That’s how it is here in Tennessee I brought my tag in and they checked the number to make sure that it wasn’t in use and then registered the tag to my car. I just finished doing that last year for 3 of my cars and it was really easy
Even registered YOM plates are confusing for the cops. In Michigan, State gives you this to keep with your registration: (Read the last paragraph)
True. I have a motorcycle with a Michigan YOM plate; but the important thing here is the first paragraph...but is not used for general transportation. I have another bike with a California YOM, which is not subject to this restriction.
In Colorado you buy antique plates, Then fill out paperwork for your YOM plates and send the DMV a picture of both plates. The registration has both plate numbers on it. You also carry the antique plates with you. I only run a rear plate. The tags are on the antique plates.
In Texas you only need to run the rear plate. It has to be in reasonably good shape and in original colors. It's very important that before you buy the year of manufacture plate that you check that the sequence of letters and numbers isn't being used on a more current plate. If it is the plate you are about to buy can't be registered. Ask me how I learned that......
Good Evening here in Virginia I found a GREAT set of 1956 tags. You must have both and No state Inspection and you have to have insurance.Thats all..1956 Buick Century.. DMV check the numbers to make sure that they were good to go.
In NY you can run YOM plates that are original so long as the number is not in use. Car has to be 25 years old or older. Plates has to match the year of the car or what was the plate of that year if it's late 60's or newer. If it was a one year plate, you run one plate. Otherwise you run both. You have to have collector car insurance and register as a collector car first. There are "limitations" but they are so subjective you can pretty much run your car for what ever you want except every day transportation use. But the rules are so generic you can pretty much justify driving it for whatever you want so long as you aren't actually driving it every single day. Though some times people do get reported for "violating" the rules. Happened to my Uncle when he was retired. A county Sheriff's Deputy came to his house and said we had a report...blah blah blah. The cop didn't want to be there, but he had to "follow up" on the report. My Uncle continued to drive the car as he saw fit and that was that. The form to run YOM says they can not be painted, but see below. Sure sounds like you can restore them once your good to go. I tried to use the same plates my Dad had on an '84 Mustang, They were on the car for a decade and when I got the car after he passed I was told it's a dealer plate and you can't use it. Which is total bullshit. But that's off topic for here. The actual section of law for YOM plates is in the NYS V&T 401-7(G) "Schedule for historical motor vehicles. For each motor vehicle which is owned and operated as an exhibition piece or collectors item, and is used for participation in club activities, exhibit, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar uses, but not used for general daily transportation, an annual fee of twenty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents. For purposes of this paragraph, a historical motor vehicle shall mean any vehicle manufactured more than twenty-five years prior to the current calendar year, and any other model, year and type vehicle which has unique characteristics and which is determined by the commissioner to be of historical, classic or exhibition value. Registration plates for such vehicles shall be of a type and design approved by the commissioner, but shall be of a distinctive nature. Except that, with the approval of the commissioner, an owner of any such vehicle may utilize registration plates issued in the year corresponding to the model year date in which the vehicle was manufactured, if the registration plate is legible, durable, and serviceable, of this state, and accurate in color, as determined by the department. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the use of previously issued registration plates that have been restored, without deviation from their original alphanumeric or pictorial content, to such condition as otherwise satisfies all applicable requirements. Such plates shall be used only for the operation of the motor vehicle listed on the registration application and on other motor vehicles which would qualify for registration under this schedule owned by persons other than the registrant for the purpose of test driving by the registrant or his or her agent in anticipation of possible purchase. No such registration will be issued unless evidence of financial security, in a form prescribed by the commissioner, is submitted which provides coverage for the motor vehicle listed on the registration application and for non-owned motor vehicles being operated with such plates."
There is a fine line between them. Hot rods as they could have existed "in the day" are ok in my book.
My YOM plate is the registered plate for my 56. All it is is a personal plate to the state. Just make sure the number is not being used in the system already. Can be checked online at pa.gov
I run YOM plates on everything. In Oregon you can get a "special interest" plate, which are antique plates basically. Or you can register your YOM plate as special interest. Oregon is a two-plate-state, but if it's registered as special interest, you only need one. I have heard guys saying you can register other old plates to your car that aren't YOM, like it you had a hot rod that looked like it was built in the late-50's, you could register a 1950's plate to it. I see guys doing it, but the people at DMV that I've asked about that have all said no-go, it has to be the Year Of Manufacture. I think it depends on who you get on the other side of the counter at DMV..... ironandsteele.com
Another advantage to YOM plates in Michigan is that the registration never expires and you only have to pay $35 when you first get the plate registered. Prior to the YOM plate, it was costing me about 4 times that each year for registration.
I went ahead and pulled up the Iowa code for the YOM plates and found it under the "Replica vehicles and street rods" sub section. Iowa Code 321.115A A motor vehicle may be registered as a replica vehicle or street rod. The annual registration fee is the fee provided for in section 321.109, 321.113, 321.122, or 321.124. The owner of a vehicle registered under this section may display registration plates from or representing the model year of the motor vehicle or the model year of the motor vehicle the registered vehicle is designed to resemble, furnished by the person and approved by the department, in lieu of the current and valid Iowa registration plates issued for the vehicle, provided that the current and valid Iowa registration plates and the registration card issued for the vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection to any peace officer upon the officer’s request. The good: No restrictions on how much use or where the vehicle can travel. No equipment or inspection requirements. You can tell them what the vehicle is designed to resemble and that is what it will be (if the design falls short of perfection, so what) The no as good: You still have to have the original plate and registration in the vehicle and be able to present them if requested by LEO. Antiques have a different set of requirements that don't apply to us. This means I can drive the car out of state with legally registered YOM plates on the car.
AZ allows standard plates, personalized plates, "historic vehicle" plates, or YOM plates. Simple to check a plate against the AZ DOT database to verify it's not in current use. A buddy of mine wanted to use '62 plates on his '32 to match the build style, so he found a suitable tag, requested a personalized plate to match, then runs the old plate on the car and carries the personalized in the car just in case he's pulled over. So far (many years), so good. There's a guy that shows up in the swap meet section of the Goodguys show each year with "certified clear with the state" plates for you to buy. Check out the show in Des Moines to see if someone does the same thing up there. My '32 with 1932 plates:
Virginia has allowed YOM plates for a long time, provided the number is open. They issued plates every year from around 1929 to 1973, repeating the numbers each year. Finding an open number is hard and must be painted the same as original.
If getting YOM plates in Minnesota, check the plate number with the DMV before you spend a bunch of money for the plate. I have one on my 49 Buick, and for 49 the plate has to start with a letter or the DMV will not let you use it. The problem is they only used letters for the first 3 months of the year and then went to all numbers. So if you spend a bunch of money for 1949 plates that start with numbers they are just wall hangers.
Vintage plate or not, if a tag is in use (123-456) then the same number for use as a YOM tag can not be used. I can only speak for Virginia, but the DMV will not isue a tag from say 1950 that has the same number as one from 1955 already in use. Same number, different year will not fly.
Because the Zipper was originally registered as a 1999 home built, I couldn’t use the 1927 Colorado plate painted to match the car. Then I got personalized plates with the same numbers as the ‘27 plates.
Illinois is yom. I registered my truck normal (did not have to see if my yom were good or not.) and carry my tags under the front seat, 3 yrs plus and no problem.
YOM license plates are legal in South Carolina, We only need the rear license plate but it has to be approved before DOT will sign off on it, we still have to register the plate and the state sends a sticker to be kept in the car along with the registration card. The laws vary from State to State, Here in South Carolina there are some combinations of numbers and letters that were on the YOM license plates that can not be registered, do your homework and don't purchase a old license plate you can't use. HRP
Legal in Oklahoma, used to have to have a current conventional plate with you, now the yom is the only one needed. A current year sticker is displayed on the windshield.
I also live in Texas and Rockwall County requires both front and rear for YOM plates. I have also used Antique plates and for those it was only the rear plate. I guess it could be different in Houston where Doug520 lives. You can find state regulations on line. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.504.htm. then search for "Sec. 504.502. CERTAIN EXHIBITION VEHICLES". and for my '57 BelAir. You are also required to install the small tag that shows your county, the plate number and the expiration date. The YOM plates had to be approved by the Tax Colector when i purchased the small tag. They looked at condition and color. I had to restore the plates for my '40 Buick and the colors were Purple and White. The colors have to be close to the original shade. They said nothing about using reflective paint so I assume its not required.
Here in Maine you can run YOM plates on antiques as long as you have the vehicle registered as an antique and keep the registration and matching plates in the vehicle, they do not register or record your YOM plate number. The only issue I've had was when I got pulled over by a small town cop who didn't know the rules relating to YOM plates, after that I saved a copy of the ordinance in my phone. No other LE has bothered me about them. I bought mine off ebay for $50 for the pair. This is the text from State of Maine site- 3. Contemporary plates. An owner of an antique auto, horseless carriage, street rod or antique motorcycle may use registration plates that were issued in the same year the antique vehicle was manufactured, as long as the motor vehicle: A. Is over 25 years old; B. Is registered as an antique vehicle; and C. Carries a valid antique motor vehicle registration certificate and plates. 4. Display of contemporary plates. Contemporary registration plates must have matching plate numbers, be affixed to both the front and rear and conspicuously bear the year of manufacture.
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