Vehicle Licensing Guide

License Plates - Antique and Permanent Vintage
VLIC-201

PURPOSE:

To provide information and instructions on the issuance of permanent plates to antique motor vehicles and trailers.

DEFINITIONS

ANTIQUE MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRAILER: Any motor vehicle or trailer that is 25 model years old or older as of January 1 of the current year.

VINTAGE LICENSE PLATES: Va. Code §46.2-730(B) authorizes the use of Virginia license plates that were manufactured before 1976 and designed to be used without decals, if those plates are embossed with or are of the same year of issue as the vehicle being registered. These plates must be provided by the customer and must be inspected by a DMV representative to ensure acceptable condition. DMV refers to these plates as "vintage plates," to distinguish them from DMV-issued antique plates, and allows them to be registered as permanent or for general use.

NOTE: DMV began issuing yearly decals for passenger vehicles and trailers in 1973, which means that passenger vehicles and trailers manufactured in 1973 or later are not eligible for vintage plates, even though the Code states "prior to 1976." Motorcycle owners, however, may be able to provide vintage motorcycle plates issued up to 1976. See Va. Code § 46.2-730(B).

GENERAL USE VEHICLE: Any vehicle that the customer drives on a daily basis that is not registered with antique or permanent vintage plates. The customer must certify that he owns, leases, or has access to, a general use vehicle before DMV will register an antique vehicle with antique or permanent vintage plates.

BACKGROUND:

DMV issues antique design license plates for motor vehicles and trailers that are 25 model years old or older and for the limited use of their owners. Customers may choose from two styles of DMV-issued plates or obtain a set of vintage plates from another source. DMV-issued antique plates are available as black plates with white lettering or yellow plates with blue lettering. Vintage plates will vary in style, depending upon the year in which they were manufactured. All antique plates are issued as permanent plates with a one-time registration fee. Customers who choose vintage plates, however, may register their vehicles permanently or for general use (refer to VLIC-200).

Customers who choose permanent registration for their antique vehicles or trailers are subject to the following set of use restrictions:

• Vehicle and trailer use is restricted to participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar activities, as well as for occasional pleasure driving within 250 miles of the owner's residence.
• Vehicle and trailer use is restricted to carrying or transporting passengers, personal effects, or other antique motor vehicles being transported for show purposes.
• The vehicle or trailer may be driven on the highways of the Commonwealth in order to obtain repairs or maintenance, to test its operation, or for the purpose of selling it.
  
  and
• The vehicle or trailer must remain solely a collector's item and in no event be used for general transportation.

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In addition, Virginia Code, § 46.2-730, requires all customers who wish to obtain and use antique or permanent vintage license plates to present a completed "Antique License Plate Applicant Certification" (VSA 10B). The VSA 10B is used by customers to certify that they own, lease, or have regular use of another passenger car or motorcycle and that the antique vehicle or trailer is capable of being safely operated on the highways of the Commonwealth.

Furthermore, owners of vehicles or trailers registered with antique or permanent vintage license plates who are convicted of violating the antique license plate statute (§ 46.2-730) are subject to a Class 4 misdemeanor and revocation of the license plates registered to the vehicle involved in the violation for a period of 5 years from the date of conviction.

Registration cards issued for vehicles with antique or permanent vintage license plates will indicate that the vehicles are for "Limited Use."

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CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS:

Customers applying for a new antique or permanent vintage registration submit the following:

• "Application for Registration" (VSA 14) or "License Plate Application" (VSA 10).
• "Antique License Plate Applicant Certification" (VSA 10B).
  
  NOTE: The VSA 10B must be completed in full.
• The appropriate registration fee and, when applicable, an uninsured motorist fee.
  
  NOTE: If the vehicle or trailer has not previously been titled by the owner in Virginia, the owner must submit an "Application for Certificate of Title and Registration" (VSA 17A) with ownership documents and secure a title as part of the registration process. (Refer to VLIC-102.)
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