I am wanting to run Y.O.M. (year of manufacture) plates on my '64 Pontiac Coupe here in Illinois. I've checked and re-checked the Illinois DMV website to no avail... Google searches have been fruitless also. Anyone out there in Ill. running Y.O.M. plates, and can tell me how to go about it? (I prefer to go to the local DMV knowing the steps, 'cus I know they'll tell me I can't do it...). If Illinois doesn't offer this option, I'd like to know that too, so I don't waste my time and theirs with endless phone calls to Springfield. I appreciate any and all help. -Tony B.
From the Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/3-804(b) "Any person who is the registered owner of an antique vehicle may display a historical license plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle, furnished by such person, iin lieu of the current and valid Illinois antique vehicle plates issued thereto, provided that valid and current Illinois antique vehicle plates and registration card issued to such antique vehicle are simultaneiously carried within such vehicle and are available for inspection." Now the short version is yes you can if you have antique plates for it and carry them with you. Of course if you drive it regularly you are violation the antique plate restrictions. Most officers do not know about the restrictions, so if you want to take the chance that is up to you. Bill
Willy is right. Just put on the YOM plates and drive. Just make sure you have your real AV plates in the car somewhere... and it wouldn't hurt to keep a copy of the laws, too. I got pulled over because the cop couldn't recognize the YOM plates and nothingcame up when he ran them. I had to explain the law to him... he called in and confirmed it... then happily told me all about the 1980 Monte Carlo he was restoring...
gear jam, i have had antique plates since 1980 and have had absolutley no problems driving the wheels off my cars. as long as you arent racing around, i dont think the man will notice that you are not goingto a "show or parade". i only run my 36 illinois plates when i go to a cruise nite or a deffinate car show ( not that often) for fear of being harrased by johnny law.maybe i am too chicken to really test the law. mike
I have run, for over a year, Y.O.M. plates on my Citroën with no problems (read: no tickets; a couple cops have asked, no issues tho.). And they are French plates, made by: http://www.licenseplates.tv/index.php to match my Illinois number. I currently tie-wrap my IL plate to the rear bumper, but plan on making a hide-a-plate bracket for it. Due to an oversight in the law, there is no requirement to run actual ILLINOIS plates, just Y.O.M. plates, or, that's how I read it. Loopholes, gotta love 'em!! Cosmo
Yeah Cosmo is right about that, you could run California plates or whatever. Personally I just run the antique ones so to avoid the hassle. Bill
SWEET!! Thanks for the replies! I currently have a Y.O.M. set that I bought when I was in Hawaii, from a guy who retired from their DMV. He also hooked me up with the 1964 Hawaii tax window stickers. I had wanted to run those plates to match the stickers, but figured there was just no way in hell I could. -Many Thanks, and see y'all around this summer! Tony B.
I just got my AV plates for my 65 Ranchero and I'm running Y.O.M. Indiana plates (keeping the AV plates under the seat). Is anyone running Y.O.M. plates in the city of Chicago? It sounds like elsewhere in Illinois there hasn't been much trouble but I'm weary of those department of finance vans that cruise around constantly. I dont want to come out to find myself booted. Also, anyone in the city with AV plates; did you buy a city sticker? Thanks.
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