OT: WI HAMBers Collector Plates??

Hey Guys,

Has anybody here with not a 100% stock car had issues with the DMV? I wanted to get collector plates for my 58. Other than the wheels, front disc brakes, and mufflers the car is pretty stock. It's in black primer and the interior isn't stock upholstery but it has the stock seats and hardware. Most of the modifications are bolt on. The drivetrain is 100% stock & numbers matching.

I've only heard of one guy getting a hard time for collector plates. That was years ago and he had them on a pro-street 55 chevy.

I know a guy at work just tried to get them for his 55. They didn't have an issue with his wheels, but the did start asking him questions about his chromed out engine. As soon as he said it wasn't original the told him to get the hobbyist plates.

If one were to get a hard time what would that entail? Would they make me switch them to Hobbyist plates? Would I then have to pay for the Hobbyist plate?

I know you guys are thinking why don't you just get the hobbyist plate? Well I think they're fugly. Plus I already have my collector plate collection going (A,B,C,D, etc...). All my dad's cars had collector plates on when I was growing up (except for his street rod) so they remind me of my childhood.

I was going to throw some stock steel wheels and hubcaps on for the pictures when I register the car along with a factory air cleaner from my Buick.

-OSSS

 

we just had a hassle with getting collector plates for a customer that bought our bone-stock 50 Cadillac...because it had an under dash temp. gauge. no BS!

The lady spent half a day getting info, photos and calling us. In the end, she deferred to her supervisor. I have yet to hear their conclusion. The Hobbyist plate is the alternative.

there is something going on...I feel it is a money grab deal like Illinois has going.

I know politics are frowned upon, but if upcoming recalls are successful and the power switches sides, this could be the tip of the iceberg. Just saying...

 

I just put normal plates on my car so i don't have to deal with it. Costs per year and if i remember right collectors do not.

and i am with Bob something is going on I have heard of other people having problems

 

collector or hobbyist plates are $200 one time cost, no renewal costs.

and if you sell the vehicle, they are $150 to transfer.

regular auto plates are $75 per year.

 

Wow, that's ridiculous. I don't even get why they're making a big deal about it. The price and operating guidelines for a Hobbyist plate and Collector plate are the same. Maybe the DMV people are watching Barret-Jackson and think we're all millionaires trying to pull a fast one on the system.

Since they're not doing in a visual inspection, what's stopping people from just registering their cars with pictures from the internet?

 

You may not realize that the bill that allowed the military vehicles (SB329) to be registered using the collector plates (this bill could conceivably be a model for future legislation that keeps our ability to register our vehicles) was introduced by Jon Erpenbach, D from Madison, and signed into law by former Gov. Doyle, also a Democrat. I am only pointing this out because we need to stop assuming anyone from either party supports or is against our ability to register special interest vehicles in a simple and fair way just because of their party affiliation.

 

it is about the ability to arbitrarily assess additional sales tax, like they do in Illinois. Not about the ability to register a specialty vehicle.

 

Bobwop, is it true that I will have to produce receipts for all parts that I bought before they will issue a hobbyist plate for the '34 pickup that I'm building? Something about collecting sales tax on parts bought out of state. I have 3 other cars with hobbyist plates and didn't have a hassle with them years ago.

 

I cannot confirm what you say is true, but I have heard about locals that built cars that went through just that very thing. But it is only hearsay.

Things have dramatically changed in the past few years and again in the past few months.

 

I would get regular plates first, get the car and title in your name and go from there. That way it's legal in your name and you can drive it. From that point on you can deal with the B.S. of getting the other plates.,

 

The last time I bought collector plates for my panel truck I just went down to the DMV with the title and registered, paid the fee and I was out the door. I had to wait for the plate but that was all. This was maybe 5 years ago, has it changed that much since then? If it has it's going to be a real hassle registering my '37 Buick. I have it all apart, the frame is mostly finished but it's sitting in my shop and the body is in a shed at home.

What is the current procedure for getting collector plates? I've ready plenty of articles in different magazines that warn you should get your car registered before starting any work, one mistake I've already done. Can I just send pictures of it in pieces? I would guess this also would set off red flags and they'd want a full inspection of the car.

I'll have to call the DMV tomorrow and see what they will tell me.

 

to get collector plates, at least eight photos are required.

you won't get collector or hobbyist plates on an unfinished car anymore. If they see photos, etc. of the project, it may take inspection by the State Patrol before they issue anything.

if you want to register a project, just get regular car plates

 

The DOT web site states:

How to apply




All Collector license plate applications must be mailed to the address below. Collector plates are not available or processed at DMV customer service centers. Send the following items:

1. A completed and signed Collector License Plates Application form MV2323 (399 KB).
2. Pictures of the engine compartment, interior and exterior of the vehicle, and all sides.
3. If the vehicle you wish to register with Collector plates is already titled in your name and
4. is currently registered, send a copy of your Certificate of Registration.
5. is not currently registered, send the actual Certificate of Title (not a photocopy).
6. If the vehicle is not titled in your name, send a completed title application (MV1 (684 KB) or MV11, if purchased from a dealer), assigned title and all required fees, including Collector registration fees.
7. Using the fee schedule below, determine Collector registration fees. NO credit is given for any current registration. If you are transferring Collector plates from a vehicle you no longer own, you must pay the same fee as when applying for a second or subsequent collector vehicle registration.
8. A check or money order payable to: Registration Fee Trust.

​

I'll send them pictures of the car before I tore it apart, I think these'll do. I don't think they'll have a problem believing I paid $550 for it.:

 

i was told by a state trooper that this summer they are going to be pulling you over if you have collecter plates to check for mods.last month i sent in for collecter plates , received a letter back stating to sent in photoes of front,back,sides ,interior,dash,under the hood .......... i sent photoes in stating hobbist plates,it is not worth the bullshit ,why take a chance. JUST MY 2''

 

I'm wishing you well, let us know how this turns out and how long it takes. I'm through getting my hopes up with anything that involves the WI DMV.

QUOTE=bobj49f2;7516772]The DOT web site states:

How to apply





All Collector license plate applications must be mailed to the address below. Collector plates are not available or processed at DMV customer service centers. Send the following items:

1. A completed and signed Collector License Plates Application form MV2323 (399 KB).
2. Pictures of the engine compartment, interior and exterior of the vehicle, and all sides.
3. If the vehicle you wish to register with Collector plates is already titled in your name and
4. is currently registered, send a copy of your Certificate of Registration.
5. is not currently registered, send the actual Certificate of Title (not a photocopy).
6. If the vehicle is not titled in your name, send a completed title application (MV1 (684 KB) or MV11, if purchased from a dealer), assigned title and all required fees, including Collector registration fees.
7. Using the fee schedule below, determine Collector registration fees. NO credit is given for any current registration. If you are transferring Collector plates from a vehicle you no longer own, you must pay the same fee as when applying for a second or subsequent collector vehicle registration.
8. A check or money order payable to: Registration Fee Trust.

​

I'll send them pictures of the car before I tore it apart, I think these'll do. I don't think they'll have a problem believing I paid $550 for it.:






[/QUOTE]

 

I think those photos would qualify your car for Collector plate status. And the purchase price is believable.

Let's just hope they don't require an inspection.

best wishes!

 

I am curious how picky the new WisConSin dot is going to be on Collector plates? I have an 89 Diesel suburban with a 5sp manual transmission, it came with a 4speed that kept burning up. Are they really going to argue that even though everything is BONE STOCK and original that I need to have hobbiest plates because I put the shifter in? The vehicle could come either way, not sure why this would be a big deal.

Also what are the fines for having a very slightly modded vehicle?

I would think they would understand that as vehicles age certain unreliable or plain rare/expensive parts are going to get replaced with whatever is needed to keep it running.

I guess I just wonder how rediculous they are going to get on this?

I don't much want hobbiest since the last one I mistakenly plated that way was impossible to insure (even though the thing is stock, its an oddball EV)

 

Don't give them any more information than what they ask for. As long as the truck had the option I doubt they'll care. The vehicles they're concerned about are the '57 Chevys with the blown engines, roll cages and narrowed rear ends. As long as your truck is in stock manifactured configurations I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

I agree with bobj. Just act as though it is totally stock and you should have no problem.

I have been staying in touch with this topic. Reports say they have even rejected vehicles from Collector plate status because they had an after market stereo!

 

Hey Guys,

Little update. Went to the DMV three weeks ago. Received the title and sent in for my plates the next day. Haven't heard anything yet nor have they cashed my check. It's a little ridiculous that they won't give you temporary tags and it takes forever to get your plates. What are we supposed to do if we want to drive our new rides in this nice weather? I sure hope the post office didn't lose my envelope since it had my title in. Maybe I should have sent it via fedex...

One interesting thing that I never knew, if you take a self addressed and stamped envelope with you to the DMV when you title the car, they'll send your old title back to you. I wish I would have known that when I titled my 62 vette. I wasn't as concerned with the wagon since it has a AZ state issued vin. I always made photocopies of my old titles when taking them in but for historical sakes the real deal would have been better.

The guy that helped me at the DMV was pretty cool. He wanted to see pictures of the car since his parents had a 56 wagon when he was a kid.

-OSSS

P.S. Why can "modified" military vehicles run collector plates but actual modified collector cars not run them?

 

I just did a collector tag and had to send in the pics for the first time.(I have 3 collector tags and 2 hobby tags)I wonder who is charge of deciding what is stock and what is modified? Especially from some pics.The post about the state patrol checking cars for mods?that should be interesting since most of them don't what is stock and what isn't unless it has wheelie bars and a blower sticking out of the hood. The other thing i keep hearing about is dmv sending you a letter 1 year after getting your tags and telling you that they decided your car is worth more than you reported so now you owe them more tax.I had a freind that got that letter this spring and just paid it instead of arguing about it.Can you imagine what kind of cash they can get out of doing that?

 

If you know the vehicle is modified then why not run Hobbyist plates. If you want to be guaranteed to drive it in nice weather then regular car plates might have been the better choice fo now. This whole issue is still somewhat of a cluster-fook and until I see proof that they have righted it completely, I'll continue to get regular plates so i can at least drive my cars.

 

I had them send me a letter stating I owed dodge county sales tax a year after I bought the car about a month after I moved to Dodge County. When I bought it and registered it I lived in Fond du Lac county. I called in and asked how the could justify that. They apologized and I never heard about it again. I wonder how many people they get to just pay it when they do crap like that.

The DMV is becoming more and more like the DNR.

 

I got my Ford titled 3 years ago and had no issues whatsoever- just like getting a regular car, except I had to wait for the plates. The fella I bought it from let me use his plates until I got mine, then I sent them back to him.

My brother is a cop and he said that there is no way in hell that they are going to start looking to pull over cars for mods. Obviously, if the car is a r*t rod piece of shit that's held together with baling wire and twist ties and doesn't look roadworthy, they may get a second look.

 

getting "COLLECTOR" and "HOBBYIST" license plates in Wisconsin requires photos and written description
of the vehicle and listing any changes made to the vehicle. Their is a delay in the issuing of the license plates
due to WisDMV reviewing the photos and submitted info.

If, your vehicle has a valid title, getting annual registration plates does not require photos or written documentation.

To avoid the hassle and pitfalls of the "COLLECTOR" and "HOBBYIST" license plate, would you apply for the "COLLECTOR",
"HOBBYIST" or annual registration license plate ?

What is the value of getting your car registered, license plates, on the road and avoid the WisDMV scrutiny of your original
or non-original vehicle ?

If, the $200.00 "COLLECTOR", "HOBBYIST" license plate appeals to you, then pay your $200.0 entry fee and have a seat
at the WisDMV license plate crapshoot table.

If, the $75.00 annual registration license plate appeals to you, pay your $75.00, avoid the crapshoot table and motor on.

I recognize that economics are to be considered in this license plate registration situation but, how much is it worth
to you to drive your car ? Understanding that, the investment in the cars can be little or large, is paying $75.00 a year
too much to pay after the thousands of dollars and hours invested in the car.

Collectors want to be recognized as "COLLECTORS". OK.

Hobbyists want to be recognized as "HOBBYISTS". OK.

Others want to drive and no recognition. OK.

In Wisconsin, the vehicle enthusiasts have one of three choices. OK, we still have choices, some easier than others,
we want to keep it that way.

Being that, I am from "back in the day", we didn't have specialty plates, vanity plates or similar crap for our hot rods or customs. Still don't have any such plates on my cars or cycles to this day.

The "specialty plate" situation is becoming a problem in many states (Maryland the latest) and I believe the problem will become more complex. The more specialty vehicle enthusiasts want to be treated special (license plates etc), the easier it is for
governing agencies to place the enthusiasts vehicles in a "specialty" group, then the vehicles become easier to isolate from the general vehicle population and the vehicles become easy targets for specific and selective legislation and requirements.

 

listen to Curt, he is the foremost authority, IMHO.

the time passed is NOTHING compared to some. I have seen it take more than three months for our customers to receive their new title/plates.

we recently had a customer's application for Collector plates get kicked due to a non-stock radio. It is all dependant on the individual processing the application.

but keep in mind, Collector plates are for non-modified vehicles.

 

I pm'd you

Curt R

 

I wanna know who's blind grandma picked out those FN ugly colors for the collector and hobbyist plates in the first place? I'll pay the annual fee just so I don't have to look at them on my car!

 

I figured something like this was coming, so a few years ago I transferred my 57 & 58 titles and applied and received collector plates. I wrote a big check for all fees, and received them a few weeks later. There was no photos or exceptions to speak of. Last year I finally applied for my t-bird, had to submit photos of all sides, engine, interior. I got the confirmation in July, the plate showed up in January all bent up with a tire track across it. I think the part about being pulled over for mods is a can of worms, seeing how it wasn't an issue when I got them. Mark

 

I do know a guy that got his collector plates pulled from his 57 Chevy. State cop read him the riot act because he had Cragars on it. He then saw the tuck & rolled original interior and the collector plates were history. He lost the $$$ he paid for the plates and had to buy regular plates immediately! Maybe local cops would let this stuff slide but not state cops!