Steps for using an old license plate???

[Peter B.]

Guys

I do not know where else to turn. The DOT has NO good procedures on this.

I purchased here in Florida a brand new (never used) license plate from a Car show for my 71 vette. He said that it needs to be "Authenticated" then can be used. I know it can be done. I see other antiques with super old tags.

Does anyone have any idea of what forms, numbers to call, people to contact, etc to allow me to do this?

Thanks for trying to help.

[Rainer S.]

Re: Steps for using an old license plate???

I purchased an antique licence plate for my 71 El Camino and will do the same for my 63 SWC, when completed.
I live in Michigan, we have a procedure, were you go to the Secretary of Stae office, they give you a form to use, with instructions.
You xrox the old licence plate, send the xrox copy with the application for registering , along with check for $36.00, copy of title and proof of insurance to the Sec of State in Lansing, Mi.
After about 3 weeks I had my registration, valid for as long as I own the car. Only restriction is, I can drive the car only on limited occations,( drive to car shows, cruise, to repair shop, parades etc).

[Donald B.]

Re: Steps for using an old license plate???

Obviously every state is different. Here in California I got the best information from an antique license plate collector - from whom I purchased the plates for my car. He knew exactly what years were acceptable, what sticker had to be on the plate, the required notorized release, DMV procedures, etc. Followed his advise and everything went smooth as can be.

You may want to take the same approach.

[Rob A.]

Re: Steps for using an old license plate???

Peter,

If you run into the usual DMV personnel, they may tell you it can't be done, or make it seem like it requires a great amount of trouble. I would recommend calling the main DMV office in your state. They will know what's required and you'll avoid the uninformed people you may run into in your local office. My local DMV office (California) told me it could not be done. I called Sacremento and everything was fine. The new rule here in California is the plates had to have been issued to the vehicle at one time. A lot of people are buying the plates at the swap meet, and finding out that whether the plate is "clear" or not, it can't go on their car unless it was previously registered to it.

[Mark #28455]

I live in Florida

Just did this in January - IT WORKS! It cost me$21.60 and took about a month. Your plate has to be the one that has 1971 and 1972 if your car is a 1971 (NOT 1970 and 1971). Email me with your fax number and I can fax the info to you.
Mark

[Donald M.]

Re: I live in Florida,too

Mark is correct. I have a black '67/'68 plate on my '67.I recently purchased a SINGLE YEAR '67 (no '67/'68) Florida plate. They were issued for half a year and expired on Sept.30th of 1967. They are rare and command a high price at the swap meets when compared to the 2 year plates. The plate does not say "Sunshine State". I hadn't heard that the year of the car must match the first year date on the plate.

[Mark #28455]

Re: I live in Florida,too

I was told by the seller of the plates that you could use either plate - example 1968 1969 or 1969 1970 for a 1969 vehicle, but the papers that the DMV uses to decide specifies the 1969 1970 for the 1969 model year.
Mark

[Stephen P.]

Re: I live in Florida,too

It's a much simpler process in North Carolina for cars over 35 years old. You can use any year of manufacture tag, so long as you keep the current registered tag inside the car. I use a 65 NC tag for my 65 Vette, but some use tags from different states. I'm not sure of the legality of using tags from other states, but have not heard of any problems doing so. The old tag doesn't need to be registered to the car.

[Gary B.]

Rob; I can't use yellow on black plates on my '66

Rob,

Just to be clear, I believe I am correct in stating that under current Californai law I cannot use 1966 vintage yellow on black CA plates on my '66 since my car originally came from Ohio and entered California in 1997 and the used '66 vintage yellow on black CA plates I purchased were not originally assigned to the car. I've check with CA DMV and I know the '66 vintage plates I have are "clear", but I think I have to wait until the CA decides to retire all of the old yellow on black plates before I could use them on my car.

Gary

[Rob A.]

Re: Rob; I can't use yellow on black plates on my

Gary,

That is correct. When I put the original black and gold plates back on a '66 that originally had them, they made me bring in the plates for inspection. It had about an inch thick layer of registration stickers on it, and they still tried to give me a hard time. Finally, I contacted Sacremento, at which time they gave me the current requirement that the plates were previously registered to the vehicle. I still see them for sale at the swap meets, even though they can't (legally) be used.

[Gary B.]

Rob; things may eventually change

Rob,

I'm hoping that eventually the 63-70 CA yellow on black plates will be allowed to be used on cars that didn't originally come with them. I believe that the pre-1963 CA (black on yellow) plates can be used in a year of manufacturer way, since all those plates were officially retired as some point or something changed with them so that this is legal.

Gary

[Curt S.]

Re: Florida - registering with old plates

Older FL plates need to be sent to Tallahassee for "verification" only to assure;
a) It is in fact an original FL state issued license plate
b) It has enough reflective coating left to pass their safety test
Reflectivity is the same reason FL DMV regulations state all FL plates must be replaced every 5 years. Not sure if FL DMV even gives a hoot about the plate year -vs - car year since I registered a 1971 with a 70/71 plate last summer.

[Rob Edwards]

Re: Rob; things may eventually change

Here in CA, I put a pair of restored Black on yellow (1956 series) plate with a 1962 registration sticker on the '62 last summer. At that time, the '62 was the newest MY you could put antique plates on. After getting the plates and sticker, (from Bill Figge, he's got a nice collection of guaranteed clear plates) the process was pretty easy. I called the Sacramento Special Plates Unit (916) 657-7606 to verify the plates were clear, then took them to the DMV with the application form (#352, had to request a paper copy by mail, not available online). The lady verified they were clear, measured the plates and completed the transaction, no problem.
Rob- is this new requirement true for ALL YOM plates, or just '63 and newer? That would be a bummer if they don't change the requirement for black plates. There are a lot of C2's around here that would look better with black plates!

[Charlie P.]

Will this work in Florida?

Here's what I did in New Jersey- I had a standard registration (not historic or antique) for my '53 Cadillac. I applied for a vanity, or personalized, plate with the same characters as a 1953 plate I bought for the car. I then had a registration that matched it. Since it was a standard registration, I had to get the car inspected every two years. No restrictions on use, though.

[Gary B.]

Re: Rob; things may eventually change

Rob,

It's been possible to do what you did with your '56 series plates for many years. And nothing has changed regarding the 63-70 plates. Can't do it now. Couldn't ever do it. Somehow the state has to do something that undoubtedly will cost lots of money in order to make the 63-70 plates valid as YOM plates. I don't see it happening until the state of CA starts running a surplus. Might never happen in my lifetime.

Gary