Classic/Antique Vehicle Plate Enforement

[curtis61387]

Peaches,

I am curious to know whether any of you with classic/antique plates have ever had the use of your vehicle challenged. Most states restrict vehicle use to club functions, car shows, etc. I want to know if anyone has ever seen this enforced in any way or been pulled over for a normal traffic stop and been questioned about their plates?

Thanks,

Curt

[79Mercy]

My 115 has a classic plate on it, i haven't been stopped yet, its my daily driver. My W123 still has the regular FL plate on it.

[gatorblue92]

here in Mississippi every car/truck over 25 years old gets one... i don't think there are any restrictions on use

[t walgamuth]

In Indiana an antique plate costs the same as any other so there is no issue about driving it. It is simply a visual option available to those who wish for an additional kick.

[daw_two]

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

here in Mississippi every car/truck over 25 years old gets one... i don't think there are any restrictions on use

What's the cost in Mississippi? I might need to move 10 miles south.

Tennessee has an Antique\Classic designation --- it's a one time fee of $25; driving is restricted to club events, parades, weekend driving, etc.--- penalty for using for daily driving is something like you lose the priviledge for 5 years, plus you have to pay the regular registration fees back to the time you acquired the plate\registration.

I think I'm going with a regular registration.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by curtis61387

Peaches,

I am curious to know whether any of you with classic/antique plates have ever had the use of your vehicle challenged. Most states restrict vehicle use to club functions, car shows, etc. I want to know if anyone has ever seen this enforced in any way or been pulled over for a normal traffic stop and been questioned about their plates?

Thanks,

Curt

Yes, pulled over mainly because the cops wanted to look at the bike. Which can be a PITA, but the cops want to get a looksee at the bike.

Antique plates in my state mean that you tell the cop that you are going to a show, rally, or to get repair work done on it. The plate is so cheap and good for 4 or 6 years, so that's what I did.

[thorsen]

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

here in Mississippi every car/truck over 25 years old gets one... i don't think there are any restrictions on use

The best part about the Mississippi antique plates is that they never expire, and you don't have to renew ($) them yearly.

[dickz]

I think the more critical issue is insurance as you pay a reduced rate (at least in MA) if it's got antique plates based on limited use. The insurance company looking for any excuse not to pay would certainly look at mileage, etc. to try to determine compliance.

[cadurning]

The cost for Antique plates in MS is $25.00 and they last for ever and no restrictions. We still have to get the annual "safety" inspection which costs $5.00. I don't think that the cops even care about the antique plates. I've never been stopped.

Now my classic car insurance is restricted to pleasure driving.

[Tony H]

I don't know about other states but in Ca one can use period correct plates for a original appearance. The plates have to be aquired(shows, Ebay etc) and shown to the DMV as being issued the year the car was built. There are places the plates can be restored-I had my front plate restored by Darrell's plates.

[sjefke]

In Georgia, no extra cost and no restrictions. Cars over 25 or 30 years (I forgot the exact number) qualify and can get them. I have never been pulled over/challenged on those. All my cars have them.

Bert

[Chas H]

I don't think the cops are gonna give you much trouble. Your insurance company may deny coverage if you're using the car beyond what the policy states. Consider this carefully.

[curtis61387]

I figured enforcement was pretty lax, I am currently living in a differn't state than my car is registered in and running classic/antique plates on two of my daily drivers. Have never had an issue, but have also never been pulled over. With so many differn't states having differnt laws I doubt any out of state cop would know or care to find out the law in regards to my plates if I do get pulled over.

Michigan's antique/classic plates are good for 10 years, they also allow you to use period correct plates on your classic which are good as long as the car is registered in your name.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

In Virginia, the antique tag regulations state "for parades, shows, club events, and for test-driving and repairing the automobile". Several years ago they added "and for occasional trips up to 250 miles from your home". No annual inspection required. But two years ago, Virginia sent letters to all antique tag-holders, demanding a response, under penalty of perjury, that their vehicles were in unmodified, safe operating condition. Wonder if that could mean a future state audit of antique vehicle owners. An elderly friend was distracted, dealing with his wife's terminal illness, and failed to respond, so they revoked the antique tags on his '74 240D!
I drove my antique-registered Fintail for several years without any cop-hassles, but a friend told me about someone that got a ticket for giving him a ride to the airport in an antique-registered Triumph.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[280EZRider]

I have lived in VA and what I remember is that is still an old commonwealth with rather anal rules about many things.

Ohio is just the opposite, in fact here in Cincinnati, all the stupid teenagers drive around in little Hondas & Toyotas with broken exhaust systems - no mufflers at all, or fart-cans on the tailpipe. In either case, they are loud & obnoxious, and cops do nothing to stop it. Then you have the ghetto bangers playing their boom, boom, boom, and cops do nothing to stop it. Any noise ordinance that may exist is not enforced.

Any car 25 years or better can have "Historical Plates" and their cost is $25 with a registration that lasts 40 years. You're not supposed to use this car as a daily driver, but recently a woman at DMV told me, "You should have a second car with normal plates." My insurance company told me there is no difference with liability coverage, in fact, they don't even make note of the plate, just the VIN. The cops couldn't care less about this either.

Cincinnati used to have an emmissions check, but they did away with it. True story.

If you're looking for a place where you can do anything you want and anarchy prevails, come to the disfunctional town of Cincinnati!