General TR Ca. DMV

[tinman58]

Well after 18 months and five visits to the DMV, We finally got the ok from DMV to use the license plates that came with the car (You gotta love the government). I wanted to keep the 250 in the non op designation so I wouldn't have to pay on ins. For whatever reason the DMV clerk could not assign the plates unless the 250 was registered, Which means I need insurance. So I called Hagerty and explained the situation, they set me up with a very small ins payment. So all is well and We get to put the black plates back on the 250 when it is finished. I hope by spring.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

I recall when we got the Model A Tudor. It was in pieces in a pickup and trailer outside the door of the local DMV office.
Body was two sides, end, cowl..frame on it's side, axles separate.
I did a TPO (Title Purposes Only)...doing original year plates was next when we sold it 7 years later, running, painted....TPO avoided inspections, taxes, all of that. They fixed the process the next year so you couldn't do it anymore.
Never did pay taxes on it.

 

[cheseroo]

Yes, the CA YOM process can be fun times. It sounds like your ordeal was much harder than mine. 6 months after my initial visit I gathered up the paperwork and went back to find out why I hadn't received anything. Turns out the DMV had rejected the application. The staff had given me the DMV copies and submitted my copies to Sacramento (apparently, all the YOM applications have to go through Sacto). They said they would expedite the process since I had waited so long. Three months later my tags showed up. This was with my 250. The Imp paperwork flew through and I had tags in about a month.

The DMV must hate 250's.

For the non-Californians, the YOM process is the one you have to go through in order to keep your original yellow on black California license plates (i.e. making it a CA Black Plate car). Any time you register a car now that has expired tags, they hand you new license plates. If you have a non currently registered black plate car that you are reviving, don't let them give you new plates. That opens the gates to **** that you must proceed through in order to keep your black plates. I believe the later blue plate cars are SOL if you want to keep them (if they are expired).

 

[mrv8q]

From experience with my TR3, any past CA registration paperwork tying the car's commission number (VIN) to the two in-hand black plates, will result with current registration with those plates.

When I reregistered my car in 2004, I had registration from mid 80's. Walked out with registration.

Old cars fall out of the CA DMV computer database; without a hard copy of the old registration, and two plates, you're probably SOL...

 

[poolboy]

Is there any advantage to having those black plates ? I ask out of ignorance.

 

[tinman58]

It is cool to have the old plates for shows etc. But there is no advantage to DMV. I did have to pay extra to keep my old plates. (more fee's?)

 

[cheseroo]

Old cars fall out of the CA DMV computer database; without a hard copy of the old registration, and two plates, you're probably SOL...

Not having the hard copy of the old registration/title/whatever with the VIN and plate#'s is not a deal killer. You have to go through the process that Tinman and myself went through. Not having 2 plates is most definitely a deal killer. All the paperwork in the world and only 1 plate will not get those plates registered.

It's nice to have the original plates on the car and not the modern plates.

 

[martx-5]

In New York, you can use original "vintage" plates when registering an older car. However, up until 1972, NY plates came with the year embossed on the plate, so the year on the vintage plates you use must match the year of the car. Also, you have to check with DMV first to make sure the numbers on the plates are not being used elsewhere in the state. You have to use original plates, but as long as you can get a set that has unused numbers, you're good to go without any hassles.

Plenty of them for sale on E-Bay...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_tr...58+new+york+license+plates&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[BillyB62]

I picked up a '59 CT plate at an auction for $5 after checking the CT DMV website to make sure it wasn't in use. I had the plate restored (much more than $5) but in order to register it I had to apply for a vanity plate with the same number. Now, as long as I have the vanity plate in the car (I keep it in the glovebox), I'm legal. When my heater hose let go this summer and burned my wife, the Statey questioned my plate and after talking to dispatch came back and told me I was all set.

Connecticut doesn't have "Antique" plates - ours say "Early American". Nothing ticked me off more than having to put an "Early American" plate on my British car so I spent the money to change to a vintage CT plate.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

You look at car sales, it seems to be a BIG deal to have original black plates.
I have both for my 1950 Ford, and the original (in my name) registration from 1970.
I figure if I ever sell it it will be a plus.

 

[trrdster2000]

In NC we can run the British plate as long as we have the registration and tag in the car. This is on cars 35 years and older. Running the original on the '49 Roadster and '37 MG. and one I brought back from England on the TR6. Just makes me feel a little better, OH, OK, gives me a big head.

Wayne

 

[pdplot]

On my TR6 is my original PXP plate - a gift from my Dad on my 16th birthday in 1949. It's been on at least 15 cars since then, was stolen once (along with a 1984 Audi Quattro - I made up a phony plate out of a piece of sheet metal and used it for almost a year without being caught. Finally the State sent me a new PXP plate.) It's been on 4 Fords, 4 MGs, a Mercedes, 280ZX, 2 Audis, 2 Corvairs, a Renault 4CV, TR3...

 

[glemon]

What is a "PXP" plate?, never heard that expression.

 

[AngliaGT]

I bought a '68 Cortina GT from the original owner,with
expired Black/Gold plates.It took over a year to get them approved.
I bought a '78 Triumph Bonneville that had the original
Blue/Gold plate,& only took a week to get approved - go figure.
I also have a brand new - never installed set of Black/Gold plates.
They're worth a lot of money,but if I ever sell them,I'll never have the
opportunity to get another set (at least for what I'd be willing to pay.
Also,they won't accept "remanufactured" plates.I have one Black/Gold
plate for my Anglia,but can't have the second one made,& regiter them.

- Doug

 

[stuntflyr]

Well after 18 months and five visits to the DMV, We finally got the ok from DMV to use the license plates that came with the car (You gotta love the government). I wanted to keep the 250 in the non op designation so I wouldn't have to pay on ins. For whatever reason the DMV clerk could not assign the plates unless the 250 was registered, Which means I need insurance. So I called Hagerty and explained the situation, they set me up with a very small ins payment. So all is well and We get to put the black plates back on the 250 when it is finished. I hope by spring.

You've got to love the lack of standardization. Costa Mesa did not care what my parents did with my MGB and it's had its black and yellows for 47 years. No issue, non-op for 10 years. In fact they were very helpful in transferring the car to me and issuing it's very first title in March of this year. They accepted a 35 year old TWA Credit Union lien sign off and a dealer receipt from '65 as good enough and I had a title a week later!
It seems more and more I see this type of lack of policy adherence, or at least a lack of standardization. We all just want to do the legal thing with minimal hassle, what's the problem with good service?
Chris...