Topic: Can you use Year of Manufacture plates?

[750K4]

In some states here in the US, vehicles can use a vintage license plate vs a current one when registering the vehicle for road use. For cars and trucks in my state, you first have to register the vehicle as an antique. If you have a good pair of original license plates from the car/truck's year of manufacture, you can then substitute the vintage plates for the new, state-issued ones. This is pretty cool when you can put a 1965 license plate on a 1965 Mustang, for example. I'm not sure if it can be done with a motorcycle, but I'm checking into it. Is this offered where you live?

[ProTeal55]

I know in Illinois you can use a year of manf. plate as long as it has a current/valid sticker on it, and the real/current plate is on the bike at all times. I did this awhile back on a muscle car I had and it turned into more of a pain than anything. I would get pulled over almost daily by cops who didn't know the law, or them checking to see if I had the other plate..

[Steve F]

I know in Illinois you can use a year of manf. plate as long as it has a current/valid sticker on it, and the real/current plate is on the bike at all times. I did this awhile back on a muscle car I had and it turned into more of a pain than anything. I would get pulled over almost daily by cops who didn't know the law, or them checking to see if I had the other plate..

Yeah Joe, I think you're right, but I don't think the sticker has to be on the vintage plate, but on the current "antique" plate.  You still have to produce the ant. registration and plate on demand, so that means having to carry the current plate somewhere on the bike.  Antique plates in Illinois is bull&#it because there's limitations on when and where you can drive your vintage vehicle.

[ProTeal55]

 Antique plates in Illinois is bull&#it because there's limitations on when and where you can drive your vintage vehicle.

That is true, but I would say 90% of cops aren't aware of that.
I almost daily drove my 55 last summer, and never got pulled over once for it (am running current antique vechile plates). And if you do get pulled over, all you gotta say is I am heading or just let an exhaust shop, cause in the law you can drive it to and from a repair shop..

[Rushoid]

Can't use old plates in Indiana, but if anyone's interested these are the plates you can use on motorcycles: http://www.in.gov/bmv/plates/motorcycle.htm

[grumburg]

In Ohio, you pay $10 for the antique plate and additional $25 fer to use year model plate. Good forever. Have 1974 plate on my 550. Only problem is 1974 was last year for annual plates. 1975 and newer does not have a year, only annual sticker.

[Jonesy]

You can do it in Michigan...



You can also refurbish the plate to make it look like new, but you are required to use the exact same colors.

[Dennis]

Antique plates in Illinois is bull&#it because there's limitations on when and where you can drive your vintage vehicle.

That is true, but I would say 90% of cops aren't aware of that.
I almost daily drove my 55 last summer, and never got pulled over once for it (am running current antique vechile plates). And if you do get pulled over, all you gotta say is I am heading or just let an exhaust shop, cause in the law you can drive it to and from a repair shop..

I'm not sure that they aren't aware, I would guess that it's just something that they have no real interest in enforcing. Especially since it's so easy to explain away and I think a lot of them just like old cars and bikes anyway. My excuse is going for fuel or test riding after repair if during the week and returning from a show if weekends.
That said I do know exactly one person who was ticketed for improper use of historic vehicle plates (in NJ). The cop was a nasty bastard and the F&(K!N' judge sided with him. Yeah, the guy fought the ticket figuring he had to win since he was returning from his friend's place after working on the car (with tool box on the floor). Judges will almost always side with the cop.

[Jonesy]

I thought of that when I read ProTeal's post (You mentioning the toolbox on the floor). I'd use going to the shop, but if you told the cop you were just coming back, he could ask to see the receipt, and then what would you do...?

[Dennis]

I thought of that when I read ProTeal's post (You mentioning the toolbox on the floor). I'd use going to the shop, but if you told the cop you were just coming back, he could ask to see the receipt, and then what would you do...?

Perhaps I wasn't clear on this, he was working on the car with a friend at the friend's home shop, there was no receipt.
Interestingly, this did point was not accepted by the judge. The statute is written to allow certain uses which include "show and parades" and similar I guess. I don't know the exact wording. The judge's point was that nowhere in the wording of the statute is there a provision to drive the vehicle for repair. I guess you can drive it to a show but you must truck or trailer it for service.
They were just being unreasonable pr1cks!!! Why? So the cop can exert his authority and the judge can show his support for the police and add a few $$$ to the local treasury in the process?!

TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!!

That being said, I have historic vehicle registrations on 3 of my bikes (they wont give it to me on the Yammie RZ because it's an '84) and I have never had a problem with the police because of the plates.
Go figure!!?? I sure don't know!

[Jonesy]

I understand what you meant. I was making a reference to ProTeal's muffler shop example. I only mentioned it as in your case, you had some sort of tangible proof that you were doing what you said you were (although a prig could argue you could have been carrying the tools around for who knows when), but all I was trying to say was that the story is a lot more credible if you have a means to back it up, whereas if you said you were on your way back from a commercial repair business, it would be kind of fishy if you couldn't produce a receipt, seeing as you supposedly were just there..

As for why they want to be jerks about it, I'm afraid that I can't help you with...

[BobbyR]

I know in Illinois you can use a year of manf. plate as long as it has a current/valid sticker on it, and the real/current plate is on the bike at all times. I did this awhile back on a muscle car I had and it turned into more of a pain than anything. I would get pulled over almost daily by cops who didn't know the law, or them checking to see if I had the other plate..

It is funny how States are different. In NY you can register the bike with in my case a 1978 plate. The sticker on the plate also has to be from 1978. The 1978 plate is your only plate. You do have to have the current year Inspection sticker.

[Dennis]

As for why they want to be jerks about it, I'm afraid that I can't help you with...

There always gotta be one, doesn't there?