antique tags in VA
 

Planning to get antique tags in VA (no more emissions for me!), couple of questions:

-If my car is already VA registered, do I need to go to the DMV to do this?

-Will I get a break in insurance if I call and tell them my car's antique registered?

-What stickers do I need to keep on my windshield, just county, right?

-Is there a reason to get yellow vs black antique tags, or is it just preference?

Gracias.

I think VA is 25 years, not 20 like MD

2009????

Yep, need to go to the DMV

You'll get a break on insurance, just need to fill out a form and take pictures of it for their records (at least with State Farm)

Just county sticker, since there is no inspections required

Tag color is just whatever you like...however, the black/white tags are a bit larger and may not fit all license plate locations.

Also, remember you aren't supposed to drive them to work etc.

1984+25=2009!

You can choose if you want yellow or black. The black ones looked to me to be of a harder stock, like perfect for those "pre war" cars where the plate doesn't really attach to much.. but in the end its personal preference.

I went to the DMV simply because I live 5 min from one and also wanted to return my old plates and initiate the refund from my previous 2 yr reg from the regular plates

You can contact your ins co. Typically, they put mileage restrictions on your car, so be aware of that. I haven't yet contacted my ins yet. I didn't do it for the price break so much as the inspection hassles and realization that I won't put big miles on my 914.

it goes by date of manufacture, not model year. has to be 25 years old by January 1 based on the date of manufacture, otherwise you have to wait til the next year.

i think the black and white ones are made out of a heavy guage AL so don't bend as easily, and personalized tags are only available in yellow

you don't need inspection sticker but you do make a certification that it would pass inspection.

also, you have to show that you have another, non-antique vehicle as a daily driver, at least they required that a couple of years ago.

Haha -- I looked at the first 'past' and saw '86. FAIL by me :lol:

Agree :p

BTW you won't have to have the car emission tested after 25 years anyway! Historic tags come with restriction on use too. I kept my regular tages but still have to have the SC safety inspected once a year.

If you own a passenger vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or motorcycle with a model year that is more than 25 model years old before January 1 of the current calendar year, you've got an antique! http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/ci...es/antique.asp

The above is quoted from the VA DMV site. I read this to mean if you have a model year 1984 car, you can not register it for Antique plates until after 01/01/2010 because the 1984 model year is not MORE than 25 years old on 01/01/2009. Please correct me if I am reading that wrong.

As was pointed out, there are use restrictions for "antique" cars in VA but if your car is not a daily driver, I doubt the state police really care. I have never heard of someone being pulled over with antique tags because they were driving on a Tuesday.

Besides not having to hassle with the annual safety inspection, I believe there are no annual registration fees.

The main thing I do not like is the plate choices...either p!@# yellow or antique black (makes you feel like you are driving a '31 Ford)!

I did not see a drop in insurance cost with antique tags, since liability is liability in Farmers eyes apparently.

there is also a $50 one time fee to go antique plates and you have to certify that the car will meet the safety standards.


the use restricts primarily say it cannot be a daily driver (not to work or school) and not more than 250 miles from home.

but you can drive it to a service agency so when I drive to manassas I am always going to the repair shop conveniently located next to my office!

But in the few Times I have driven there I have not been stopped. I suspect if the same officer sees you every day for a week he will catch on!