Hey all. So am am the happy owner of a 1982 300SD. I was even happier when I went to the inspection facility and was told that as of last year diesel passenger cars older than 1996 don't get inspected anymore. I should have been alarmed at that point because the people at the DMV told me I needed to get inspected. The fact that the DMV didn't know should have tipped me off. So now I am driving around without an inspection sticker in a car that doesn't smoke and looks really good for its age. What this means is every cop in the area sees me as a criminal. I have been pulled over three times already. Two cops didn't even know the law. I have to say every time they have been really nice and when I showed them the DMV print out they called it in and verified the info. No tickets.

So now what do I do? I stopped in at the police station and they said to carry the letter with me and in time the cops will remember my car. They said I should call DMV and explain this issue.

I cant blame the cops for pulling me over but WOW only in NJ!

your car is old enough to qualify for historic QQ plates, get a set, I have.

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2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

I know I could get historic. Problem is that you are limited on miles.

"To be considered a historic vehicle, the vehicle must be at least 25 years old and only used for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner. Historic plates can be purchased for $44."

I use the car every day. Try to follow the law and this is what I get.

is milage limitation a state issue or insurance ? get regular insurance for it, I have.

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2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

Big John,

I have been sans inspection sticker for about 18 months, and I do carry the page from DMV covering the exemption.
I, like you make this my everyday driver (no A/C,hence Winter only) and have passed on the Historic Plates.

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Gary
Experience is something you get, Just after you needed it....
'99 E300 295K, '83 300D 220K, '75 240D 185K sold
'80 MCI Bus Conv DD 6V92TA, w/4 cyl. Kubota diesel GenSet 12.5KW

I'm unnerved to hear that you have been pulled over without the inspection sticker. I took mine off after being pulled over for the second time with an old inspection sticker. The first time I got pulled over and had to tell the cop the deal and he let me go quickly. I asked him if I should take off the sticker and he said "probably the best bet". I forgot about the inspection sticker situation after I learned I was exempt. I didn't want to be red flagged for not having an inspection sticker so I left it on and was going to call the DMV when I got pulled over a second time and the cop said I should definitely take it off. Took them off, on both of the diesels, and so-far-so-good.

Also, I was on the DMV website and there is some sort of inspection sticker for exemptions but may only apply to historic registered cars, though I wasn't sure and haven't called yet. I'm in the same boat and can't get pulled over multiple times for doing nothing wrong just because the people who are supposed to know how to administrate these policies, don't.

I've been driving around without a sticker for a couple years now (exempt in CT). My SD now has remnants of a 1995 TX inspection sticker that has melted itself into the windshield I haven't been bothered, and I drive in NJ all the time.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Im going to get a reproduction 82 inspection sticker and put that on mine...

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

This is a State issue not insurance. If i were to get Historic plates and drive everyday I open myself up to a ticket.

I wrote to the Inspection people and was told. "You dont need a sticker on your car". So that was no help. At this point I think I will get to know the cops well.

Good luck all