[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

11 hours ago, TAKerry said:

Good to hear back from you Karla, So many people ask one question then disappear. I hope you will be sticking around for the long term. Its great to hear you have the car on the road and are starting to enjoy it. Personally I would not get too hung up on the license plate. Sure it would be cool and a great conversation piece if you had it. However you said that the car was 'given' to you. I suspect the original owner did not have the means, will power, time, stamina or any other thing to keep his car. If him holding on to the license plate is what keeps the memories of that car alive for him then so be it. I would be happy for him and grateful for the gift as it is.

I’m incredibly grateful to Bill. I’ve never had anyone be this generous to me in my life. 

I’ve always loved cars. I remember riding in my dads TR3 hanging half way out trying to touch the ground as my dad would pull away. Also remember my brother and I riding in the open back trunk in my dads 64 corvette while my parents drove in car rallies. I guess that why I’m so hung up on the plate. I feel like it’s part of the cars soul. I know, sounds silly. 
I contacted the wife for the last time. I apologized for bothering her. She said not to worry I’m not bothering her at all. She will ask him. If he still wants it that’s fine.  I will have to let it go. 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

On 2/27/2024 at 6:36 AM, EmTee said:

I have YOM plates on 3 of my classics in NY.  I bought them on Ebay in good condition and sent pics to the DMV as required before applying a couple of coats of clear just to restore the luster.  They look as they did new.

Do you also have to pay a yearly “ad valorem” on each car with the YOM plates? 
Someone in the group mentioned when they changed to YOM plate the dmv re valued the car worth much more. Now his registration is hundreds of dollars more. 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

1 hour ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

Knowing old-car owners, and human nature, I think you'll

find that he wants to keep the original plate for sentimental

reasons.  Also, a genuine plate is more interesting than a

reproduction.  It's much the same, perhaps, as your

cherishing your child's kindergarten artwork more than a

color-photocopy of it.  But who knows?  It's certainly

thoughtful of you to locate and offer an alternative.

 

It's good to hear that your VW is running well and closer

to the reliable hobby car that you'll enjoy!

I wasn’t about to guilt trip the owner. I totally understand his feelings. The DMV is so difficult to deal with in a situation like this.
Do you know much about fees associated with using a YOM plate. I know there’s a yearly charge but someone wrote on this group that they will add another yearly value increase every year? 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

Update on the plate and car.
After 24 years this little car finally got to see sunlight. Happy little bug after some TLC and a wash and wax. Mechanic did some maintenance work. Still getting some bugs out of it but it sounds like a little sewing machine. Lots of spunk. Took a little drive through Sonoma wine country.  

As far as the plate situation… 

I texted his wife and offered a beautiful reproduction plate including month and 1963 sticker if he would be willing to trade.
His wife said the reproduction plate looks amazing.
5 days later.
Still No answer from the husband. It’s a shame because some day this plate will be tossed out. For me, I will be paying CA dmv $45 a year along with $165 in registration fees to have YOM plates on the car. Just such a waste. I have another month on my temporary sticker for him to change his mind. Once I switch that plate that’s it. The plate will not be allowed to be driven on the car. 

 

 

 

 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

15 hours ago, nick8086 said:

1963–1969 year model automobiles must have black license plates with yellow characters within the alpha-numeric series of AAA000–YYY999.

 

I have a pair that I took off my kaiser. Not sure if you will like them. I was going to use them for more wall art..

 

It is tag MUF792.

 

 

Here is a better pic..

I bought a set yesterday thanks for the offer. 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

11 hours ago, Leif in Calif said:

If you have the rear plate and it matches your paperwork you are in pretty good shape! That's the important one! California requires a front plate but enforcement is very lax. I bought a new Chevy Volt in 2018 and the dealer didn't include the front plate bracket. I didn't realize it until I got the new plates in the mail. I went back to the dealer and they gave me the bracket but said "so many cars don't look good with a front plate that it's sort of a no cost option. We almost never give them to people buying Corvettes". I think you can buy a "reproduction" license plate that matches the rear one...no one will ever check it. 

 

3 hours ago, 61polara said:

If this is a California car, there should be a front and rear plate.  Asked the seller what he did with the original front plate.  Bets are he now has both plates and knows how valuable they are.  From what others from CA have said, without at least one original plate, you will need to have new plates issued.  I'm not in CA, so I really don't know.

I thought about offering him money for the plate but money obviously means nothing because he gave his car with 46k original miles on it. It would’ve been cool to have the original plate that was issued with the car. 
 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

So I finally was called back by the California DMV. They told me he wasn’t allowed to take the plate. I wasn’t going to guilt trip a person that just gave me his car. So,I asked about buying a 1963 plate on eBay.  She said it would be fine as long as it is in the same year and in readable condition and it’s not in the system anymore. She was able to check some plates I was interested in on ebay to see if they could be used. I went through 5 different plates which had no record and should be ok to use. She told me to bring the plates in with me to the dmv and it’ll be easy to change. Now I have keep my fingers crossed that the person behind the dmv window will be as helpful as the person on the phone. 
 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

The car had one plate on the car and he took it. I’d love to get a duplicate. The reissued title has the original plate number on it. As for now I am on hold with the DMV. 

[1963 plates gone 🙁 (the car seller took the original plate off the car.)]

Hi Everyone 

I am new to the club. I have a question about plates. I was just given a 1963 original one owner vw beetle. He is a friend of a friend.  The bug has sat in his barn for the last 24 years. Luckily he did register it non op.
As I was about to leave with the car the owner took the original plate off the car. There was only one plate on the car. He wanted it for memory sake because he bought the car when he was 16. I understand his attachment. I am incredibly great full to him for giving me his car. He doesn’t understand how valuable the plate is to remain with the car. I registered the car yesterday. For now I have a temporary sticker on it until April which still has the original plate number on it. Is there a way to get duplicates plates with the dmv? Or I’d like to purchase another 1963 plate. I see them on eBay. What is the best legal way to purchase old plates and which hoops do I need to jump through with the California dmv to replace the original plates with purchased 1963 plates. Lastly does anyone have a pair if 1963 plates that are cleared by the dmv for sale?
thanks everyone
K