I posted this to the Austin HAMBERs group, and thought I'd share it for everyone here, as well.... I got my '56 registered with some YOM plates this morning. a few things: 1) You've still got 'till Sept to register with YOM plates. They have to be a pair, and have to look good (the guys inspected mine pretty closely and sweated me over some rust spots, but in the end, said that they would do). 2) They had to run the numbers on the plates to make sure that they were not already in use (apparently, they reissue numbers every 10 years). Luckily, no one has these numbers on their "new" plate, and so I'm able to use them. Would've ****ed to find out that the pair are not usable after buying them! 3) I was told that the plates are not transferable, ie: if I ever sell the car in TX, the new owner would have to register with new (non YOM) plates. 4) Lastly, I was given the option to register as cl***ic or antique. Cl***ic has to be renewed annually (he said it was $15 more than normal registration), and you also gotta go get the car inspected each year. Antique is good 'till 2013, and no inspection required - because, get this, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE THE CAR ON THE ROAD WAY. I've heard this debate before, but the way the guy said it, an "antique" car can only be parked, showed, or driven in parades (and must be TOWED to/from such shows and parades). Are you kidding me? Not having time for an inspection (and doubting it'd p*** in the first place), I opted for the Antique plates - and will cross my fingers that big brother doesn't camera me "driving" the car. Did I screw up?
Dude, go with antique plates, they are good for 5 years and no inspection. Don't worry about the "YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE THE CAR ON THE ROAD WAY" ****. A lot of us run them on the streets all the time with out any h***le from the man.
A car registered as Antique can be driven, But just not as a dailey driver. To Shows, Parades to a repair shop,testing etc. etc. Lots of room for intrpretation as to what that means and how far you might drive.
What I would have asked the guy is this - If you're not allowed to drive the car AT ALL on those plates, why the hell would you even bother to register it in the first place? You could just stick the YOM plates on, trailer it to the shows, not give the state your money, and say screw the DMV. Makes no sense.
Been running antique plates for years without any problems. Driven to and from Dallas many times. I was pulled over by a state trooper for speeding just N of Waco (he gave me a warning and sent me on my way) he didn't even mention anything about my antique plates.
If we (DPS) do stop a vehicle for a violation and it happens to have antique plates, we should ask for information related to the usage. There's a couple of guys in my area that run antique plates on daily drivers. One has received a citation from me because I see him on a regular basis driving his p.o.s. beat up 1980 Monte Carlo all over the place. His vehicle wouldn't p*** a safety inspection, and that is the reason he runs the tags. He also filed for the liability insurance exemption (SR2) which exempts him from the liability insurance requirement. 95% of the people that have the tags use them properly. It's the other 5% that mess it up for everyone else. Driving to and from the show is legal with antique plates, as is driving to and from a repair shop. If you buy some YOM tags and are worried about the number, they can still issue the tag even if the number is in use. It will simply show as a duplicate in the system. The fees and rules for YOM and antique auto tags are the same. On a side note, if you do run the YOM tags, then as 2Tony said, two are required. If you run the antique auto tags, then you only have to have one on the rear. Sec. 504.502. CERTAIN EXHIBITION VEHICLES; OFFENSE. (a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for a p***enger car, truck, motorcycle, or former military vehicle that: (1) is at least 25 years old, if the vehicle is a p***enger car, truck, or motorcycle; (2) is a collector's item; (3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and is not used for regular transportation; and (4) does not carry advertising. (b) The license plates must include the words "Antique Auto," "Antique Truck," "Antique Motorcycle," or "Military Vehicle," as appropriate. (c) A person eligible for the license plates may instead use license plates issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the vehicle and approved by the department, provided that a p***enger car must bear p***enger car or truck license plates and a truck must bear p***enger car or truck license plates. The department may require attachment of a registration insignia to the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of information originally on the license plate. (d) License plates issued or approved under this section expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance or approval. (e) The fee for issuance or approval of license plates under this section is: (1) $10 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured in 1921 or later; or (2) $8 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured before 1921. (f) The department may exempt a former military vehicle from the requirement to display a license plate or registration insignia if the exemption is necessary to maintain the vehicle's accurate military markings. The department may approve an alternative registration insignia that is compatible with the vehicle's original markings. (g) A person en***led to specialty license plates or to department approval under this section may register the vehicle without payment of any fees paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plate. An owner of a vehicle registered under this subsection who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $200. (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle issued license plates under Subsection (a) shall be required to attach and display only one license plate on the rear of the vehicle. (i) In this section, "former military vehicle" means a vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size, weight, or year of manufacture, that: (1) was manufactured for use in any country's military forces; and (2) is maintained to represent its military design and markings accurately. (j) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that at the time of the offense the vehicle was en route to or from a location for the purpose of routine maintenance of the vehicle. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1318, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
You should complain to somebody if that is what he really told you. ***** should be "retrained" to do his job correctly. From the TXDOT web site: Antique license plates are issued for cars, trucks or motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are a collectors item. The vehicle must be used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades or other functions of public interest. Vehicles displaying Antique plates may not be used for regular transportation or carry advertising. The vehicle may be driven to and from a location for routine maintenance. Antique plates are issued for five-year periods. The registration fee for the five-year period is $50.30 ($10 per year, plus an additional 30 cents for the registration insignia) for vehicles manufactured in 1921 and subsequent years and $40.30 ($8 per year, plus an additional 30 cents for the registration insignia) for vehicles manufactured in 1920 and prior years. Fees are reduced $10/$8 for each year of the period that has elapsed at the time the application is filed.
some great info! wish I knew these finer points earlier on.... I actually bought a 56 plate at round up, and after restoring it, was told that I needed TWO to actually use it (but ZAB says that's not the case when registering as an antique). Oh well - only out $10 and some time.
To make things easier, print out these facts (Sec. 504.502) and keep them in the glove box. If some numbskull tries to give you a hard time, you can bust out the proof.
You need two plates to register (if pairs were originally issued in that year), but are only required to have one on the vehicle.
I was planning on using YOM plates for my A, but it's no where near road worthy. What is the significance of September? Did some bill p*** that will no longer allow them? I feel like I may have missed out on hearing about something important!
Tommy, Sept is the deadline for registering YOM plates with "Cl***ic Vehicle" registration. This doesn't apply to "Antique Vehicle" registration, you can still use YOM plates with Antique registration after Sept.
OH! Whew! That's a relief. Thanks for the heads up. Any of y'all driven across a few states with Antique tags? Any issues? I plan to roadtrip my car once it's done. Hopefully I won't get har***ed too badly.
Just to clarify what I posted earlier: If you register using YOM plates, you need TWO. If you have the state issue you an antique plate, they only give you ONE. I hope that helps.
Hi Folks, We were able to register my old 51 Styleline as a Cl***ic using YOM Texas Plates yesterday, 10 January 2012. There was not any fuss or problems dealing with the tax clerk. Only addition to the usual fees/taxes was a $15 fee to register the plates. Cheers! Keith Hardy Old Online Chevy Manuals
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