Historical plates - pro's and cons Options

[Harpo]

I had not previously considered historical plates but my insurance company offered me a substantial savings if I have historical license plates.

However this means only shows & parades. How closely is this monitored?

Thanks

David

[toolguy]

IIRC, If a cop wants to stop you and ask what function you're going to he can, . . If you get into an accident, your insurance company will ask the same thing with verification of the event.

[Tom_T]

It varies by state David, so get your actual law VC sections & read it.

In most cases the "...events to expressly exhibit or display historic vehicles..." types of wording can also include things from Cars-n-Coffees, PCA rally's, drives, breakfast/lunch/dinner/doughnuts-n-coffee-&-Porsches, local car clubs 7 probably even 914world types of gatherings, etc.

So you have some flexibility - but not DD use, which is why your insurance will give you a discount!

Good Luck either way! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[toolguy]

delete double post.

[Tom_T]

IIRC, If a cop wants to stop you and ask what function you're going to he can, . . If you get into an accident, your insurance company will ask the same thing with verification of the event.

Did he pull you over with the trailer Dave!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

.... or driving onto it in the parking lot Saturday!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Seriously though .... what Dave said, & it can be pretty loose as I was saying above.

[gryphon68]

I had not previously considered historical plates but my insurance company offered me a substantial savings if I have historical license plates.

However this means only shows & parades. How closely is this monitored?

Thanks

David

Monitored by who? State Farm does odometer audits on "low mileage" vehicle coverage, I would assume most other insurance companies would as well. As long as you are not making a claim, the main expectation would be fairly low annual mileage. If you make a claim on a show/parade policy, I would imagine you would need a good explanation regarding the show or parade that you were attending. Would be far to easy for them to deny your claim if they feel you were not abiding by the terms of the policy.

With respect our local law enforcement here in SE Michigan. I do know that police were ticketing cars with historic plates in the days prior to the Woodward Dream Cruise. The implication being that only the official dates of the Cruise (Fri-Sun?) were acceptable for use of historic plates, anything else would be considered in violation of the terms for issuing historic plates in Michigan. Outside of the days surrounding the Dream Cruise, I'm not sure how much attention you would get with historic plates by LE. Probably passable on (sunny?) weekends, but possibly questionable on a weekday. Would expect to be questioned regarding what show or parade you where in transit to or from if you were ever pulled over for another violation.

Obviously, this is going to vary state to state. Personally I don't think I'm going the historic plate route for my car here in Michigan.

[rjames]

So it sounds like there are two areas of concern regarding collector plates:
Insurance coverage and state laws

I have classic car insurance and I did pay extra to be able to drive it on errands or even to work on occasion, but still limited to a certain number of miles per year.

I need to look into the restrictions of having collector's plates in WA.

[Mueller]

Another forum I am on the guy let his parents drive his car that has historical plates on it, the dad got pulled over and was issued a ticket with a nice fine.

Apparently he had been using the vehicle off and on for a few weeks and then turned it into his daily, an observant officer noticed him a few too many times driving about.


Only thing I don't like about the plates is the people that use them to circumvent paying for all the same stuff I'd have to pay for.

[7TPorsh]

You can always say you're driving to your mechanic...

[Big Len]

You can always say you're driving to your mechanic...

Absolutely. Or in NJ, educational purposes works as well. And I register it only once with no inspections ever.

And I would not go through my DD insurance. Try Hagerty.

[naro914]

NC is kind of odd...anyone can get Antique plates if the car is (I think) 35 years old. From a state perspective, age is all they care about. THEN...if you can find a plate - any plate - from the model year of your car, you can put it on. You just ahve to have the REAL state issued plate with you in the car somewhere. For example, Huey is a '71. Registered as Antique (never have to do state safety/emissions inspections again), but I found/bought a 1971 dealer plate online. Thats what we have on the car, the state issued tag is in the center console with the registration.

As far as insurance - we have Hagerty classic car insurance. No mileage or used restrictions as far as I know except you aren't supposed to use as DD and needs to be stored in a garage. You have to prove you have another car for daily driver duties (you must have another car insured) but that's it.

[bandjoey]

Go with a classic car insurance co like Haggerty. Lower rates and better coverage AND you can drive all the miles you like.

[somd914]

In Maryland I go with historical plates - half the cost and avoids the PITA registration safety inspection where they always find something wrong no matter... MD restricts it to car event use and not for "general" use.

I have Hagerty, no requirement for classic plates. My daily insurance would insure it, but at a higher cost and didn't require classic plates.

[mepstein]

Pa antique plates are a one time $75 fee and no inspections ever. Allows for occasional driving including driving to work. Insurance cost $120/yr for full coverage and 5k year miles.

It really varies state to state. Read the fine print carefully.

[malcolm2]

my 85 VW has antique plates. 25 years = antique in TN. Here, as in NC I got an actual plate from 1985 and registered it. I got pulled over one day and the cop asked me about the plate. I think the old plates confuse them. They may be a red flag for some. It was a Wednesday. Law states Sat-Sun, Holidays and events only, as in most states.

I did not get a ticket, but I did learn that if the cop wanted to, he could give you a ticket and the judge may throw in a FINE.....pay the normal registration costs for every year you have been in antique status.... OUCH. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) 10 years saving $50 a year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

I have a reciprical deal with a work friend and fellow antique car owner. If I get pulled over, I say I am taking the car to him to test drive and he does the same.

Might work, might not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

If the car will pass emissions and you want to drive it, just get a regular plate. You can get antique insurance either way. When registering, just tell everyone the truth and see what happens.

[JmuRiz]

As long as it's not a car driven to work is the best way to think of it.
I doubt many are driving a 914 to work.
I drive mine (drove mine when it was running) to events, to test parts, occasional joy ride, to/from a mechanic etc. Those are all valid reasons in VA to have historic plates.

With those I don't have to get it inspected, get plate stickers and get a break on insurance.

[Beeliner]

In Connecticut I paid $97 for two years, then registration expires.

I went with Haggerty. I told them I would be driving 7000 miles a year.

They said that was quite a bit, and I agreed.....

I did tell them I would not be doing anything at the track, etc. which is true, so overall I am fine with the deal..

Here in CT the state doesn't care how much you drive on the classic car plate, as far as I know... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

[somd914]

It's been a while since I've been down the path of historic plates in Maryland, so I decided to refresh my memory. From Maryland's historic plate application:

"I/We certify under oath that the vehicle will only be maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, occasional transportation and similar uses.
I/We further certify that this vehicle will not be used for general daily transportation or primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on highways."

Thus an occasional drive to work, running errands, going out of for dinner, etc is permissible.

And for those in Maryland who are subject to emission testing, historic registration exempts the car from testing. Presently the car has to be 20 years old, but there has been talk of increasing it to 25 years.

[saigon71]

I'd base your insurance needs on how the car will be used.

It's worth a phone call to both your current DD insurance company and Haggerty to find out what is available.

If you plan on using the car only occasionally, Historic plates are probably the way to go.

My car is a daily driver most of the year. I like taking it on road trips. I didn't want any restrictions on how, when or why I drive it. I went with regular registration and added it to my DD insurance policy at an agreed upon value of $14K with full coverage and a low deductible.

Factoring in the multi-car discount I received, it was only a few dollars more than going with antique plates and insurance through Haggerty.

I take it for PA state inspection annually, but it doesn't bother me.

[jd74914]

In Connecticut I paid $97 for two years, then registration expires.

I went with Haggerty. I told them I would be driving 7000 miles a year.

They said that was quite a bit, and I agreed.....

I did tell them I would not be doing anything at the track, etc. which is true, so overall I am fine with the deal..

Here in CT the state doesn't care how much you drive on the classic car plate, as far as I know... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

Me too (when mine last moved at least (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)).

Our classic plates are simply age-based; they come with no driving restrictions as far as I know. I drove everyday for 3 years with classic plates and never had an issue.

Insurance is another story since they can deny claims if you "falsely" insure. I had a Hagerty policy and did the same thing as quoted.