You might be considering getting vintage license plates for your newly acquired (or existing) classic car, whether you’re into collections or car shipping. You can get these plates from your DMV if your vehicle is old enough to qualify. Collector plates are also sometimes called vintage plates, antique plates, or historic plates.
Most times, getting an antique plate can be problematic. So, we have put together a few suggestions for getting it quickly and easily.
Does Your Car Qualify?
The first step is to check if your vehicle is legal to receive license plates. After figuring out whether or not your car is old enough to meet the requirements in your state, you should look into the limitations imposed by the plates in question. Once again, these are unique across the country.
This status is often achieved when a vehicle has been driven for 25 years. However, the age threshold for defining a vehicle as an antique or classic varies by state. For example, a car must be at least 30 years old to be considered an antique or historical vehicle in Florida.
Register Your Antique Plate
You’ll need to do some homework to make sure you meet the requirements before making the purchase, but getting the plates is otherwise straightforward. In addition to the standard registration paperwork, you’ll need to fill out a particular form that specifies the sort of license plate you’re eligible to display on your vehicle.
A car manufactured in Tennessee between 1977 and 1983 would be issued a license plate from that year’s designated period. Plates in the Empire State will be issued in accordance with the year of manufacture of the vehicle.
Know the Laws
Antique license plates may be less expensive initially, but they can cost you more later. You may be subject to penalties such as monetary fines or traffic citations if you violate state regulations. When relocating to a new state, don’t assume that the ownership laws will differ, even if you have vintage license plates.
In most cases, the actual cost of obtaining antique or classic license plates is that you are restricted in your ability to use the vehicle as a more modern car. Typical uses for an automobile are limited to going to automotive-related events, taking it for a test drive, getting it fixed, or taking it to an auction.
States have different regulations regarding how far and when you can drive for pleasure. The state of Virginia, for instance, allows residents to travel up to 250 miles from their homes on any given day. In contrast, Tennessee restricts general transportation use to Saturday and Sunday weekend days but imposes no mileage limits.
After getting your antique license plates, the next step is to secure the appropriate classic car insurance. It will save you a lot of trouble in the coming days, especially with your antique plates. You can also contact DMV on how to make things seamless when you have an antique plate.