Need Some Texan Help- Registering as an Antique

[Ole Blue 68]

I thought I was fairly smart till I tried to get antique registration/plates for my truck. I found the application form and instructions that state the following:

"Owners of motor vehicles 25 years old or older that meet the limited use restriction provisions of this registration may take advantage of this exemption by contacting the nearest Texas Department of Public
Safety, Safety Responsibility Bureau. Upon receipt of the affidavit of exemption, the portion of the form designated “FOR COUNTY USE ONLY” will be signed, stamped, and dated by an authorized agent of the
Department of Public Safety. The original affidavit will be filed, and a copy will be returned to the owner."

I've called all over the place and can't find a DPS, Safety Responsibility Bureau here in Houston. What do I need to do?

[myoldchevytruck]

Hey Ole Blue,

Here's some info that may lead you in the right direction for your vintage tag/registration.

Texas Department of Transportation-Vehicle Titles & Registration
www.dot.state.tx.us

10000 Northwest Fwy # 105
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 681-6637

The link below is on vintage tags specifically for trucks with a certain year. Lots of members from Texas have those tags. I live in Florida and I have a Red Truck Tag for years 68'/69'. Many of us found our tags on eBay.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=295526

Good Luck

[nightmare]

Yeah, I was going to say to go to the DPS office at Mangum, 290, and 610. They would be able to assist you with whatever you need.

The only problem with registering the vehicle as an antique is that you can only drive it like 8000 miles a year, maybe less and only to car shows (I think). If this is a daily driver, I wouldn't bother with the antique registration.

[Ole Blue 68]

Thanks for the info all. I'll try to give that DPS office over on Mangum a call. I called over to the office on Will Clayton and they didn't know what the heck I was talking about...

It's not a daily driver so I thought I could get away with some antique plates even though I'd be bending the rules a little.

[nightmare]

you shouldn't have any problems if it isn't a daily driver.

Good luck.

[68gmsee]

Here's an old quote from Tx Firefighter re: this. He has his registered as antique. Do a search on "registering antique" and you will get more info...

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Texas guys,

After 25 years, you can register it as an "Antique" or "Classic".

I do antique. It costs $55 dollars for 5 years registration and no inspection required anymore. You can either run the year of manufacture plates or the Tx official "Antique" plate. I try to always get a proper set of year of manufacture plates as the antique plates they give you are ugly. There is no reoccuring fee to use your old plates, they inspect them once and give you a 5 year tag to bolt to the corner of the old plate.

There may be more stringent guidelines on "Antique" versues "Classic" in Texas, but after 11 years of driving antiques all the time, never has anyone questioned me whatsoever as to where I was going or how much I was driving. Cops got bigger fish to fry than some old car guy busting the restrictions on an antique plate.

[hotrod 80]

I did the 5 year registration on mine with 67' plates . I just walked in ( to my local tax office ) with my regestration paper work and the tags( 1967 Texas truck ) and said " I need to see if I can put these on my 1967 truck ". She did some paperwork and said " are these real plates? , yea there real . That will be $45 " I got a window sticker and was told the little metal thing that goes under the corner bolt of the plate has been discontinued . She also told me I don't have to put the sticker in the window , but needed to have it with me and if i didn't want to take a chance on possible getting pulled over and harassed that i might want to get an inspection sticker and put the registration on the winsheild , just for the heck of it . I didn't go to the DPS office at all .

[Rickey]

What you need to do first is find plates the year of your truck in good shape. Take your registration paper down to county clerk that you get your yearly registration at, and tell them to register as an Antique. I believe it cost me 65 dollars and you don't have to have a state inspection and the tag registration is good for 5 yrs. I did mine a couple months ago took 30 minutes.
Also have your proof of insurance.

[cst70rocket]

I just did this yesterday for my malibu. I can't/haven't found any 1980 plates yet, so I got the Tx issued plate. I went to the county tag office Tuesday, and took the app. back yesterday. $52 and away I went.

[chevyman432003]

The fastest place to go is the one on preston st. in down town in and out in 30 minutes only a few now this. this is where i go all the time just go in with your old plates and title and money.

[254steele]

i had no problem here in mclennan county (waco). my '67 step was even purchased out of state--fortunately the title was clear. i just walked in and told the clerk that i wanted antique tags for the truck and after checking on a couple of things, she brought the plate to me.
they are really ugly. what's the best way to find a set of '67 plates?

[hotrod 80]

There is a guy in San Antonio that sells old plate . I got my 67' truck plates for $35 . I also have a 78' Chevy Luv im going to do this to . I don't remember the years , but around 75' or so they went to the sticker update system . 75' or so and up have to vanity plate , as they have the year pr3essed into them . I also have the really cool black Hemisphere plates for my 68' Camaro . This was on year only and they are awesome . My 49' has the smaller omaha orange and black texas truck plates .

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by 254steele

i had no problem here in mclennan county (waco). my '67 step was even purchased out of state--fortunately the title was clear. i just walked in and told the clerk that i wanted antique tags for the truck and after checking on a couple of things, she brought the plate to me.
they are really ugly. what's the best way to find a set of '67 plates?

Unfortunately eBay. I've had some luck finding plates at, of all places, an antique shop. most of them were pretty ratty, but some weren't so bad. There are a few places down on the Strand in Galveston that sell old plates, but you have to look through them pretty well.

[254steele]

hotrod--
any contact info for the s.a. guy? i'm down there a few times a year.

[Gray Ghost]

I see them at swap meets all the time....pretty pricey someyimes though.

[NWD02]

Contact you local county tax office where you would apply for new registration. What part of town do you live and maybe I can help you out. I just had to deal with transferring the title to my 67, and I was told I could apply for the antique tags in the same office. If you need more help send me a PM.

[hotrod 80]

Originally Posted by 254steele

hotrod--
any contact info for the s.a. guy? i'm down there a few times a year.

I have a buisness card for him @ the house . I'll get you that info .

[Ole Blue 68]

You all are awesome, thanks for the great information! I didn't want to waste a trip to the tax office downtown since I wasn't sure if they would handle specialty registrations. I'll take care of that next week; I've got some 68 plates that I picked up in pretty good shape.

One last question. Once it's registered as an antique, will it still require the annual safety inspection?

[STP67-72]

Old Blue
This is what i have on this. There are classic plates and antique plates. They are both available through DPS. But they do not even know the difference. This guy has all of the paperwork on this stuff. He gives it to you when you buy your plates. He is a lot of help. This is also the man that sells the repo looking inspection stickers. (N2 TRUXS) bought one at one of our swap meets last year. Here is his info.
Larry Machacek
Porter Tx
713 429-2505
Nice older couple that has been doing it for years. Has nice stuff and some new old stock. This couple is always at swap meets and Autorama.

This other guy is the guy that Hotrod 80 is probably talking about. Nice guy also. He is at all the swapmeets and Autorama also. He is from San Antonio.
Jesse Perez
San Antonio
210 532-7456
I heard he has garages full. New and used. He supplies everybody. He was beside me at Pate this year. He said he bought several thousands of dollars of plates that weekend.
Hope all of this helps.

[Ole Blue 68]

Hmm, Larry's right around the corner from me. Maybe I'll give him a call and see if I can check out what he's got.

Thanks Steve!

[clay68c10]

I did the 68 classic version since passing state insp is no big deal for me. My buddy also did the classic 70 plate on his Chevelle since it is his daily.
I wasn't sure if the law might have a problem so that's the route I went. Either way, it's easy. I had a post about how to do it a while back.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ic+plate+texas

[Ole Blue 68]

Originally Posted by clay68c10

I did the 68 classic version since passing state insp is no big deal for me. My buddy also did the classic 70 plate on his Chevelle since it is his daily.
I wasn't sure if the law might have a problem so that's the route I went. Either way, it's easy. I had a post about how to do it a while back.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ic+plate+texas

Thanks for the info Clay, I'm gonna stop downtown sometime next week. Nice Boxer by the way....

[clay68c10]

Thanks, he's pretty much insane, but a lot of fun.

[Ole Blue 68]

So's mine!

[Rickey]

Look at this web site Turnerplates.com
he even has farm truck plates for sale