To All:


CA legislature has passed a new law enabling the use of original year license plates on your classic cars. 1980 and older. Both houses have passed it, and now goes to the governor to sign. Don't know when or how fast this can be implemented after it is signed.


Dave




Legislation (S.B. 1429) toexpand the authorization of year-of-manufacture license plates to includeowners of 1980 or older model-year vehicles was approved by the CaliforniaAssembly. The bill has already been approved by the California Senate andwill now be sent to the governor for his signature and enactment intolaw. Current law only authorizes owners of vehicles that are of a 1969 orolder model-year or owners of a commercial vehicle or pickup truck that is a1972 or older to utilize California year-of-manufacture license plates. These plates must be legible and serviceable.

 

Do any special benefits come with this law?

Here in Alabama I am now exempted from annual tag renewal charges and annual vehicle taxes on all of my vehicle sporting "year of make or antique tags".

 

Nice to hear some good news out of CA!! Hey, love the '74 Capri's, you need to post a photo, please

 

My thought exactly. It seems like every time you turn around, they're passing another law harmful to the old car hobby, like calling for all cars more than two years old to be crushed, rather than helping it. Maybe this is a harbinger of additional good things to come out of California for the hobby.

 

Didn't work out so well for this couple in Washington.

 

Original Paint




1974 Mercury Capri


Wow, someone who remember what a Capri is? They are mostly long gone. I haven't seen another one on the road on about a decade, and that's out here in CA. I've posted this before, but here it is again.


And yes, good news on the plates. I have the original CA blue plates. Just need those to complete the picture.

 

I'm a little late to this. Minnesota also allows original year license plates. My dad has a 1972 plate for his car that we recently got on the road again. He went to try to get it registered but they (DMV) told him the plate is too close to a currently in use plate so he can't use it. He had to settle for a collector plate. I know he's pretty disappointed he can't use the 1972 plate.

 

Update:


Legislation (S.B. 1429) toexpand the authorization of year-of-manufacture license plates to includeowners of 1980 or older model-year vehicles was signed into law by GovernorJerry Brown. Previous law only authorized owners of vehicles that are ofa 1969 or older model-year or owners of a commercial vehicle or pickup truckthat is 1972 or older to utilize California year-of-manufacture licenseplates. These plates must be legible and serviceable.

Under the new law, the state may consult with an organization of old carhobbyists in determining whether the date of year of the license platecorresponds to the model-year date when the vehicle was manufactured. Afee of $45 will be charged for the application for the use of the specialplates.

 

I'll just order the black and yellow plates for $50 when I get the extra money. I already have personalized plates on both my truck and my bike so I'll just get the new plates with my existing numbers.

 

They have that here in NC too. That is cool.

(d) Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached thereto, one in the front and the other in the rear: Provided, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle other than a truck-tractor, said registration plate shall be attached to the rear of the motor vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck-tractor shall be attached to the front thereof. Provided further, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle and this motor vehicle is transporting a substance that may adhere to the plate so as to cover or discolor the plate or if the motor vehicle has a mechanical loading device that may damage the plate, the registration plate may be attached to the front of the motor vehicle.
Any motor vehicle of the age of 35 years or more from the date of manufacture may bear the license plates of the year of manufacture instead of the current registration plates, if the current registration plates are maintained within the vehicle and produced upon the request of any person.

 

Girl I went to high school with in Bakersfield ('77-'81) had one of those. I always wanted to get a ride in it, but she was outa my league though.

 

Crazy Capri
enjoy the ride

 

I have the original Washington plates on my 442....hope I don't wind up in the back of a cop car because of them
I remember the Capri, my oldest brother had a brown one and taught me to drive a 4 speed in it. They are cool cars.
CJ

 

I've never had an issue with yom plates here in WA. I run them whenever I have the correct plate and drive as much as I want.

 

Thanks. The Capri is one of those cars that everybody had, and they are all gone. Run into a tree, cracked heads, blown radiators, lots of water pumps, fried rear ends, brake master cylinders, horrible front ends....the list goes on. Fun car. It's worth it....right?? Somebody please tell me it's all worth it!!


Anyone remember the Geo Storms? They are all gone. I had a 1991 GSI. Fun car.


Back to the original story. In about a week, I'll be down at DMV to see if I can't get the original blue plates back on. I have no idea if DMV moves that fast.

 

If they balk at you just print this out and bring it with you. You never know, it might help.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...01520160SB1429

 

Yep- take the state statute paperwork with you, can about promise DMV won't know anything about it. Or that was my experience in 1989 when I put my first set of YOM on in VA. DMV had no clue and had to call Richmond to guide them thru it.


Capris are pretty cool and as said, used to be everywhere. Now you never see them. Cousin runs a B&B and one of her guests is having her original black and gold-striped SE restored at a shop in MD. I see pics fairly often and it's being restored to race- roll cage etc but will look bone stock outside. This woman also has an F-type Jaguar to give you an idea...

 

To All:


Believe it or not, I just got a call back from CA DMV inSac. Over a month ago I had called asking about information on implementing theYOM plates for 1980 and older.


They said they have the procedures officially in place, andthey will be turned on in Jan 2017. So, I guess I can wait a few more months.

 

These poor folks. I hope they sue and get a Million! Washington MORON Police and Liberal Politicians is why I left that Horrible State!

 

Yep! The police are causing a lot of financial issues for a lot of communities throughout the US due to their cowboy ways. God bless those who wear the badge but for heaven's sake, I wish they'd quit being so gosh darn over zealot every time they come in contact with the someone from the community they are charged with serving and protecting.

 

I agree with you Olds442red, as a former prosecutor I find it disturbing that the police and becoming militarized in treating citizens. Bad for the people, bad for the country.

 

This is the first time I have watched this video. This is such BS on the part of the police. I hope they have a jury trial because they will win.

Nice Capri. I had a yellow 74 with a 4 speed. Fun car but man the steering was hard on it.

 

The real benefit is to have state-issued Antique plates and still run YOM plates. The Antique plates limit the tax value of the car to $500 which in a revenue-happy state like NC means the county assessors can't use market value sales after watching a weekend of Mecum or Barrett-Jackson auctions and change your tax value on your classic Olds. I keep my plate in the trunk and if I'm ever stopped or questioned, can readily produce it.

 

The new law for 1980 or older autos YOM plates procedures has now been implemented.


I went to the DMV Tuesday, and went in with the new YOM form with the new dates. It took a while for the lady to read the new rules, but got the ball rolling.


She said that it will take 3-4 months for the state DMV people to review the application and plates to approve putting on the CA original blue plate. $45 fee. I'm lucky, I had the original plate the car was issued when new, so I was positive the DMV computer search on the plate would not be in the excluded list.


I'm not sure why it takes 3-4 months for DMV to approve the deal. So, any car up to 1980, you can now put a time period appropriate blue plate back on the car. 6, or with some limitations on the 1980's cars, the blue plates with 7 digits.

 

Long time coming, here in MI. we used YOM plates for over ten years, When you own a few old cars the savings add up.

 

The law did exist before this, but only to 1969 for autos. The new variant of the law changes this to 1980.

Actually, there is no savings involved for CA. In fact, the CA DMV wants an extra $45 to process the YOM plate request.


How much is looking cool worth? Proper plates is a consideration if you can work it.

 

This has been available in Texas for a while. The only difference is it does not have to be original to your car. It only has to be an available number that is not used by another registered owner. So you can purchase an old set of plates that are in good shape or send a set to a restorer and have them registered to your vehicle.

Antique plates are $50 for a 5 year registration and your car is inspection exempt.

 

This is a similar deal. The plates don't have to be original, but mine just happen to be.