Running Single Plate in California

C

Charlie Stephens

Well-known member
While out at the Model A pancake breakfast the other day I noticed a Model A pickup with a single license plate in the rear and nothing in front. The plate had a the official looking year tag normally issued for a YOM plate. Has something changed to allow a single plate or was this guy just pushing his luck? How could he have obtained the YOM tag with only a single plate, I thought you had to show a pair?

Charlie Stephens
 
The law hasn't changed
You are supposed to run two.
I never do because I think front plates are ugly.
Like my dad use to tell me when I was a kid, you'll get a ticket! And I have.
I still don't run one on my cars though
Mine are in a drawer in the garage
 
I know a guy that keeps his under the front seat and has the mounting hardware on the headlight bar. In over 20 years he has been stopped only once, whereupon he told the officer that the license was loose so he took it off. He was warned to reattach it at the most convenient opportunity, which simply hasn't come up as yet.
 
WHY would someone in our California, run just one plate? The LAW is the LAW!!!----UR you jist "tryin" to be a CRINIMAL?
Bill Legalandsleepsgood
 
I intend to run two plates, Year of Manufacture and VIRMIN. May put the other one in the trunk just in case. Don't have no sticky year and month holder either. Put a USMC decal, IAFF local 55, and Support your local Police stickers in the window. May help.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
WHY would someone in our California, run just one plate? The LAW is the LAW!!!----UR you jist "tryin" to be a CRINIMAL?
Bill Legalandsleepsgood
Click to expand...

I'm with you Bill. I've had them on every car I've owned since the '50's, including my Porsche and my current BMW. My cars are to drive not to look at. I don't see the license plate when I'm driving, and I don't care what other people see.

David Serrano
 
Lots of modern cars only show one plate also......just the rear one. Many of the new cars hardly have a proper place to mount one on the front.....
 
California reads, "you run with the plates or plate you are issued. Motorcycles have one plate, cars and trucks get two. If it is enforced is another question. It is not a law till it is enforced I guess.
 
and it depends on who might actual stop you. if it was the DNR they'll ticket ya ever time :). Think most law enforcement wouldn't be bothered. Isnt there also a grandfathers law, if restored and factory? like seat belts or air bags?
 
California law remains the same.... front and rear plates
must be on car. Locally we have been advised thru CHP
that they are cracking down on both those that run with
just a rear plate as well as those with YOM plates who
Don't put current year stickers either on the plates OR
the metal tabs.
Money maker for the local county.
Gil. NoCal
 
I think people are placing a spin on my post that was not intended. I am not trying to break the law. It is not a situation of having a pair of plates and trying to get away with only running one. I would like to run 2 plates but I haven’t been able to find a matched pair. I have a ’31 RDPU which should have plates with the letters “PC” indicating a “pneumatic commercial” vehicle. The state of California will now allow you to run regular passenger car YOM plates but I really want a pair with the letters “PC”. When I saw someone running a single YOM plate (with the letters “PC”) I wanted to ask if there had been a change to the law or a loophole. Attached is a photo of single plate I have with the letters “PC”. If anyone has a pair please PM me.

Charlie Stephens
 

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From what I know you are correct Charlie. If you have a commercial vehicle you have to have commercial plates and a matching pair. I only run one plate but I have the other one under the seat. In all honesty, I don't think a cop will care as that is pretty low on their to do list.

Mike
 
I know this thread focuses on California, but for others, keep in mind that each state is different on the requirement for a front plate.

Here in Washington State, two plates are a must on "normal" cars and trucks...and it's not just a fixit ticket if caught. It's a $250 fine. And it is enforced (ask me how I know :().

If your car is old enough to run Year of Manufacture Plates, only the rear is required. The requirements and restrictions for YOM plates are the same as for "Collector Car" plates, however.

Check your individual state laws before assuming anything.
 
1930artdeco said:
From what I know you are correct Charlie. If you have a commercial vehicle you have to have commercial plates and a matching pair. I only run one plate but I have the other one under the seat. In all honesty, I don't think a cop will care as that is pretty low on their to do list.

Mike
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But you don't have to register a pre 1938 as a commercial vehicle as there were no wait fees attached to vehicle registration in the era of our vehicles
 
What Tiny says is true. At one time pickups had to run commercial plates IF they weighed over a certain weight, I think 3,000 lbs. I worked at a GMC dealer in the 50's and if we took the spare tire, tools, etc. out and had it weighed, it could be registered as a passenger car. When the small foreign pickups started coming in CA changed the rules so all commercial vehicles had to have commercial plates. A couple of years later a CA vintage car group managed to get that changed so 1936 (or ???) or earlier commercial vehicles under a certain weight could again get passenger plates. Everyone doesn't know this including most DMV people, but they can look it up.
 
In a club I belonged to they made him weigh his P/U because it had commercial plates on it. Sounds like he got stiffed.

Mike
 
Colorado is a 2 plate state. I bought a 95 Miata in 2002. The front plate has always been behind my seat. My 29 has a Horseless Carriage tag. They only issue one. I have a 29 Colorado plate and will install it on the front just for shows.
 
in Colorado you can run year of mfg on the backr and carry the antique plate under the seat, so who cares!
 
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