plate to be used when a vehicle is registered as a classic or antique. They are required to inspect the plate to insure it is correct for your year vehicle. If you don't have a vintage plate they will issue either a "classic" or "antique" plate to you. Actually, I took another 1968 license plate with me as well, the one issued for cars, which has "Hemisfair" across the bottom.) I took both because I wasn't sure how they would classify the Bronco, as a car (SUV) or truck. After looking in their reference book they insisted I use the truck plate, which is what I wanted to use anyway. I had no problems with with the registration.
What wasn't answered during the process is the safety inspection exemption. As I understood the process, there should be a seperate avidavid, filled out, dated, signed and filed by them and a copy given to me.
Can anyone that is familiar with the process here in Texas explain the process to me?

 

[Dan's73]

I've got the "Historic Vehicle" tags on my '73, though I don't recall the stipulations other than the vehicle had to be made before a certain date. A slight fee, but the cool factor of having actual copper plates makes up for that. I went the extra mile to secure it on though, given the prices copper fetches these days.

 

[73ny]

I went the period plate route too. I got 73 New York plates off e-bay and it turns out the seller lived in the next town over, so no shipping. Called him after I won and picked them up 15 minutes later on his porch. Just had to send a picture of the plates with a vintage plate application to the dmv and they run a check to make sure the number isn't in use on a new plate. The plates are blue and match my truck ;D and even have a mint condition registration sticker on the back plate that says "73". Beats the ugly white ones New York has now.

BTW.My title says "SUBN" for suburban

 

[gtown68]

Copper Plates

I've got the "Historic Vehicle" tags on my '73, though I don't recall the stipulations other than the vehicle had to be made before a certain date. A slight fee, but the cool factor of having actual copper plates makes up for that. I went the extra mile to secure it on though, given the prices copper fetches these days.

Yes, the copper plate thing is cool. You had to have them special made? Is there a common market for that; easy to find a place to manufacture them? What is the history behind the copper plate? Any pictures of the copper plate?
The stipulations in Texas are relatively simple, although after doing a search on this site, it looks like there are a few other states that are real supportive of the antique vehicle thing.
In a nutshell: Texas - vehicles 25 years or older can be registered as either "classic" or "antique" vehicles.
"Classic" vehicles pay regular registration fees plus an additional 10 or 15 dollars eachy year. It entitles the owner to display either special plates designating the vehicle as a classic or the owner can display same year as vehicle "vintage" plates.
"Antique" vehicles are only required to register every five years and the fee is $50.00. (A small fraction of the normal registration) Again, either "vintage" plates or state issued "Antique" auto plates are used. Antique vehicles are also exempt from the annual State safety inspection requirement. That is my question, where I am asking for help, what is the process to meet all the requirements for this exemption?

 

[grant_71]

Well I will chime in my .02 on my Michigan plates.

After searching the swap meets/fleamarkets i found a set of 1971 plates, that were 3 letters, then 3 numbers (XXX 999), all i had to do was scan the plate, send it in to the Antique vehile registration in MI, they sent me a form/letter to use when i went to the Secretary of State, that i wanted these plates. Luckily the clerk knew a little about things, and said, that my plated were for a car, as truck plates were 3 numbers then three letters (999 XXX). I asked if it matters, she said no. just if i was going for authenticity. I didnt care i just wanted 1971 plates in good shape. So as for my restrictions, $35 NON-EXPIRING registration, and the standard for club meetings, parades, shows etc. Which goes right along with my Hagerty insurance, and the fact that the Bronco gets half the fuel mileage of my Charger, so it really wont be driven much anyhow.

Grant

These are the rules in MI:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hplate_16252_7.pdf

 

[Roadburner]

Pa is very strict about their special plates. Antique, classic, and collectible are offered. No daily drivers, they must go thru an inspection with lots of paperwork, you need to take pictures of all 4 sides and have them signed signed by the inspection mechanic, and then a notary needs to file for a new title & plates. Antique and classic must be stock with no modifications and need to be in near mint condition. Collectible is the hardest to get and must have body and mechanical mods and needs to look show condition. When I applied for my collectible I had to write a book about my mods and had to send in receipts for what I put into it so the state could make sure I paid sales tax on all my parts.(they didn't get any mail order receipts from me!) Plates are $75 plus fees and end up costing around $150. The good thing is no emissions and plates are lifetime.

 

[DSGStang]

Pa is very strict about their special plates. Antique, classic, and collectible are offered. No daily drivers, they must go thru an inspection with lots of paperwork, you need to take pictures of all 4 sides and have them signed signed by the inspection mechanic, and then a notary needs to file for a new title & plates. Antique and classic must be stock with no modifications and need to be in near mint condition. Collectible is the hardest to get and must have body and mechanical mods and needs to look show condition. When I applied for my collectible I had to write a book about my mods and had to send in receipts for what I put into it so the state could make sure I paid sales tax on all my parts.(they didn't get any mail order receipts from me!) Plates are $75 plus fees and end up costing around $150. The good thing is no emissions and plates are lifetime.

Do you know if that is similar to NJ? I want to try to avoid inspections as well and was going to go with historic plates but I'm not sure if they are going to give me a hard time. I also have a 3.5" Lift and tires waiting to go on the truck and I'm worried if I take pictures of it now and get historic plates and then put on the tires/lift I may end up having problems down the road...

edit... I just went on to NJ DMV's site and found this: (there is no small print on the site saying anything about looking stock or being in near mint condition.... you think they are going to give me a hard time?)

Historic vehicles:
General inspections are not required for historic or collector vehicles. To be classified as a "historic vehicle" it must be:
-At least 25 years old
-Specially registered and display QQ plates (1945 and earlier models are required to displayone plateon the rear of the vehicle. 1946 and newer models will be issued two plates and both plates must be displayed, 1 on the front and one on the back of the vehicle).