I am trying to put on some original plates for my 1933 Cadillac, but I can't find out how to go about making the plates legal again. I only know that you can't do it via the DMV. Does anyone out there have any idea how to do this?
What state is the car registered? Do you have 1933 plate from that state? Bill
In Indiana you must apply through the DMV and also have the correct plate for the year restored in the correct original colors. I would assume that this procedure would be applicable in all states that offer this option.
You might also keep in mind that you might (should) exhibit more than the usual amount of courtesy, meekness, whatever to the person behind the desk. When I needed a correct title when selling my 1941 Fleetwood to a friend in Delaware, doing so paid off royally. When I came back from lunch with another suggestion, the lady (who had originally said that the procedure might take weeks) was waving a handful of papers with a big smile on her face. These people not only think we are crazy, we are a major interruption in their day. Best of luck. BW
Here in Lawrence county Tenn. it's pretty simple, take your correct year, clearly readable Tenn tag and your title or registration or bill of sale [on these old girls] and the DMV will register that tag to your car. I have a matched pair [remember those?] on my '59 Impala, even has the county number on them.
I guess it's not that easy everywhere. Anyway, good luck with that, it's a cool thing to have on your car, but it's not for a daily driver.
Google Historic/Classic Plates and your state. There should be a dmv site that explains it. In MO it is pretty simple. If you need to get a plate there are websites that sell them. You can see the plates and email the #'s to the dmv to be sure they are use able before you buy them.
Jeff
Here in Arizona you have at least 3 types of plates for the old cars. You car run a plate from the year of manufacture, Classic Car plate or Historic Vehicle plate. The plate for year of manufacture has to be restored with original colors. All you need is title, year of manufacture plate, insurance card and money. Bill
Indiana must have a little latitude in color as a friend in our local car club has a 1941 plate on his Hudson. The main back ground should be a flat grey blue with white numerals and he painted his a much brighter blue. Whatever, it is a very nice original car and the plate "helps." Good luck.
What do you mean by "make them legal again"? I'm guessing that you have '33 plates that are too worn or discolored for the DMV to allow them?
Quote from: rochestergremlin on July 12, 2017, 12:44:12 PM
I am trying to put on some original plates for my 1933 Cadillac, but I can't find out how to go about making the plates legal again. I only know that you can't do it via the DMV. Does anyone out there have any idea how to do this?
This is your incorrect premise. ANYTHING that has to do with titles, registration or license plates MUST always and forever happen through your state's motor vehicle department.
They make and enforce any and all rules related to the same.
Website or in person your state DMV will have information about what is and is not acceptable and how to achieve what you are trying to accomplish.
I believe I saw in another post that you live in New York. This link tells you what you need to do:
https://dmv.ny.gov/apply-vintage-plates
A couple of years ago I purchases a barn find 40 Lasalle that had YOM Kansas plates so I took the plates and title to the Kansas DMV and asked them if they could be used and what I needed to do.
They told me that the original plates were the property of the previous owner and could only be used with written permission of the owner and must be legible and original colors.
I think the previous owner had passed so I reluctantly settle for antique plates.
Since I had just gotten the car a day earlier when I got home I started cleaning it out and was overjoyed to find a letter in the glove box relinquishing the rights to the plates so I ran back to the DMV and they took back the antique plates and issued a registration for the YOM plates.
In California once you have the plates and they are "clear" (meaning that the sequence of letters and/or numbers has not been replicated in another year). You contact DMV to make sure by giving them the year and plate sequence. They then give you the OK and you can go to AAA or the DMV and register your plates to your vehicle. They will give you a temp registration and some time later via mail you will receive a new "pink slip" and appropriate month and year tags for attachment to a metal tab they provide you with and off into the sunset you go.
Herman.