Question re: PA registration plates

Pennsylvania offers 3 different plates for a vintage vehicle. Antique,Classic, and Collectible.I am aware of the year requirement for antique(25yr) and classic(15yr) however, what is the deal with collectible? Has anyone applied for these tags? They say the vehicle must be completly altered. Is this what I register as?
1950 Mercury sedan,chopped,lowered,engine and drivetrain modified as well as the exhaust. They request 4 photos also. Is my chop going to hinder anything?

 

I think that you will need an "enhanced inspection" Talk to the person that will do the inspection then you can make your decision.

 

I've had the collectible plate on my 48 Ford panel for over 14 years.. At the time the Street Rod tag was in a slump, and I figured this would be the replacement., but Pa still has both.. The Collectible has 1 main advantage over the Street Rod tag in that it only needs to be paid for one time, where a Street Rod tag is renewable every year.., Modification are no problem , but Pa wants 4 view of the vehicle , and the sales tax money for the parts that you used to build it...It like the other Pa special plates,now has a Reconstructed type of title..

 

IIRC there are operating restrictions involved with any tag not requiring a normal state insp., Antique & Classic are bone stock at 20 foot, collectable is old but not a daily driver status. Isn't there a "Horseless Carriage" for the brass era vehicles? I would think AACA of PA. would have website with answers.

 

i think you should get a regular plate. no hassles.

 

Collectable plate

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-colveh.pdf

NOTE: If the vehicle is already branded as a collectible vehicle, complete Form MV-11, “Application for Antique, Classic or Collectible Vehicle Registration Plates.” NOTE: This application is only used for vehicles currently branded as a Collectible Vehicle. If your vehicle is not currently branded as a collectible vehicle, you must follow the procedures outlined on Form MV-426B.

Street Rod

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-strv.pdf

Needs: Properly executed Form MV-426B, “Application for Reconstructed, Specially Constructed, Collectible, Modified, Flood, Recovered Theft Vehicles and Street Rods” must be completed by an enhanced vehicle safety inspector at an enhanced vehicle safety inspection station since street rods are not exempt from annual safety inspection

MV-426B

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/mv_forms/mv-426B.pdf

 

Just do a regular plate, and get the thing inspected each year. Those special plates are a pain in the A$$!!! Nobody at the DMV knows waht the differences are, the cops dont know on the most part. Plus you don't have to deal with the enhanced inspection. Just my thoughts. Keith

 

Not sure if right but I was told if you get into a accident and you do not have the correct plate on the car. Your insurance company does not have to pay you or the other person if your at fault. May be no one would notice but if the cop does who knows.

They can say your street rod hasn't been checked out to street rod inspection standards.

But I do know some who just take the chance with regular plate and don't even get it inspected.

Thats why I went through the process, 41 Willys (Street Rod Tags) 1949 Mercury (Collectible Tags)

 

I transfered my '32 highboy from reg. CA plates to reg.PA plates. It seemed that everywhere that I went someone would comment that I was not in compliance with the law. I felt that someone, for what ever reason, would try to cause me problems. That's why I went the 'street rod' route. Better to be legal.

 

I run a regular plate,still titled as a 32. My insurance company knows what it is,I will take my chances with the law. Been this way for 20 years,not really the correct way,but no problems yet.

 

The reason I run a regular plate, is that I don't have to deal with anybody NOT knowing what the laws are. The hot rod, in the eyes of the law, is no different than a 2000 Chevy Cobalt. I can drive as many miles as I want, no restrictions. It need to go get stickered every year. All they really do is check the tires, brakes, lights, suspension, charge me $65 and send me on my way. In my area of PA we do have an emissions check, I have to pass a visual. Thats where they make sure that ALL OEM emission devices are intact. Not much to look for on a 41 Chevy pick up. Only post 1975 cars need to pass a sniffer test.

I was always afraid to get the specilty plates in PA as NOBODY at teh DMV can give me a straight answer as to when I can leagaly drive with them, another reason is the other plates I need to show that I paid the taxes on the parts I built it from. When was the last time you got a reciept from the guy at the swap meet?? Keith

 

Amen !

 

Regular plates.. John

 

I too plan on running regular plates on my '29 Roadster Hot Rod, The way I see it is its no different than any late model car or 4X4 truck thats been modified, as long as you have it inspected, insured and registered you should be good to go.

 

I thought the major benefit to getting a street rod plate was that you didnt need bumpers,hood or fenders. Will someone actually inspect a car with out all that stuff be on it having just a ordinary plate

 

The inspection is the kicker in this I think. The station should not be inspecting a street rod or other MODIFIED car without it having the correct plate on it. They are really clamping down on the stations around here, even closed a couple down, for minor things.
j

 

X2 The problem is getting the car "inspected" each year if you don't have fenders, hood etc. Unless you have a friend who is willing to risk his license to give you a sticker you can't get a sticker unless you have a street rod plate. It was a major hassle and took over six weeks to get my plate but I went through the whole process with my car so now everything is legal and I don't have to worry if I should ever get pulled over.

 

The street rod and collectible plates let you do some things that are illegal with regular plates. As has been discussed here, no hoods and fenders.
With the specialty plates you can have tire stagger, different size tires front and rear,. PA inspection law is no more than one or two tire sizes different on a car, ie , 225-70-15 on rear 205-75-15 on front.
Also with regular plates you cannot modify suspensions. No independent front ends on straight axle cars, no subframe clips. You cannot even put airshocks on a car to raise the rear.
Another no-no is changing how a car looks from factory. Right in the law the example is given that a VW bug with a 40 Ford hood conversion ( old time kit) needs to have a reconstructed title. So most custom cars should have at least a r-title.
Anyone with an inspection station can fail about any car if he reads his book close enough.
Most LEO's know when something isn't right. Right now they are pretty much leaving us car guys alone. They are too busy with important stuff. But if things get better and there is more budget to hire more people than they might have time to give us problems.

 

If it were me I'd run reg. plates, PA DOT is not going to let you get antique or classic plates on a slammed sled, plus these tags are going to limit your driving.
Just check out PA DOT license plates on the web, gives you all the info.
I drive a 49 Merc. sled daily , chopped hard ,sitting on a 80 Malibu frame on reg. PA plates, never had a problem.
I also have a 69 Lincoln Mk3 that I just received PA antique plates for. It's all original I went with the antique plates to get away from Pa inspections and yearly license fees, since I intend keeping it original, but it does restrict your driving
Have a 91 Chev.S-10 with a big block and back halved on reg Pa plates.
Also 55 Porsche kit car with regular PA plates.
Insurance is agreed value on all so shouldn't have any problems with adjusters.

 

I don't know why people are against street rod plates. Street rod plates allow you to legally run without bumpers,fenders and hood. Like it was stated on here about some inspection stations refusing to inspect modified cars with reg. plates. If they read the rule book they shouldn't be stickering modified cars with incorrect plate. It really is not that difficult to get a street rod plate. Talk to an enhanced Insp. guy for details. Got everything done for me in exactly one month.



Ago

 

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/inspections/enhancedstations.pdf

Try a couple places in your area. Harry from GT Radiator in Ambler is an ex racer and hot rod guy he should be able to help you.
Smokey

 

Unfortunately others not knowing what the laws are is not an excuse. Hopefully you don't have a family and/or own a house because if you get into an accident you have a good chance of losing one or both. Running regular plates and you get into an accident, whether you are at fault or not, you are the liable party. Reason is your car is not legal for the street. The inspection station that inspected your car has a good chance of losing his license as well.


Case in point, gentleman driving home from the inspection station in his fenderless higboy is waiting for a left turn arrow got hit head on by a drunk driver. Drunk has a good lawyer who checks the PA motor laws and notices Highboy Rebel with regular plates is illegal for PA streets and countersues. Highboy Rebel has to pay all the legal fees for the drunk driver, loses his house in the process on the countersuit. Not only that, inspection station is a codefendant in the suit and has to share the liablility.

So running regular plates is a gamble and a risk. An if I get into an accident with you running regular plates be as sure that I will probably do the same thing, sue the pants off you.


-Fryguy

 

Fryguy...is that a real story or a hypithetical situation.

I've been running regular plates on my 48 pick up for over 20 years now. Got plenty of tickets for speeding and expired inspection stickers but never was I told to get a street rod plate.

Before I go with PA street rod plates I'll get Fla or Wyoming plates. Te PA system is a joke. It is a revenue maker.
Clark

 

Clark, I wish it was a hypothetical situation. I was in a speed shop two years ago when the man who had the hiboy came in to inquire if anybody was interested in what was left of his car. Its a sad situation, your right, but running regular plates on a car that isn't street legal is a gamble.


It it may never come to pass that the situation will apply to you. Your right, you could get a lot of tickets and the comes wouldn't even know. Plenty of PA police are very Hot Rod friendly and even are car owners themselves. The cops don't write the laws just enforce them.


I am not trying to be overly antaganistic about the situation but I do run street rod plates as I am a homeowner and a father of two small children. Althought cars seem to be my passion, they are the main reason why I get up in the morning.

Pa laws are a joke but to thumb our nose at them because its "cool" or to portray that "Rebel" lifestyle will only hurt the industry and ourselves in the long run.

SEMA plays a big part in helping write State Laws dealing with the Hot Rod industry. Jump on their website and check some things out. A lot of interesting things going on in each state. Every month there is a nother proposed bill to stop our hobby from growing.

There is also another bill on the books that has passed through the PA State of Represenatives regarding running year of manufacturers plates on our cars. Hopefully look for that come into affect in the next year or so.

 

Would like to see the YoM plates be allowed.. Seem Pa is always behind times as alot of other states are already doing it..

Its been said.. If you want to go back in time..Go to Pa!! John

 

Yes PA has legislation pending permitting YOM plates however you can only apply for them if you have antique or classic plates on your car. There is no provision for street rod & collectable plates. This legislation has not passed into law yet.

SEMA is a good place to find information on States registration laws. Here is a link to their site they call Tag & Title tool box. Click on PA and you will get all the info about the various tags and regisration requirements.

http://www.bipac.net/page.asp?content=tag_title_toolbox&g=SEMAGA

 

biggest problem is that the people at the DMV have no clue.
i have known people that had done things the right way by going thu the enhanced inspection and got turned down by the DMV more then once.

 

Friend of mind had his 1962 Chev. convert. 100% original, shot down by Penn DOT because in the 4 submitted photos he didn't have his plastic rear window zippered 100 % closed ( it was open by maybe 10 inches and hanging down) he had to zipper it 100 % and re-submit all the paperwork,
What horse shit !

 

Once the car has passed the enhanced inspection any inspection station can do the yearly inspection from then on.

 

In my case I have fenders,bumbers,wipers,hood and all other componets of a everyday driver ! Legal to run reg. plates ? NO... But I will take my chances ! Pa. has so dam many plates and titles I don't think anybody out there realy knows what going on ! I think if your not out smokin tires and dickin around you will be fine. 20 years here ! No Problem with inspection,car has everything I need to pass.