Truck Titled as "Automobile"??

[socalkevin68]

Hi guys...hope someone can straighten me out on this one...
Ok...i'm trying to purchase the correct black and orange ca. plates for my truck (presently has the "incorrect" blue plates). I'm bidding on some on ebay. but as I look at the diff plates up for auction....i'm seeing..ok to register on truck..and some say ok to register for car.....
Here's the kicker...my Ca. Title for my 68 long bed c10 says "Automobile) in the left hand corner..the under that is says Body type model "HSCR"
I have no idea why it would be registered as a automobile..and what hscr means...
Even more confusing is the issue with plates being ok to register on car or truck..Should I look to bid on some plates that are ok to register on a car or truck......
thx if anyone can help.
kevin

[leddzepp]

If I were you, I would repaint your blue/gold ones to black/gold and be done with it. You will get 10 different stories from 10 different folks at the DMV. I have tried to follow what the state will/will not allow you to do. It is a crap shoot at best. If you take your blue plates in and try to re-register with the black/gold plates, they may confiscate them from you. I do know that if you are switching plates, the ones you are going to use have to be "cleared" (not registered to another vehicle) I have a 72 truck with the blue/gold plates that I restored a while back. Although they were "correct" for my year, I like the black/gold ones better, so I repainted them in that color.

[Scott Webster]

I didn't think you could paint them like that.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Scott Webster

I didn't think you could paint them like that.

Why not? It's not very difficult, just takes a little time and patience.

[socalkevin68]

hmmmm I can paint mine? wouldnt that be considered illegal..."altering a lic plate" eheheh I'm all for it..if someone can prove it's legal..(i hate cold metal bracelts and eating from a paper cup) ehehehehehehe

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by socalkevin68

hmmmm I can paint mine? wouldnt that be considered illegal..."altering a lic plate" eheheh I'm all for it..if someone can prove it's legal..(i hate cold metal bracelts and eating from a paper cup) ehehehehehehe

I doubt its legal I have never had a problem. Cops here have wayyyy more important stuff to worry about. If you are concerned about legality, don't do it. Take your chances at the DMV....good luck!

[socalkevin68]

the way i shake it would be pretty obvious i altered it..so i better bid on some on ebay...heheeheheh

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by socalkevin68

the way i shake it would be pretty obvious i altered it..so i better bid on some on ebay...heheeheheh

Spray the whole plate black, then use a roller for the gold letters/numbers/california logo.

[socalkevin68]

ok leddzepp..since i love old led zep..im gona take your advice ....can you tell me what color gold or brand etc...to help me get as close to original as possible..or you gona make me try 100 diff colors heheehehhe

[leddzepp]

"school bus yellow" is the closest to OEM if I remember correctly, although I used Testors yellow model paint. I used satin black Krylon for the plate. This has been discussed here before, and I am sure other local members will chime in with their experiences soon.

[C/10 King]

We, (actually my wife paints them all the time.)

[El Jay]

That looks good, Rene. I like it!

Tell the missus I said, "HI!"

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by socalkevin68

Hi guys...hope someone can straighten me out on this one...
Ok...i'm trying to purchase the correct black and orange ca. plates for my truck (presently has the "incorrect" blue plates). I'm bidding on some on ebay. but as I look at the diff plates up for auction....i'm seeing..ok to register on truck..and some say ok to register for car.....
Here's the kicker...my Ca. Title for my 68 long bed c10 says "Automobile) in the left hand corner..the under that is says Body type model "HSCR"
I have no idea why it would be registered as a automobile..and what hscr means...
Even more confusing is the issue with plates being ok to register on car or truck..Should I look to bid on some plates that are ok to register on a car or truck......
thx if anyone can help.
kevin

Keven, I don't know about California but in Washington, to run vintage plates, they have to be 'correct for the year'.
Here they don't seem to care if it was for a car or truck but in Calli they may be much fussier...especially if you get cited
and have to prove yourself in court.

Here, the format of the plates changed from year to year. I got the below chart from my DVM today.
As you can see, Washington formatted plates pretty dramatically over the years.
These are car plates and truck plates were even more different.
I would suggest you make a copy of my scan and take it to your DVM...see if they have a something similar for your state.
I would not, with out research, repaint a plate into a different color scheme without, at least, checking lettering format first.

As for what "HSCR" means, again, check with your local DVM.
If you can't get an answer, contact the DMV at your state capital.

This is just my opinion but I would certainly research before chancing a major ticket or
turning your bucks over to a ebay seller and then ending up with wall art.

[El Jay]

I may be totally wrong, but I'm going to make a guess and say that HSCR=Housecar. Think like "motorhome".

I know back in the olden days folks hauling a camper could/would register their trucks as "housecars" to avoid paying commercial vehicle registration.

[petey-pablo]

Use these guys just send them a picture of your plates and get new ones then you can put yours on the wall in your garage I did.
http://www.licenseplates.tv/california-147.html

[tasian]

Originally Posted by El Jay

I know back in the olden days folks hauling a camper could/would register their trucks as "housecars" to avoid paying commercial vehicle registration.

yeah my dad use to always to do that they would let a camper shell pass though

i'd say you'll want to check around with the dmv but just paint them and save the money

[haysonj]

Hscr = Housecar My truck is registered this way and it means it can only be used to haul a camper. There used to be a different tax class for the camper vehicle but I am not sure this still applies

[Sublvr72]

HSCR = Horseless Carriage (I believe)

If you are in CA you can tell a car plate from a commercial plate (truck plate) by the sequence.

If it's a 7 digit plate the car plates will be one number followed by 3 letters and 3 numbers (1AAA111)

The truck or commercial plate will be one number followed by one letter, then 5 numbers (1A11111)

In the state of CA all trucks should be registered at commercial, so if you have car plates on your truck you can be stopped by a LEO and given a citation.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Sublvr72

HSCR = Horseless Carriage (I believe)

If you are in CA you can tell a car plate from a commercial plate (truck plate) by the sequence.

If it's a 7 digit plate the car plates will be one number followed by 3 letters and 3 numbers (1AAA111)

The truck or commercial plate will be one number followed by one letter, then 5 numbers (1A11111)

In the state of CA all trucks should be registered at commercial, so if you have car plates on your truck you can be stopped by a LEO and given a citation.

Actually, the black + yellow Calif commercial plates had no extra number in front of the license sequence, the "1" didn't come in til the blue + yellows. And the letter was at the end. My '68 Stepside had Calif plates on it when I bought it in Pasadena in 1973:
[105 66 A]
Also I think there were spaces, as above.
When I registered it in Ariz, they took my Calif plates at the MVD. Bummer.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Actually, the black + yellow Calif commercial plates had no extra number in front of the license sequence, the "1" didn't come in til the blue + yellows. And the letter was at the end. My '68 Stepside had Calif plates on it when I bought it in Pasadena in 1973:
[105 66 A]
Also I think there were spaces, as above.
When I registered it in Ariz, they took my Calif plates at the MVD. Bummer.

This is correct, and this is how my numbers/letters are sequenced.
When my dad registered his 58 Apache in AZ he took the black/gold plates off and told the MVD they got "lost". I "found" them hanging on his garage wall If I ever end up re-registering it here, those plates are going right back on

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

This is correct, and this is how my numbers/letters are sequenced.
When my dad registered his 58 Apache in AZ he took the black/gold plates off and told the MVD they got "lost". I "found" them hanging on his garage wall If I ever end up re-registering it here, those plates are going right back on

Well I got wise. When I found a '71 GMC 4x4 Jimmy for sale in Catalina AZ, in '95, with Calif plates, I kept the front one. I told the MVD the front plate had been stolen. [It was. By me.] It's a blue and yellow. 2 digits, 3 digits, letter.

[Sublvr72]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Actually, the black + yellow Calif commercial plates had no extra number in front of the license sequence, the "1" didn't come in til the blue + yellows. And the letter was at the end. My '68 Stepside had Calif plates on it when I bought it in Pasadena in 1973:
[105 66 A]
Also I think there were spaces, as above.
When I registered it in Ariz, they took my Calif plates at the MVD. Bummer.

I was refering to 7 digit plates, the black and gold and the early blue and gold plates were 6 digit

[petey-pablo]

Originally Posted by Sublvr72

HSCR = Horseless Carriage (I believe)

If you are in CA you can tell a car plate from a commercial plate (truck plate) by the sequence.

If it's a 7 digit plate the car plates will be one number followed by 3 letters and 3 numbers (1AAA111)

The truck or commercial plate will be one number followed by one letter, then 5 numbers (1A11111)

In the state of CA all trucks should be registered at commercial, so if you have car plates on your truck you can be stopped by a LEO and given a citation.

Oh ya I forgot about that My brother works for the Ca DMV and he told me this before How could I have forgotten to mention this. Not all trucks have to be registerd with "commercial plates" Trucks with campers don't have to I just sold a 92 chevy silvarado with a camper on it not too long ago sold the camper first and I was warned about the plates by my brother tha they were registerd to the truck with the camper not without it.Crazy .....

[Sublvr72]

Originally Posted by petey-pablo

Oh ya I forgot about that My brother works for the Ca DMV and he told me this before How could I have forgotten to mention this. Not all trucks have to be registerd with "commercial plates" Trucks with campers don't have to I just sold a 92 chevy silvarado with a camper on it not too long ago sold the camper first and I was warned about the plates by my brother tha they were registerd to the truck with the camper not without it.Crazy .....

That's correct, you can change the plates on a truck if you have a camper on it to RV registration. The only thing is the second the camper is off then you are running illegal and DOT can cite you until you put the camper back on or until you change the plates.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by socalkevin68

Hi guys...hope someone can straighten me out on this one...
Title for my 68 long bed c10 says "Automobile) in the left hand corner..the under that is says Body type model "HSCR"

Kevin: any motor vehicle registered in CA with a CAMPER permanently attached is registered as a HOUSE CAR. HSCR.
From the CA vehicle code:
362. A "house car" is a motor vehicle originally designed, or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper has been permanently attached. A motor vehicle to which a camper has been temporarily attached is not a house car except that, for the purposes of Division 11 (commencing with Section 21000) and Division 12 (commencing with Section 24000), a motor vehicle equipped with a camper having an axle that is designed to support a portion of the weight of the camper unit shall be considered a three-axle house car regardless of the method of attachment or manner of registration. A house car shall not be deemed to be a motortruck.