Year of manufacture license plates

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I wrote to one of the sellers on eBay and asked why the description said replacement, and he wrote me back and said the replacement sets were for mid-year replacement of damaged or lost plates and replacement plates can't be used for YOM registration. I told him it was interesting and pretty, and he said you could try it and sometimes things like that will be accepted and I might try several different tax offices to see if it get successfully registered at one of them. So, my evidence/statement is only anecdotal. Other eBay sellers have put in their listings Farm Truck plates can't be used for YOM registration. I don't know what percentage of this stuff slips through the scrutiny of the tax office, but I feel pretty confident Plano tax office is extremely picky. I actually like the people working in the Tomball tax office.

.

Texas no longer requires registration renewal in the county of residence. A guy could try all of the tax offices if necessary until an agent does what's needed! I too have read that it really depends on the agent at the window as to whether you'll get your YOM plates registered to your classic.

-Kevin

[cericd]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I wrote to one of the sellers on eBay and asked why the description said replacement, and he wrote me back and said the replacement sets were for mid-year replacement of damaged or lost plates and replacement plates can't be used for YOM registration. I told him it was interesting and pretty, and he said you could try it and sometimes things like that will be accepted and I might try several different tax offices to see if it get successfully registered at one of them. So, my evidence/statement is only anecdotal. Other eBay sellers have put in their listings Farm Truck plates can't be used for YOM registration. I don't know what percentage of this stuff slips through the scrutiny of the tax office, but I feel pretty confident Plano tax office is extremely picky. I actually like the people working in the Tomball tax office.

Yep, that's right about the Farm Truck plates, although things can slip by occasionally.

The Application Forms state the following:

"Instead of an Antique plate, the owner of an antique vehicle may use an embossed license plate issued by this state that is the same
year as the model year of the vehicle. The plate must have the original color scheme, and be in good, readable condition. If the
original plate is approved by your local county tax assessor-collector’s office, a plate tab with a registration sticker will be issued to
show the plate is valid.
Replicas of Texas license plates are not acceptable. Plates with an alpha-numeric pattern that are already in use or qualifying license
plates such as a Farm plate, Dealer plate, etc., will not be approved"

I'd never had a bad experience at the Tomball location, we've lived there since 2011, until we just got back from living in Colorado for about 2.5 years. Getting mine and my wives vehicles registered & "plated" took multiple attempts, due to incomplete information on the txdmv website and I wouldn't consider anyone we dealt with there to be "friendly." This was completely the opposite of every other experience I had had there prior to 2019.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by cericd

...<snip>...
If the original plate is approved by your local county tax assessor-collector’s office, a plate tab with a registration sticker will be issued to
show the plate is valid.
...<snip>...

.

Well that is interesting. I've been running my Texas YOM plates for years and never received a "plate tab with a registration sticker" to show the plate is valid?

Did you receive it and if so how? Was it mailed?

Thanks,

-Kevin

[425HP409]

I have 5 vehicles registered with YOM plates. The clerk just makes sure the plates are in good condition and match the photo in their book.
There is a $15 extra fee per year to run them when you register your vehicle.

[Cwood0425]

thank you 425hp409,

making me feel better about the plates.
My local Tax office is getting educated about this process as we go because as they say, " we have never heard if this before, we think it is illegal."
Now they are coming around to my way of thinking.
I am getting approval of my plates and putting them on my truck as Antique plates.

[chappys4life]

Originally Posted by 425HP409

I have 5 vehicles registered with YOM plates. The clerk just makes sure the plates are in good condition and match the photo in their book.
There is a $15 extra fee per year to run them when you register your vehicle.

Thanks for the info. I am hoping I got a bad clerk. Going back thursday morning to try again.

[dmjlambert]

Yes, they allow restored, repaired or repainted plates if they match the correct color scheme for the year. It would probably be acceptable to paint the letters black to get past registration and then further enhance or correct it by stripping the black paint off leaving the original red, and I really doubt it would ever be discovered as a problem, just an anomaly that only those reading this paragraph would even know about. Nobody would care except perhaps Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Yes, they allow restored, repaired or repainted plates if they match the correct color scheme for the year. It would probably be acceptable to paint the letters black to get past registration and then further enhance or correct it by stripping the black paint off leaving the original red, and I really doubt it would ever be discovered as a problem, just an anomaly that only those reading this paragraph would even know about. Nobody would care except perhaps Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

Sheriff Buford is the one Bull you don't want to p!ss off. He might just write you up for the scratches to the lacquer on his billy club when he was "inspecting your broken taillight.''
My AZ YOM plates are exposed to constant Arizona sunshine and UV ĺight. The Yellow reflective finish isn't too bad, ɓut the Black lettering is getting bleached out. I may be able to mask off the Yellow background and touch up the numbers with Black Krylon, but it will take some careful detailing. Also the truck won't be street legal with the plate off it.
I've heard of an outfit you can send your plate[s] in to get then recoated with the reflective surfaces, but it also has a state sticker indicating 1971, and their process would destroy that sticker.

[A1971Blazer]

In Tennessee you can register the period correct plate on an antique vehicle.
The registration is permanent and does not require yearly renewal.
The county you live in can also make a difference.
I found a site that makes custom plates and ordered this one.
I took it to my county clerk and they registered it, no problem.
In TN no front plate is required.

[Hook'em]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Do you folks remember somebody here mentioning they have old license plates available, a stash in a garage or shed? I remember a post from some months ago, but I can't find the thread. I am interested in 1963 Texas license plates.

If you haven't found any yet, check out this guy. I've purchased 3 or 4 sets of 1969 plates from him. It looks like he has a set of 1963 - scroll way down the page.

[wpsharpshooter]

My dad had this squirreled away to put on his (now my) 68. Which is cool because he was in the national guard in 68.. So I've registered the tag now and I'm legal to run it!

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Hook'em

If you haven't found any yet, check out this guy. I've purchased 3 or 4 sets of 1969 plates from him. It looks like he has a set of 1963 - scroll way down the page.

Thanks for that, it is good to know about success buying from the seller.

[Hook'em]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Thanks for that, it is good to know about success buying from the seller.

Seems like every time this topic comes up and I recommend this guy, I end up buying another set of plates. Yesterday was no exception.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Hook'em

If you haven't found any yet, check out this guy. I've purchased 3 or 4 sets of 1969 plates from him. It looks like he has a set of 1963 - scroll way down the page.

Man, at $25/pair those 69 Truck plates are a lot cheaper than prices elsewhere, and what I paid at a swap meet.

I also have to say the 68 Hemisfair plate is really cool.

[HoneyBeeMan68]

in Iowa they have to check the shape of the plates , and then they give you new plates with the registration linking the old tags with the new tags, the new tags just have to be with the truck.

[Hook'em]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Man, at $25/pair those 69 Truck plates are a lot cheaper than prices elsewhere, and what I paid at a swap meet.

I also have to say the 68 Hemisfair plate is really cool.

Those '69 plates are sitting in my office now. I have 7 sets in that range from 6H*1601 to 6H*1616. I also bought a single Hemisfair plate to hang on the wall in the garage.

[chappys4life]

Went on ebay and got a 70 plate in the mail. Will see how the registration goes in Texas when it arrives.

[cericd]

I'm not sure how long they've been doing that with the little tab but a buddy of mine informed me about it before I went. The small metal plate was handed to me with my registration paperwork and sticker. I assume it would be mailed to you if you went that route. If you have never seen one, it mounts like this. Pretty ugly in my opinion. I believe there is a window mount version of the sticker. I'm going to look into that before my renewal.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by cericd

I'm not sure how long they've been doing that with the little tab but a buddy of mine informed me about it before I went. The small metal plate was handed to me with my registration paperwork and sticker. I assume it would be mailed to you if you went that route. If you have never seen one, it mounts like this. Pretty ugly in my opinion. I believe there is a window mount version of the sticker. I'm going to look into that before my renewal.

.

Well well well. The last time I renewed the reg on my '67 was back in August 2023 so it's coming around again soon. I'll keep this in mind and ask about it.

Thanks, and yes I agree, it's not the best looking thing.

-Kevin

[dmjlambert]

A metal tab was not required for my plates, but I required front and back plates and an inspection and registration sticker every year for the windshield just like required for a modern plate. Perhaps the metal tab is for antique registration, which I was not considering.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

A metal tab was not required for my plates, but I required front and back plates and an inspection and registration sticker every year for the windshield just like required for a modern plate. Perhaps the metal tab is for antique registration, which I was not considering.

Nope, I registered mine in April of 2023 as a Classic, which I have read, requires both plates, the plate sticker & tab and an annual safety inspection. Here is the wording directly from the Application for Classic License Plates Form VTR-850 Rev. 8/2019 mentioning the plate tab and sticker.

"Instead of Classic License Plates, the owner of a classic vehicle may use embossed license plates issued by this state
that is the same year as the model year of the vehicle. The plates must have the original color scheme and be in good,
readable condition. If the original plates are approved by your local county tax assessor-collector’s office, a plate tab
with a registration sticker will be issued to be displayed on the rear license plate."

I wonder if your "inspection and registration sticker" is the windshield version of my "tab" sticker. Unless you have your truck registered as a "regular" vehicle. Then you would get a standard issue TX license plate and the regular registration sticker in the window. Or, it could be an oversight by the person who issued you your plates. I'm not confident that every clerk is up to date on the odd stuff that we as vintage vehicle drivers are eligible to do. I'm sure 99.9% of what they deal with day to day has nothing to do with vintage vehicles.

The reason I wanted to go with the plate tab is I had planned to run one of these replica 1970 Texas Inspection Stickers in the windshield.

[dmjlambert]

Oh, I see. Yes that's it, my 69 truck is registered as a regular vehicle. I got standard issue TX license plates and the regular registration sticker in the window. Mid year I went in to see them with the YOM plates and had them change the registration to YOM plates but keep it regular registration. If I recall correctly I got a new expiration month and they prorated the registration fee, and they gave me a fresh sticker for the windshield that has the plate number for the YOM plates. Every year I get a fresh registration and windshield sticker. I'll ask them for more details when I get the registration and standard issue plates for my 63. I think there must be several types of registration, regular, classic, antique, and perhaps other types. It is possible they incorrectly registered my YOM plates for the 69 and it is also possible they changed the rules in the last couple of years. I'll see how it goes with the 63.

[MikeB]

There's usually a vendor or two selling plates at the "Pate" swap meet at Texas Motor Speedway. I bought an unissued pair of black on white 69 Texas Truck plates. The seller had been asking $200 (pie in the sky), but had them marked down to $125. It was late in the day and I got them for $80. Things seem to get pricier for plates from the 1950s.

The DMV gave me a tiny sticker that I was able to fit in a corner of the rear plate. Nothing for the windshield, though. I registered it as a Classic (or Antique?), which means renewal every 5 years and no inspection of any kind.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by MikeB

There's usually a vendor or two selling plates at the "Pate" swap meet at Texas Motor Speedway. I bought an unissued pair of black on white 69 Texas Truck plates. The seller had been asking $200 (pie in the sky), but had them marked down to $125. It was late in the day and I got them for $80. Things seem to get pricier for plates from the 1950s.

The DMV gave me a tiny sticker that I was able to fit in a corner of the rear plate. Nothing for the windshield, though. I registered it as a Classic (or Antique?), which means renewal every 5 years and no inspection of any kind.

Antique is the one that is renewed every 5 years and no inspection of any kind. Supposedly Texas is getting rid of safety inspections in 2025 so at that point neither Classic nor Antique will require an inspection but registering as Classic will mean yearly registration but does not have the restrictions associated with an Antique registration, which are as follows.

From the Application for Antique License Plate form, "The vehicle is a collector’s item that will be used solely for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of
public interest; it is not a replica or aftermarket vehicle; will not be used for daily transportation except when routine maintenance is needed; and will not carry advertising.

State law makes falsifying information a third-degree felony"

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by cericd

From the Application for Antique License Plate form, "The vehicle is a collector’s item that will be used solely for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of
public interest; it is not a replica or aftermarket vehicle; will not be used for daily transportation except when routine maintenance is needed; and will not carry advertising."

I've had antique plates on 3 different vehicles now. Actually haven't done much driving other than what's mentioned in the restrictions, except for an occasional run to Home Depot or ACE.

Never had a cop stop and quiz me, nor do I know of anyone with Antique registration who has been stopped. I don't know this for a fact, but I heard it's OK to do test drives after repairs, etc.