Licenseplate.tv vs Calif DMV

Anyone with any experience using repo plates from licensepaltes.tv to go thru the YOM program in California?

I am considerign two options and I need some advice for those that have seen the end results.

The first one is to use my newly issued plate number and have licenseplates.tv fabricate two black and yellow plates ('51) for my 1951 chevy truck. I can ad the tabs for the rear with the current year and month. I understand their plates are metal and not plastic or fibergl***.

My second option is that I have a 1951 comercial plate (original black and yellow) However, the condition of it is trashed and I only have one but the plate itself is clear for DMV records. I can have them fabricate two copies of that plate and try to go thru the YOM program. I am just not sure if they can tell if these plates made by licenseplates.tv are repops and confi****e them. (perhaps the metal will be different or the condition is just too new)

At least with the first option the numbers will come back to the license plate registered with the car, I not sure how a police officer can tell during a stop, if the plate is a repop of the original or not, as long as the number is correct and the current tags are displayed...can they tell what type of plate is supposed to be there?

Making of the plates, either option, will come to about $200 which is a lot less than going for OG 1951 plates if good cleared condition for the YOM program.

Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

 

When I registered my 51 with YOM plates Originals, they inspected them really well to make sure they were real. I would not mess around with fake plates or running plates made with the same numbers as a new plate! In the long run it would probably be cheaper to find a good set of DMV clear plates!

 

Why not just repaint your new plates in the old colors? I've seen a lot done that way. Never seen yellow on black background. But, black on yellow is fairly common for repaints.

 

Option one is a Felony- plain and simple. You are NOT allowed to run a plate not made by the DMV- and that's a RED FLAG when its a new number on an old style plate. Option two has less risk, but know that it's still something a real hard*** can pop you for.

 

No way. The 51 plate is the most complicated of the CA plates. There is no way they can exactly replicate a 1951 plate. I don't believe it will look good enough to p*** either. Especially is you take one real, and one repop.

 

I wouldn't mess around for the extra $100-$150- original plates will run. I saw a guy show up at Long Beach Swap with HUNDREDS of pairs of original CA plates back to the teens. He cleaned out some old guys garage and was selling pairs for $40-$50. Had to be there- they were going as fast as he could take the money.

 

Whaaazam!! Presto!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DMV-...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35ad4e9030

 

listen to Jim.

you haveto have a commercial plate on a truck. Its the sequence of numbers on new plates. The coppers know this.

 

If it's a truck then you are required to run a commercial plate, even through the YOM program. All current plates in CA have 7 digits. Commercial plates in CA will have 6 numbers and 1 letter in this sequence, i.e. 1A23456. P***enger plates always have 4 numbers and 3 letters in this sequence, i.e. 1ABC234. Believe me a truck with p***enger plates or vice-versa stands out like a sore thumb to po-po not because they are so concerned with DMV standards, trust me most police cant stand the dumb**** DMV, but because it is a tell-tale sign of a stolen car being moved by the thief "cold plating" the car to try and slip by. You be amazed by how many idiots get caught this way.

As far as painting the newer plates in the old colors, it's a misdemeanor in CA to alter any license plate regardless and yes there may be a few uptight cops out there that will actually give you the fix it ticket. They wont tow the car of make a big deal about it if it is the correct plate issued to the car and you dont behave like a douchebag, but they may stop you more than not just to make sure it's not a stolen.

Bottom line is, the safest and least h***le way is to buy some YOM plates that are DMV clear and have been restored already and thats one less reason to get stopped.

 

I had a set of blue and yellow plates i painted black and yellow, no one ever noticed then one day i was talking to a guy and he made the comment that the color on the plates was wrong that they should be blue and yellow, asked if i had painted them, long story shortened he was a retired cop and knew the letter before number was later plates. so they were a lot closer than the new ones that will stand out like a sore thumb if painted, stay away from the repop ones that is asking for trouble.

 

When I bought my 56 with yellow plates...the DMV gave me a rough time...had to bring them in so that they could check them out..Worked out fine...but I wouldn't mess with anything other than original plates.

 

Dont do it unles you want your truck towed away at a traffic stop for a lousy burned out brake light bulb.

 

Do not engage in magical thinking. Cops are not dumb, despite what some might think. It is their job to put criminals in jail, which is exactly what you'd be in California, should you use a reproduced plate.

As has been mentioned before, it is a FELONY. Nothing is work risking your freedom and future meaningful employment prospects over.

Just a couple of hours with a lawyer, trying to figure out how to get the charges knocked down to a misdemeanor will cost more than a matched set of vintage plates, in acceptable condition.

 

Extremely good advice!!!

 

Your first option was done by a freind of mine. He got new plates (they were personals) and had display plates made (what your talking about) and they are steel also. He just put his tags on them and put DMV ones away. Is it legal no, is done alot yes. One cop told us if you don't bring attention to yourself its over looked. However he said not all of us think the same.

 

MHO , buy the correct real plates . what if you put the fakes on & they impounded your car ?? what now ?? ca. cops are a$$es if they catch you . i would keep it legal .............. steve

 

But if you go in with the repro plates, won't California offer you the opportunity to go where you can make yourself some real ones?? Slow, but a way...

 

Bruce,
I'm not sure about California, but in Washington the new plates aren't embossed they are flat; which probably would be another flag.

 

If the new plates are personalized, I'd have them repainted black/yellow letters. There is a guy at LB & Pomona swaps that restores plates. He not only changes colors, he stamps in the sticker wells and "CALIFORNIA".

If not personalized, I'd go the YOM route with originals.

 

This is what I'm going to do. My avatar is my tag.. I'm going to get a set in the black and yellow, and keep the originals in the trunk. If I get busted and a real A-hole cop stops me I'll tell him, I was at a car show and had to move the car around a lot and forgot to take it off.. Might work, who knows....

 

I have a friend that is a NY auto squad detective tell me that in ny those plates are considered a forged govt. do***ent. If a cop is having a bad day they can impound your car and arrest you. Go buy some legit yom plates.

 

The repops are just a way of getting the cops to look at you, with you saying "lookie me, I'm flouting the law! Come get me!" As said before, why go all that *** pain, and SPEND THE $300.00 or so on REAL YOM plates and do things the RIGHT way! Why do you spend so much time thinking about ways to skirt, or otherwise outright break, the law when it is so easy to do it RIGHT the first time - and a LOT cheaper - and get the proper tags and get those registered correctly!

Why draw attention to yourself by doing **** which will guarantee you a ticket, tow, and a loss of fees and fines that triples what you would have spent doing **** the RIGHT way??? Think about this, seriously. You have a simple choice - break the law or follow the law. Which is cheaper and easier?

You can always do it the wrong way, and eventually post here after you get out of jail, whining about how unfair it was to lose your car and your tags, and about how the law ****s, how the cops were ***holes, and all that. You won't receive sympathy from anyone on this board, I'm willing to bet.

Your nic says a lot about you already.

 

I want to thank you all for setting me straight. I was really looking at this from a different perspective. I thought in a worst case scenario, I would be looking at a "fix it" ticket....Felony, hell no! It is not worth it, you all are right about that.
I was planning on carrying my newly issued plates with me, if I would have gone with the 1951 p***enger repops and use the "I forgot to take them down" story.
Financially, I am can't afford YOM commercial plates right now, so I guess I will write it down on the wish list and leave it alone until I can afford the real deal.
I am glad I asked the question...this could have gotten ugly for me. I was heading the wrong way, as I am planning on daily driving my truck, and I don't consider myself the luckiest guy either...so knowing that, I would have ended up doing 50 to life for it....LOL!!!

Thank you again.

 

I meant to ask. For those with experience wih the YOM program, what condition does the plates need to be in? Can they have normal wear and tear or do they have to be perfectly straight and new like paint? What happens if the condition is not approved, will they confi****e the plates too?

 

Unless the law has changed in the last 2 years here in Ca. according to the Sacramento DMV who I personally spoke to,it makes no difference if you run truck plates on a car or car plates on a truck.I have yom truck plates on my car 1932 ford, and car plates on my 34 truck also truck plates on my 30 sedan.Get on the dmv web site get the phone number and call them.

 

They have no right to take them, there yours. DMV is only checking them for condition and to see if there cleared to reissue. I have YOM on my 56 and I had no problem. They looked at condition and did a check of the numbers to see if they can continue with the process. You have the plates while Sacramento is desideing there fate. When all is go they send you stickers and tag plates and new regestration with new license plate #.

 

Johnny, So DMV doesn't required for the plates to be sent to Sacramento. I thought you had to send them with the applicaion...do they just check them over the counter and then file the application for Sacramento's review?

 

I had one of these plates made for my 36 and for $80 I expected them to be painted. It turns out that they just use a vinyl sticker. It looks correct, but it is lifting on the O's and A's on the upper California area. I have already purchased originals but need to restore them.

 

Another option is to get a set of less expensive REAL DMV clear plates for the years of style of build your '51 is. I'm building a '27 RPU 60's style so I found a pair of black and yellow '63 plates that are real and DMV clear for next to nothing. Fit the style of build, look good, and cost ALOT less than '27 plates cost. Either way I wouldn't take the chance in faking it.

 

You are correct. In fact license plates are property of the state they are issued in, you as the vehicle owner DO NOT OWN your plates, you are "renting" them, e.g. paying registration fees.