Do you have a YOM license plate on your car ?

[sftamx1 88]

My original 1932 Terraplane coupe.

[DB26 182]

Yes, and the CA DMV gave me a heck of a time:

 

[Carolina Chevrolet 46]

Yes,

 

[Steven Meixner 6]

1912 Hudson with the twelfth Pioneer plate issued in North Dakota and a 12 standard plate. The pioneer plate was issued to this car in 1956

[MCHinson 3,945]

[caddyshack 108]

1911 Porcelain MN plate on my late '11 Brush 

[Terry Wiegand 1,884]

Here is a photo of the 1916 Kansas plate that will go on the '16 Buick when it goes back on the road.  My Dad picked this up at the Lawrence Swap Meet in the early 1960's.  License plate collectors in Kansas will tell you that this is one of the prettiest plates that the state ever issued up to WW2.  Not too bad of condition for an original, 104 year old plate.

 

Terry Wiegand

Out Doo Dah Way

[victorialynn2 1,560]

[Terry Wiegand 1,884]

I LIKE the dog in the photo! 

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

[Bloo 1,677]

Edited May 8, 2020 by Bloo (see edit history)

[victorialynn2 1,560]

7 minutes ago, Terry Wiegand said:

I LIKE the dog in the photo! 

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

That would be Patsy Cline, my Texas rescue. She came with that name and helped me haul dad’s cars from Texas to Oregon. She was good company when I had to sleep in the back seat of the truck and keep an eye on the cars in the truck stops. 🐕

Edited May 8, 2020 by victorialynn2 (see edit history)

[Billy Kingsley 475]

Yes, but the family 2018 Ford Edge doesn't meet the forum's age requirement😁

[1935Packard 674]

California law on YOM plates is really quirky from a tax perspective. 

 

You can use YOM plates, but here's the trick: You can't use YOM plates if you want a historic registration that has essentially zero annual value taxes ($2 a year).  For that, you need the special historical tags.  If you want to use YOM plates, you need to pay the annual taxes that start off 0.65%  of the value of the car and drop over 11 years to about 10% of that, or about .065%.   This means that how much you pay for YOM plates depends on when you bought the car and how much you paid for it. 

 

For example, I recently went to register a rather expensive restored car I was fortunate to buy, and I wanted to use YOM plates.  The annual tax bill just to be able to use the YOM plates was over $1,000 a year.   When I asked the DMV employee how much it would cost a year if I just used historical tags, she ran the numbers and responded, "Ok, well in that case your tax is $2."  No YOM plates for me on that car.  On the other hand, I have another similar car that I bought 13 years ago in lousy shape and put a lot of money into.    The state sees that car as now worth only about $6,000, so the annual tax is something like $50.  YOM plates for that one. 

 

Strange state, California.  (I assume there are a lot of people who register with historic tags and just put the YOM plates on anyway, but so it goes.)

[Dandy Dave 822]

My 1915 Buick. I was told by several Plate collectors that there were no letters in most very early plates In NY State. These have an R in them for Retail. Yup, Dealer plates. 

[Dandy Dave 822]

These are in pairs as NY required 2 plates. 

[Walt G 3,056]

Very interesting forum topic to read, more then I expected, lots of interest in license plate collecting here on long island and a show for license plates, signs etc also.

Some amazing things to read about current laws/requirements,/ can do-can't do with a YOM license plate. Geez

I left the 1930 plates on my Packard shown here, original as I felt if they have survived that long in decent order then leave them alone- look good on the car but some people have asked me " if your car has taken a national AAACA 1st place award then why not make the plates look that way too?" my reply is that the car would have remained original as well if I was the one that found it and it was good enough, the car was restored in the early 1970s and the award was given in 1971( then the car sat in heated storage for decades) , I do not display the 1st place award tag on the car, happy to have it, but I really never ever cared for trophies, awards etc. still don't. The best feeling I have about the car is looking at it, hearing it purr, and the look on peoples faces when I drive down the road - makes them happy too - doesn't get much better then that. Different strokes for different folks...............

[alsancle 4,818]

I've run them on all my prewar cars,  but not on the postwar ones.   In Massachusetts there is are some pretty strict restrictions about driving a car registered as an Antique.  I'm pretty sure you need to register as an antique to run the YOM.

[PFitz 832]

Looked for a long time for a good pair of 1931 NYS plates for our 31. Finally found a matching set but they didn't have much paint left and lots of surface rust. I called NYS DMV to see about using them and was put through to the Historical plates section. As Walt said, " Some amazing things to read about current laws/requirements,/ can do-can't do with a YOM license plate. Geez."

 

The plates have to be a matching set in good condition, originally issued by NYS, and can not be repainted. I thought it rather strange that since the stamped plate and it's number are the main point to identify the car, and the fact that they are called "Year Of Manufacture" plates, not present condition plates, then what's wrong with repainting them to look like YOM ? They were adamant that they had to be in all original condition to be legal for driving on NYS roads. Another trip to the strange land of bureaucracy.

 

I have a restored set of NYS 30's a friend gave me when he sold his car out of state. Who ever restored them did an excellent job. They look just like the real thing. Since NYS DMV accepts and files a picture that you take of the plates when you register them, I'm not sure how they could tell a very well restored set from an original condition set ?  But I'll make sure to use my cheap camera just to be safe.

 

Paul

Edited May 8, 2020 by PFitz (see edit history)

[padgett 2,101]

Florida requires new unused YOM plates but does not require it be the correct vehicle type or county plate. Before privacy you could tell what car was and where it was registered. For instance a 6E plate was a Palm Beach County rental. It is considered a "personal" plate and costs $25/year extra.

[Walt G 3,056]

Paul I have known people over the decades who have restored their NY plates then dripped some dirty water or dust on them for a photo, or took a photo of the "ok" plates sent it in , registered the car and then stripped and restored them. I can appreciate/understand the state not wanting a plate restored that looked like it was done with a dried up paint roller and a well used tooth brush to apply the new paint to "restore" it but I have also never seen anyone ever restore a plate to the point it looked like it was done in a art class by pre schoolers. 😗

[TTR 365]

Like the car they’re registered with, quite unique/unusual, but also in original/unrestored* condition "19 CALIFORNIA 32" plates.

And like many plate collectors, I’ve never seen others like ‘em, but they do often offer easy icebreakers for bystanders & fellow road users,  like “Are those the car’s actual/real plates ?”...
 

* Zoom in for close-up.

 

Edited May 8, 2020 by TTR (see edit history)

[Brass is Best 1,802]

A few more: 

[Steve_Mack_CT 1,468]

CT doesn't want them retouched either.  These were on our first 1930 A for years, but were rejected a couple years ago when I applied for the roadster.  Seems they actually looked up the plates, and determined them to be commercial.  A bit much but in speaking with a guy I know who sells YOM plates in our area, new CT DMV regime has tightened things up.  Must be all those prewar hooligans on the streets, glad to see such dilligent record keeping..  🙄

[oldcarfudd 631]

Those brass-era cars can't be real.  There are no oil spots under them!

[PFitz 832]

56 minutes ago, Walt G said:

Paul I have known people over the decades who have restored their NY plates then dripped some dirty water or dust on them for a photo, or took a photo of the "ok" plates sent it in , registered the car and then stripped and restored them. I can appreciate/understand the state not wanting a plate restored that looked like it was done with a dried up paint roller and a well used tooth brush to apply the new paint to "restore" it but I have also never seen anyone ever restore a plate to the point it looked like it was done in a art class by pre schoolers. 😗

 Walt,

I've seen quite a few NY plates that were too nice to be unrestored, but luckily, none that looked obviously amateurish. And, I've yet to hear of anyone having problems from NYS DMV about the nice ones. I suspect those at DMV have to rattle off the rules and then they likely ignore the situation because enforcement takes more work. And you and I have worked in NY civil service so we both know how that goes.

 

So,..... when the time comes, these 31 plates will be restored, too.  After all, to me, having a modern plate on an antique vehicle is like having a hood scoop.

 

Paul

[Morgansdad 216]

Just joined today ! May 8th 2020.   1929 Model A

 

Edited May 8, 2020 by Morgansdad
didn't like (see edit history)

[Steve_Mack_CT 1,468]

Welcome Morgansdad.  Looks like Morgan and friends can go for ice cream in style!

[Walt G 3,056]

Welcome Morgansdad. Great group here ( mostly!😉)  Did you just join AACA too or just sign on for the forums? Great car you have .

You will have some wonderful 'conversations' here and can learn a lot. I have and I have owned old pre war era cars since 1963. Ask questions if you have any, we are here to help, and AACA has one of the best and most accessible libraries for old cars in the world . ( having a great collection of automotive material, history  and images is wonderful but if it can't be accessed easily enough  it is like it does not exist IMHO) There are not enough words to express how great the staff at AACA HQ is , I met a good many of them at Hershey in 2019 and they are dedicated and enthusiastic.

[dei 4,170]

Long before the advent of YOM plates Dad found a set for his 1920 Overland and put them on with the current registered plate.

 

This was taken in 1969. He never ran into a problem with the police on them but did get stopped once because the car didn't have turn signals. Hence you see them bolted on the front apron.

[MetroPetro 111]

3 hours ago, Dandy Dave said:

My 1915 Buick. I was told by several Plate collectors that there were no letters in most very early plates In NY State. These have an R in them for Retail. Yup, Dealer plates. 

Dave, great Buick!

That is not a 1915 NY dealer plate though. A 1915 NY dealer tag would have NY over 1915 on left followed by Dealer over Mxxxx (4 digit number).

[John_Mereness 4,485]

I just finished a set a couple nights ago - will shoot a photo with them in the  period adjustable chrome frames and when mounted on car.

 

White and Navy Blue

Edited May 8, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history)

[dei 4,170]

Before dad had the Whippet fully restored I found a st of 1928 plates and gave it to him one Xmas.

The mounting is a bit awkward but did his best.

[stakeside 186]

Here is early Calif. commercial plate.

 

[John_Mereness 4,485]

4 minutes ago, MetroPetro said:

Dave, great Buick!

That is not a 1915 NY dealer plate though. A 1915 NY dealer tag would have NY over 1915 on left followed by Dealer over Mxxxx (4 digit number).

Walt, would the "M" and the 4 numbers be for Manufacturer verses a dealer ? 

[MetroPetro 111]

9 hours ago, Steve_Mack_CT said:

CT doesn't want them retouched either.  These were on our first 1930 A for years, but were rejected a couple years ago when I applied for the roadster.  Seems they actually looked up the plates, and determined them to be commercial.  A bit much but in speaking with a guy I know who sells YOM plates in our area, new CT DMV regime has tightened things up.  Must be all those prewar hooligans on the streets, glad to see such dilligent record keeping..  🙄

 

Steve, that IS a 1930 CT passenger car plate. Maybe the DMV did not allow it because in 1958, CT reissued that number as a commercial plate.

[MetroPetro 111]

8 hours ago, John_Mereness said:

Walt, would the "M" and the 4 numbers be for Manufacturer verses a dealer ? 

 

It was used for both in 1915.

[TTR 365]

9 hours ago, Steve_Mack_CT said:

CT doesn't want them retouched either.     

 

I can still recall being quite surprised when the lady at DMV counter grabbed them in her hands, took a look, said "Looks fine to me" and assigned them for the car...

[Steve_Mack_CT 1,468]

7 minutes ago, MetroPetro said:

Steve, that IS a 1930 CT passenger car plate. Maybe the DMV did not allow it because in 1958, CT reissued that number as a commercial plate.

Metro, that is interesting to say the least.  I will revisit..

 

Most unusual plates I have a very lthin gauge immediate postwar issued 6 mos only.  They are like new, out of an estate cleanout.  We suspect they may have never seen use.  CT resumed the thicker gauge within months.

[MetroPetro 111]

Cool thread, and not to hijack it, but want to sound a warning to fellow AACA members. There are TONS of fake license plates being peddled out there, especially on fleapay. Assume any porcelain plate is fake, unless you know how to spot the fraudulent ones. Buy only from reputable sellers who guarantee the plate(s) and or make sure you examine lots of photographs of the plate(s) before buying. Sellers who have gotten taken also are reselling them with BS stories attached. Unscrupulous sellers are pushing their worthless junk out of Tennessee but it is ending up everywhere. Be especially careful with city tags and motorcycle tags. Oh, and the attachments for license plates are faked heavily too. The snakes artificially age them, chip them, etc. Fleapay does absolutely nothing to stop these crooks, so please do not get taken.

[MetroPetro 111]

8 hours ago, Steve_Mack_CT said:

Metro, that is interesting to say the least.  I will revisit..

 

Most unusual plates I have a very lthin gauge immediate postwar issued 6 mos only.  They are like new, out of an estate cleanout.  We suspect they may have never seen use.  CT resumed the thicker gauge within months.

 

I think CT commercial plates in '30 used xx-xxxx (no prefix) but not a CT expert. I think the word commercial was added in early '30s.