Some hard-hitting investigative reporting from Seattle. Apparently we have scofflaws with collector plates driving around in cars that display bubbled Bondo and peeling paint!
From the story: If you own a beautifully restored classic, like a 1969 Impala, state law gives you a big break on licensing fees. That perk comes with reasonable restrictions, but lack of enforcement has made a mockery of the program.
After Team 7 Investigators received complaints that the car was being used for commuting, we watched and videotaped: No parade on this rainy day - just a trip to Target at the South Hill Mall.
Given the Bug’s condition - bubbled Bondo- and peeling paint- it’s questionable that anyone would really call it a classic. Still - there it is - the free-for-life classic plate.
The VW bug’s owner is Diana Burton. She admitted to us her daughter occasionally drives the car to school and back home, but defended her decision to get the low-cost collector plates
Halsne: “You know that - you know that’s the rule?”
Burton: “I’m not breaking any laws! We don’t use it as a commuter car. It is rarely used, so I don’t know why they are complaining and I don’t think you want me to go into the ‘mind your own business thing’ I went into earlier.”
Burton told us her car is more than 30 years old, so she believes it qualifies, despite its physical condition.
”I financially can’t bring my car to the show car at this point. Eventually I want to do that,” said Burton.
In Nova Scotia the “antique plates” require the owner to have a mechanical fitness paper filled out by a Liscensed mechanic. No need for anymore vehicl ispections(every two years on daily drivers) Sometime this is turned into a joke. I know of several “antiques” that didnt see the inside a liscensed garage—money talks. One car I know of has welded outer tie rods. '55 chevy with a cavalier rack/pinion. eeeeww! I by no means follow every law but somethings just dont seem sane.
In Ohio, you can’t get Collectors Plates or Historical (Free) Plates unless you supply the BMV with the license plate number of your daily driver… which CANNOT have any type of Historical or Collector’s Plates.
I did double take the first time I saw the antique plates on a buddy’s '86 Fiero. I still think of those as completely modern cars. Made me feel old to realize it had passed the 25-year mark.
Illinois is event and repair/service only for antique plates. In the summer that covers most every weekend. I will drive mine to work a couple times a year but that will be for a post work event. And yeah it seems weird to see the plates on an mid eighties car!
I don’t guess OK is that bad on plates…just got my renewal notice on mine, $23 for a normal tag. Are the other states way higher, that you guys want historicals? (Just wondering the driving factor for getting them?)
$110 in IL for reg and I think it is $45 for 5 years on vintage plates. When I lived in GA I paid $260 for new car and $12 for older Mustang. Plate fees was based on vehicle age. That was in the late 80s so not sure still that way.
$94 in IL for renewal, no? Pretty sure that’s what I just saw when I registered my Bronco a few days ago.
Antique plates here do end up saving you hundreds of dollars. But you have to either lie and cheat the system (like the exposee in the first post is about) or you can never drive your car except as brick described, to shows or for repairs. Personally I figure why try and cheat the system, so I just went ahead with normal plates for my Cougar. Well, personalized plates. And extra $15 a year or whatever, to have the plate say something I can memorize easily because I picked it out. The Bronco I figured screw it, just went with a standard old random plate.
I think people who try and cheat the system like that should get in lots of trouble. Be liable to pay double what they should have been paying all along, that sort of thing. You want an old car? Cool. Do it right. No shenanigans!!!
Same up here, antique plates are only to go to shows, meets, or a service station. Not worth it. I pay full price, and get a refund when i “unplate” it for storage. plating and unplating is done on the web.
The lady with the Bug isn’t cheating. The law allows collector vehicles to be driven for pleasure and she said she doesn’t use her car to commute. The reporter thinks she’s cheating because she has collector plates on a beat up Bug instead of a restored Impala.
Here in Nova scotia it 180 for two years to liscense my d/d. It under 20 bucks to go antique per year, January to december. Doesnt matter when you buy the tags, there up Dec of tht year. You must have one other vehicle liscensed and insured in your name as a d/d before they will give you the plates
Here in South Carolina I use regular plates. Classic / antique plates limit you on when and where you drive. Regular plates cost goes by the age of the auto. Mine are less than 50 dollars per year. I can live with that and drive my Cougar when I want. Now insurance limits how many miles I can drive a year due to my collector car policy, 1200 miles.
Steven
The great thing about Arkansas antique vehicle plates is that they never expire and don’t have to be renewed. Buy it once and you’re done for as long as you own the vehicle. Its a real time & money saver for a vehicle you plan to hold on to.
However, I do wish Arkansas had a “vintage plate” program like they do in Oklahoma. I really liked being able to run an actual '69 tag on my Eliminator.
