Year of manufacture license plates

[Twitch]

Does anybody/everybody run YOM- year of manufacture plates on their cars? I've been contemplating finding a California pair. Been seeing them for fairly high amounts like $175-300 on Ebay. I kinda feel it's a pertinent thing on the older cars but still wonder.

[Guest]

In Ontario if you can find a set which conforms to Ontario Ministry of Transportation standards and is not a current valid number you can have the plates registered and used as legal plates on a colector car. Unfortunately due to steel shortages in 1947 plate issued was only a single plate and in Ontario there must be a plate on front and rear of the car. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Bill Kennedy]

I have seen plates for sale at concession stands at various meets way more reasonable than $175.

[Guest bkazmer]

check your state or province's laws. In Michigan you can do it.

[Restorer32]

Not legal in Pennsylvania.

[Guest Randy Berger]

I see a lot of PA. cars running YOM plates on the front of the car since Pa. only has rear plates.

I like the plate I made for the front of my 400 <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

YFAM, Randy Berger

[DizzyDale]

Dear Twitch,We had YOM plates on our 30 Model A,37 Ford phaeton,39 Zephyr and i got em on 62 Vette.Just always thought they looked like they belonged.diz <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

Thanks all for the input. I have a swap meet coming up in 1-2 weekends and I'll see if plates are more reasonable if anyone has any for sale. The process seems to be same as everywhere and veery straighforward- if the numbers on the plates aren't in use on another year series you pay a relatively small amount and they're good to go.

I saw a bad pair with one's corner quite rusted away go for like $168 and I wouldn't want them on a car they were so bad. A pair of super primo like-new went for $300. I gotta think Ebay buyers a arfe getting wound up and just bidding too much. I check out the swap meet.... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Albert]

Clipper 47, I have yom plates on my 54 Patrician that i brought to the head licence office here in Toronto, Only thing is one night i got stopped by one of Toronto's Police Officers and asked why i have a 1954 plate on the back of my car with an "05" val tag stuck on it, Our local Cops dont know about the YOM plates and had to fill him in.

[Tom M]

I have YOM on my car but not registered. You can have them on there as long as you have the Registration and AV Plates in car with you.

I am not sure if in Illinois you can register YOM. I should check into it.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

I have a YOM Texas plate on my '37 1502. Plate was in pretty bad shape when I got. Had to repair it with glazing-putty and repaint it, after working out the dents. I was lucky to find orange paint that matched the old paint perfectly. Had to hand paint the characters. That took some time and effort. It looks real good, and that is best way to go, if you can find them. My other Packards just have Antique plates.

[Twitch]

Albert- we know you just LOOK like you did something illegal anyway! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Packin31- Curious idea. I don't know about that working in California but worth asking about.

RickL- I read some states don't allow refinishing of YOM plates though I saw a service for doing it on the web so most probably do. It seems almost like it's up to whatever clerk you get at the DMV if the plates pass muster. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the input- I'll see what I can come up with.

[Tom M]

I found my YOM at the Annual MODEL T CLUB SWAP MEET that is held at the Kane County Fair grounds. I think I paid around $25-$35 in '98. One of the plates is in good shape and the other one has rust issues but only pitted surface rust not rusted through.

ILLINOIS Antique Plate Law

[Ron Green]

I use the year of manufacture plates however when driving on the road I put the PA antique plate on of which I have magnets glued on the back of it. A thin piece of cloth covers (glued) the magnets so no scratches are put on the old 1955 plate. Many times I do forget to put the legal plate on and go out for a drive. So far so lucky, no tickets. PA has ugly antique plates in my opinion plus were not allowed to personalize them.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Great Idea, Ron

[Twitch]

Steal of a price. I'll have to really look hard. Went to swap meet but only set my year was a restored pair for, cough, cough, $450! When they get them regular priced is like $130-150 and that's not much below any Ebay end of auctions on the low end.

Ron- I love the magnet thing. That may end up being the best idea for anyone anywhere!

[Steve Brown]

There used to be folks listed in Hemings that would restore old plates. Haven't looked in a while.

[Guest 51Patty400]

Yes I have 3 sets for my '51, just sent one off to Kinston.

In Ontario, as of Feb 1st, they now charge close to $300 to use them.

Our Gov sucks

- Mark

[Twitch]

Since there's relatively few of you all up there the guvment decided it has to get as much as it can from each of you as it can. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

In Ontario, as of Feb 1st, they now charge close to $300 to use them.

Our Gov sucks

- Mark </div></div>

$ 6 Billion in debt and counting so they want to hose the tax payer all they can. The licence money sure isn't going to improve roads in northwest Ontario.

[Guest]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Since there's relatively few of you all up there the guvment decided it has to get as much as it can from each of you as it can. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

Right on Twitch! The province has almost four times the land mass and about 1/3 the population of California. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Lake Powell]

Hi "Twitch" !

Yes - many of us think it is pretty durn cool to have license plates on our cars that match the year of our "collector car".

Because this subject is of general interest to just about ALL "collector car" buffs, should your question and the responses be in the "general" section?

I have some thoughts for you, which may be of help.

As a side-note, your question about "YOM" license plates (the "YOM" LAWS permitting you to register your old collector car and use a license plate the same year as your car) raises some great memories of how we got this going originally, back in the 70's.

As many of you know, California was the first state to allow this in their vehicle code. We tried for years to get a bill thru the Calif. legislature, but what finally did the trick, was "The YOM Girl". She was a rather well-endowed young lady, who posed for a photograph sitting on the fender of a "collector car" (mine!), wearing nothing but a smile AND a pair of early California license plates that barely covered her charms! 8 x 10 "glossy" photographs were sent to key legislators - we had the "YOM" bill out of committe and voted on, and part of the Calif. Vehicle Code in days !

The California YOM law concept "took off" nationally; today just about every state's Vehicle Code law has some kind of variation permitting this.

As you may know, to register your car with a YOM license plate you typically need an authentic plate for the year of your car, whose number does not "conflict" with a currently in use number series. Your state then cancels your current license plate, and re-issues you paper-work for your car that lists your "YOM" plate number as the correct one for your car.

As a side-note, this caused some license plate collectors problems in California, where the current series of numbers used on California motorcycle plates occasionally clashes with the number sequence on some of the older California plates collectors wanted to use. When that happens, you are out of luck until the motorcycle plate has not been re-registered for four years.

First and foremost, those of you desiring to display a "YOM" plate must check with your OWN state's motor vehicle laws. Some are MUCH more reasonable than others!

Some states have only a REAR license plate for privately owned and operated vehicles. I do NOT recommend using a license plate on the front, that differs from your "legal" on on the back. That COULD cause legal problems; all it takes is an over-enthusiastic law officer and/or local judge.

Under NO circumstances should you have a REAR license plate on your car unless that number is correct, legal, and matches the one on your car's paperwork.

Again..NO circumstances..not even if your car is indoors on private property ! There are just too many unanticipated goof-ball scenarios where this could cause you a LOT of grief ! I assume we all know that you MUST have inside your vehicle, correct paper-work for it. In some states, no paper-work ..no car ! Yup...not having the correct paper-work, and/or having license plates on your car that are not correct for the paper-work, WILL result in an IMMEDIATE seizure of your car, AND your arrest!

In my own case, I came up with what I think is a rather novel way to get around not finding a YOM plate that I could use. MOST states have NOTHING in their Vehicle Codes against this - but again, a FEW do - get a copy of your state's Vehicle Code and READ the "registration / license" section carefully.

There is a firm that is still in business, that USED to advertise in Hemmings, called EUROSIGN - I believe they are in Florida - all I have now is their phone number (954) 979-1488. They manufacture license plates - can make you just about any shape, size, and color you desire. You can design your own license plate as well as tell them what numbers you want !

I registered my collector car for normal street use, so my state issued me its standard license plates with, of course, a number sequence matching my paper-work, (together with the "stick on" to show the year and month my fees are paid to).

I then had EUROSIGN make me a pair of license plates using the number sequence on my paper-work, but of a color, design, shape, etc. that match the year of my car (you can find from books the correct color and style of your state's license plate of the year you want).

Now, my registration and ownership documents we all must carry in our cars, matches the number sequence on my license plates. So - everyone is happy, except for the occasional law officer with too much time on his hands, who sees the year of my plates, stops me and asks to see my paperwork.

Again, MY state has no law preventing this. YOU have to check YOUR state's Vehicle Code to make sure you can do this in YOUR state.

EUROSIGN charges about $150. for a pair of license plates - incidentally..they are absolutely PERFECT - stamped and painted in a way that makes them just about impossible to tell from what your state provides. Again, having front and rear license plates that match the year of your car is great fun - really confuses onlookers !

Oh - another side-note - when I last talked to them, they would not make a plate for the State Of California - apparently, that is the one state that specifically dosnt allow this - again...CHECK..could now be others AND..if you are a Californian..check again...it could now be legal to do this!

( I am so mean and nasty they were THINKING of

dropping ME on the Japanese at the close of World War

Two - but some legal expert pointed out that

might be too cruel..something to do with

the Geneva Accords..... )

[Twitch]

I found similar info on sites that seeminly validate that other states are pretty similar or identical in the California proceedures. All what you say is right on to my research.

About making your own plates, two plate dealers Saturday mentioned this is illegal. I was standing at one when some guys actually asked if you could stamp your own plates. Of course, if it was legal, a plate dealer wouldn't want that to be widely known. One thing they seeming do allow is refinishing dreary, rusted plates to like new condition. Read somewhere that some states don't allow that.

Anyway I thing some YOM plates will look better than a modern vanity plate with a catchy phrase like "5-OH" or "Five-0" etc. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

[Lake Powell]

Hi Twitch:

If you like, I can E mail you photographs of my own collector vehicles which proudly support "YOM" plates. Again, the plates I had made (counterfiet, if you like that term !) have the correct number sequence to match the documents in my car. The "validation/year/month" stickers are in their proper places, but do NOT block the plainly visible "year of manufacture".

Dont be "put off" ( by what you "heard from a couple of plate dealers" ) on having so called "counterfiet plates made (see my more detailed discussion above). Is it possible they told you that just to scare you into doing business with THEM ?

The best..in fact the ONLY authority on this issue is your own state's vehicle code. YOU should look it over carefully YOURSELF; dont take the word of some self-styled "expert" (who just might have some ulterior motive !)

The "dealers" you spoke to COULD be right that in a few states, it would be illegal to do this. I just dont know. I havn't bothered to research this for OTHER states, because in my own state (no longer a Californian, thank heaven !) it is perfectly legal to do this, and I have no intention of moving!

[Guest Duper]

In Ontario if you can find a set which conforms to Ontario Ministry of Transportation standards and is not a current valid number you can have the plates registered and used as legal plates on a colector car. Unfortunately due to steel shortages in 1947 plate issued was only a single plate and in Ontario there must be a plate on front and rear of the car. http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You can in fact use a single issue licence plate in the Province of Ontario. Under REG 331/01 of the Highway Traffic Act an ammendment to Regulation 628 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario , Section 9 of the Regul;ation is amended by adding the following defininition:

(3.1) " Where the number plates attached to the vehicle are year-of-manufacture plates , and only one plate was issued by the Ministry in that year for display on a motor vehicle, that plate shall be attached to and exposed in a conspicuous position at the rear of the vehicle." end quote.

[ply33]

Does anybody/everybody run YOM- year of manufacture plates on their cars? I've been contemplating finding a California pair. Been seeing them for fairly high amounts like $175-300 on Ebay. I kinda feel it's a pertinent thing on the older cars but still wonder.

Lots of this thread had turned into "what my state/province allows".

"City of the Angels" means Los Angeles to me so I will assume you are referring to YOM use in California. The cost of usable plates (i.e. in good condition and "cleared" with DMV so they can be registered) is quite high because there is a high demand. My impression is that the plate dealers and people associated with the car hobby will know the market price and you won't do much better than you've already seen from those sources. So you may have to widen your search to include non-car, non-plate people selling plates. I eventually got my set from a fellow in Oregon who was clearing out his father’s estate. He did not know the high prices California car collectors were typically paying and set a very reasonable price. The DMV has a 800 number and you can call it and explain that you are looking at plates for YOM use and ask if they are clear. They will tell you yes or no. Do that before you buy the plates!

Bad thing about California YOM is that it is basically the same as a modern car registration with extra $10 "special plate fee" for the YOM tag. That is every year, not a one time charge.

Good thing about California YOM, is that since you are paying full fare for registration they put no restrictions on the use. Drive it anywhere, anytime. Your insurance company might care but the state does not.

[fordmerc]

YOM Plates now legal in Pennsylvania -$75 for registration!