Why You Might Want an Antique License Plate
Registering a seasoned vehicle as an antique can bring benefits — but there are strings attached.
Aaron Miller | Capital One
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If you own an older car or truck you believe is a vehicle of historic significance, you might want to consider registering it with your state as such. Doing so can be beneficial in a number of ways, but it will also come with restrictions. Here's what you need to know.
Figuring Out Which Cars Qualify for Antique License Plates
Whether or not a vehicle qualifies for an antique license plate depends on what you drive and where you live.
Vehicles must meet certain criteria before they can officially be registered as historic. The requirements vary somewhat from state to state, but in general, the vehicle needs to be above a certain age (usually between 20 and 30 years old) and it must not be used for routine transportation (forget about that daily Starbucks run).
If your vehicle meets your state's requirements, you may find that antique registration confers a number of benefits. Registration can be cheaper (or even free), and that registration could last significantly longer than a typical registration — possibly for as long as you own the vehicle. You might also be exempted from your state's vehicle-inspection requirements.
But those potential perks come with restrictions. Depending on how your car is classified, you may be allowed to use it only for exhibition or club purposes or to take it to a repair shop for maintenance. Violating these restrictions can have serious consequences, including fines and the revocation of your antique registration.
Different States Have Different Classifications for Historic Vehicles
Historic vehicles are generally broken down into more detailed classifications, which you'll want to consider when choosing a license plate for your older car or truck. These classifications vary from state to state, as do license plate prices and restrictions. Here's a look at a few examples.
A historic plate in Michigan costs $30 and is good for 10 years. Michigan, like some other states, also allows drivers to use an antique license plate in good condition from the vehicle's year of manufacture. If you own a 1931 Ford Model A, you might be able to operate it using a license plate that was stamped in 1931.
Florida offers a few categories to register a classic, including street rod, horseless carriage, and antique designations.
Texas notes that year-of-manufacture plates need to be viewed by a county tax assessor-collector's office before being bolted onto the car. Vehicles over the age of 30 can be termed "Antique"; if you register them as such, they're exempt from annual inspection.
Wisconsin will issue collector license plates to largely unmodified cars that are at least 20 years old.
Also, a speciality license plate doesn't necessarily mean your car is exempt from emissions testing. In Colorado, a car that's at least 32 years old and has been registered on the state's collector plates may still need an emissions test every five years if it's registered in a county that requires such periodic inspections.
The list of requirements goes on. Check with your local department of motor vehicles for your state's current fee schedule and regulations.
