california historical license plates???
- Thread starter jeff47wl
- Start date
1948F-1Pickup
Well-known member
My guess is that you’re referring to YOM (Year Of Manufacture) plates. Could be expensive to acquire. The ones on my ‘48 truck were stupidly expensive because all trucks in CA are “commercial,” you need to have YOM commercial plates.
Anyway, CA regards YOM as a “special” plate….. and there’s a special annual fee on top of the regular (and what are now expensive) annual registration costs.
There are no mileage limits to such plates, as far as the DMV is concerned.
And not all DMV locations are created equal….. it helps to read up on their exact process for those plates. They have a specific binder that goes into the process of doing the plates. Whether they can find the binder, is another story. You kinda have to lead the “horse” to water sometimes. If you’re extraordinarily lucky, they will have a specific employee who is familiar with the process.
Anyway, CA regards YOM as a “special” plate….. and there’s a special annual fee on top of the regular (and what are now expensive) annual registration costs.
There are no mileage limits to such plates, as far as the DMV is concerned.
And not all DMV locations are created equal….. it helps to read up on their exact process for those plates. They have a specific binder that goes into the process of doing the plates. Whether they can find the binder, is another story. You kinda have to lead the “horse” to water sometimes. If you’re extraordinarily lucky, they will have a specific employee who is familiar with the process.
I have 1956 YOM Plates on my 1956 Chevy. Bought some at a swap meet ($150) and trusted the guy that they are clear. They were, brought them to DMV, they approved them and they have been on my car for 10 plus years. Cost $170 last year for registration. There is an extra fee as they are considered "special plates" Then for a 1948 Power Wagon I found some 1947 plates that have a 1948 metal tab that mounts on the top corner. These were $300 plus. Before purchase I called DMV to ask if they were clear. They said yes. Bought them and Hung them on the wall of my garage. The truck was being restored so I didn't want to register them until needed. 2 years later I wanted to get them assigned to my truck. DMV now said the plates aren't registered to a vehicle but are still assigned to a person. Who? I don't know. I think if you own vanity plates, you can keep paying some yearly fee to keep them in your name. Not sure. I would assume eventually they could be clear in the DMV system. I never tried to find out and its been 5 years. Still on the wall in my garage along with some dealer frames I bought for them. If you find some plates you are interested in, Check with DMV but make sure you ask them if they are assigned to a vehicle or a person. And then double check again with a different office or person.
If you mean Historical Plates. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...ehicle-and-horseless-carriage-license-plates/
Attachments
Flathead Fever
Well-known member
Delete
tubman
Well-known member
In Minnesota (Thanks to the MSRA and their lobbying the legislature), collectors plates and YOM plates are free, after you pay the original (reasonable) fee.
Don't be so quick to knock "street-rodders". They have made life easy for us "car guys" up here in the North Woods.
From what I have been reading, other states are a nightmare.
Don't be so quick to knock "street-rodders". They have made life easy for us "car guys" up here in the North Woods.
From what I have been reading, other states are a nightmare.
paul2748
Well-known member
NJ is good for historical (QQ) plates. No registration fee. Some limit on where you can use them but doesn't seem to be a problem and ok if your going to a repair shop or for a show . And only one is required to be used (rear)
Problem - we can't use YOM plates which is a bummer.
Problem - we can't use YOM plates which is a bummer.
Gene1949
Well-known member
We found a set of YOMs 30 years ago at the Portland (Oregone) swap meet. Presented them to DMV, they checked, and nobody had a claim to them so for a small [onetime] registration fee they were mine.
Never registered the car here in Nevada and never had a problem although I did have a county sheriff follow me for a few miles this spring. Cops are involved just like us. Besides, I think they have a lot more serious things to occupy their time than some old geezer in a flamed-out Ford sporting an out of state 49 plate.
It’s a shame other states have such antiquated laws on our hobby. Tubman is right, don’t hate on the “street-rod” crowd. The car clubs had a lot to do with the plate registration and classic car insurance regs in Oregone.
Never registered the car here in Nevada and never had a problem although I did have a county sheriff follow me for a few miles this spring. Cops are involved just like us. Besides, I think they have a lot more serious things to occupy their time than some old geezer in a flamed-out Ford sporting an out of state 49 plate.
It’s a shame other states have such antiquated laws on our hobby. Tubman is right, don’t hate on the “street-rod” crowd. The car clubs had a lot to do with the plate registration and classic car insurance regs in Oregone.
deuce_roadster
Well-known member
I have 5 old Fords and 2 brand X cars that all have YOM plates. Since I can restore and letter plates (and cars for myself) I can buy junk plates and metal finish them, saving some money. Here in WA there is a 1-time fee to register the plate to the car and no yearly cost after that.
P.S. I always get a pair of plates to restore eliminating someone else having the same year and number plate.
P.S. I always get a pair of plates to restore eliminating someone else having the same year and number plate.
Last edited:
SoCalCoupe
Well-known member
I have California "Year of Manufacture" license plates on my 1941 Coupe. According to the DMV website, YOM plates "Have full operating privileges."
More than likely your classic car insurance company will have annual mileage limits though.
Here in California your best bet is YOM (year of manufacture) plates. You need both (2) plates and they must be original, not repro's. If it is for early fifties you will need the corner tag. All this is easy to do and your best place to start is with a plate collector/restorer as they will have what you want and they will guarantee the plates are clear.
I am not sure about "historic" plates like those in other states. California allows the YOM and that is much better than a plate that just says your old car is old.
(I have a set of perfect clear '32 plates if interested)
I am not sure about "historic" plates like those in other states. California allows the YOM and that is much better than a plate that just says your old car is old.
(I have a set of perfect clear '32 plates if interested)
The question about California historical plates has nothing to do with Year of Manufactured (yom)license plates.
Apparently, they are not used very much because very few people know what they are or used for.
If you do not know what historical license plates are look it up.
jeff
Apparently, they are not used very much because very few people know what they are or used for.
If you do not know what historical license plates are look it up.
jeff
WarbirdPhotog
Senior Member
I just finished registering 1940 plates that came with my 1940 Ford Deluxe Sedan. Thankfully, the plates weren't registered. It took them about 4 months to finally 'approve' of it and send me the stickers. I took the new plates and the old plates down to a local DMV (Fullerton, CA), and told them I'd like to switch the plates to YOM. They took a look at the 1940 plates (they make sure they are the real deal, not trashed, and in good condition), then they took photocopies of the 1940 plates. They kept the modern plates I had, and with the paperwork and photocopies of the new plates (and a registration fee), they sent it in to Sacramento. Four months later (and me getting worried that something happened as even the DMV website said 'processing' still), I got the title/registration with the 1940 plates added. They also sent the metal 'tabs' that you can put on the rear of the 1940s plates to hold the month and year stickers, which was nice.
One thing to note... California 1940 and 1941 plates exist, but 1942, 43, and 44, plates do not. For 1942 they used a orange 'add on' bar that was placed over the 1941 plate top to make it a 1942. In 1943, they added a small white tab in the top right corner with a V for victory. In 1944, with metal/steel in major need for the war effort, they kept the 1941 plate with the 1942 top tab and the 1943 corner tab and just added a sticker to the window. In 1945, they went back to plates, but only ONE plate. There are no matching 1945 plates (and it's the only year, I believe, that only requires one plate, not a matching two).
1940 Plate:
1941 Plate:
1942 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab:
1943 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab and a white corner V for victory tab:
1944 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab and a white corner V for Victory tab with a 1944 window sticker:
1945 Plate:
One thing to note... California 1940 and 1941 plates exist, but 1942, 43, and 44, plates do not. For 1942 they used a orange 'add on' bar that was placed over the 1941 plate top to make it a 1942. In 1943, they added a small white tab in the top right corner with a V for victory. In 1944, with metal/steel in major need for the war effort, they kept the 1941 plate with the 1942 top tab and the 1943 corner tab and just added a sticker to the window. In 1945, they went back to plates, but only ONE plate. There are no matching 1945 plates (and it's the only year, I believe, that only requires one plate, not a matching two).
1940 Plate:
1941 Plate:
1942 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab:
1943 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab and a white corner V for victory tab:
1944 - A 1941 plate with the top orange tab and a white corner V for Victory tab with a 1944 window sticker:
1945 Plate:
Last edited:
J Franklin
Well-known member
They will not issue the same number to anyone else. That's why you only need one in a lot of States. That is also why you need to make sure someone else hasn't already used your #. The year is not taken into any cosideration, just the numbers.
Randy in ca
Well-known member
-
If these are the ones you're referring to they sound pretty restrictive:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...ehicle-and-horseless-carriage-license-plates/