Texas antique plates

[cava52]

Wanted to know if any fellow Texan cycle riders are running antique plates. Would like to hear of any experiences one might have of running these on the road.

[bigjnsa]

I haven't seen any other than on old BMWers here in San Antonio. With that said, check this out:

"Antique Motorcycle

Antique license plates are issued for motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are a collector's item. The vehicle must be used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades or other functions of public interest. Vehicles displaying Antique plates may not be used for regular transportation or carry advertising; however, the vehicle may be driven to and from a location for routine maintenance."

https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=50&pltid=181

[Ivan RoachCoach]

...on running those plates for me --- if I were so inclined.
If it's not being ridden...it's a paperweight, not a motorcycle. :laugh :laugh :laugh

[SuperTed]

Antique license plates are issued for motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are a collector's item. https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=50&pltid=181

The state considers a motorcycle made before 1985 to be an antique? Wha?! So me being born in '84 must make me an old timer!

[Mickey Shane]

I haven't seen any other than on old BMWers here in San Antonio. With that said, check this out:

"Antique Motorcycle

Antique license plates are issued for motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are a collector's item. The vehicle must be used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades or other functions of public interest. Vehicles displaying Antique plates may not be used for regular transportation or carry advertising; however, the vehicle may be driven to and from a location for routine maintenance."

https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=50&pltid=181
Thanks for the link. I thought that it was 35 years to antiqueville. I recently got one for my '76, even though 1/1/11 will be 35 years. I did not know about "exclusively for exhibitions", though I guess I could say that every ride is an exhibition. The lady at the DMV didn't seem to care one way or the other as long as I paid the $25. I see the link says $50, but I know I paid 25.

[60weight]

Nice thing is no inspections needed .

[Grumpy_Chef]

Pennsylvania is the same way. Puts restrictions on how many miles it can be driven and also any mods to the vehicle...

[flashedwards]

This really has nothing to do with what the OP started with but I looked at the link to the Texas Motor Vehicle Dept. and perused the "vanity" plates. They offer one for LSU (Louisiana State University) alumni. What is with that? LSU is in another state (Louisiana..Duh). I have always had respect and admiration for Texas (the Alamo and all that) but they think so little of their state that they have to shop around out of state for something to put on their license plates. Would one of you Tejanos 'splain this to me please.
Much grass,
Flash
El Pinche Guero

[bigjnsa]

We have lots of specialty plates:

# Motorcycle

* Adopt-A-Beach
* Big Bend National Park
* Coastal Conservation
* College for all Texans
* Ducks Unlimited - Blue Heron
* Ducks Unlimited - Classic
* Fight Terrorism
* Florida Alumni Association
* God Bless America
* God Bless Texas
* Insure Texas Kids
* LSU Alumni Association
* Mothers Against Drunk Driving
* Native Texan
* Rotary International
* San Jacinto Texas Historic District
* Stop Child Abuse
* Texas Parks and Wildlife Conserv - Bluebonnet
* Texas Parks and Wildlife Conserv - Horned Lizard
* Texas Parks and Wildlife Conserv - Largemouth Bass
* Texas Parks and Wildlife Conserv - Whitetail Deer

[flskevin]

I'm not sure about Texas but in Florida if you can find a license plate the same year as your vehicle you can have it re-registered for your vehicle. I had a 1963 plate for my Comet.

Virginia I had a 63 plate for the Comet but it was considered antique/show car. Because the tag was a one time fee. Once you get the tag here you don't have to renew the tag each year like a regular car. But I would drive it anywhere I wanted. If I got pulled over I told the cop I was driving the car just to keep it road worthy. Like charging the battery, burning off the stale gas & stuff like that.

So if you get antique tags I'm pretty sure you could get away with riding where ever you want.

[Joesdaddy]

I would ask a State trooper. It's the same law here in VA, 25 years old and can only be riden to shows, for maintenance, on week-ends, holidays, etc, etc, and does not need to be inspected. However, in fine print it also says, that if it has a current inspection, it can be used daily. I've had no problems with my antique tagged daily driver. That is daily unless it's freezin *** cold like it is now. Bahumbug!!

[Ags]

So if it doesn't have an odometer, then they don't know how many miles its been. And IIRC when I registered my 66 in Texas this year it was so old that they didn't ask for an odometer reading, not that I have one.

[98ultra]

I checked in Tn a few years back and it had the restrictions. Last year I checked here in N.C. No restrictions that I remember. No state inspection. I run a 1973 MC Plate on it but must be able to produce the antique plate if asked. I had it tie wrapped to the luggage rack and under a bag on there.

[cava52]

Thanks for the input I guess I was trying to save some money. Cause the same thing happened to me at the tax office they didnt explain the restrictions. May have to get real tags.

[Mosey]

Hey BigJ, I find it curious that there is no listing for alumni of Texas universities. Odd...

[ww2willys]

I have been running an antique plate for the last few months. I know about the restrictions, but still use it as my main transportation to commute 40 miles round trip to work. From reading posts on other sites it seems most police don't really care or even know about the restrictions.
Last week I registered a 1972 Texas plate for my 72 Ironhead. I have had the plate for a couple of months. Someone else on a Mustang forum posted the law was changing on Jan. 1st and although you could still get an antique plate, you would no longer be able to register a plate of the year of manufacture.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/ww2willys/72%20Ironhead/208f437828da__1291756331000.jpg

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/ww2willys/72%20Ironhead/43ad9bdef234__1291774623000.jpg

[GA_Ironhead]

or other functions of public interest. Vehicles displaying Antique plates may not be used for regular transportation or carry advertising; however, the vehicle may be driven to and from a location for routine maintenance.

I'm part of the public and I like seeing old bikes on the road.

As for the routine maintenance, it's an IH. When you get to your destination (maybe before), something will need to be tweaked. Nuff' said! :tour

(If I were closer, I'd testify in your defense, as an 'expert witness'. :p )

[98ultra]

I have been running an antique plate for the last few months. I know about the restrictions, but still use it as my main transportation to commute 40 miles round trip to work. From reading posts on other sites it seems most police don't really care or even know about the restrictions.
Last week I registered a 1972 Texas plate for my 72 Ironhead. I have had the plate for a couple of months. Someone else on a Mustang forum posted the law was changing on Jan. 1st and although you could still get an antique plate, you would no longer be able to register a plate of the year of manufacture.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/ww2willys/72%20Ironhead/208f437828da__1291756331000.jpg

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/ww2willys/72%20Ironhead/43ad9bdef234__1291774623000.jpg



In NC we don't register the year of manufacture (NC) plate, just display it. We must have an antique plate registered and be able to produce it if asked by Law Enforcement.

[IronMick]

Here in Ontario, while there are HistoricalVehicle and YOM [YearOfMaunfacture] license plate programs for cars, there is nothing for motorcycles.

[Sporty77]

I have the Texas "Antique" plates that have the red numbers (not the year pressed plates that my 69 Cuda have) and ride my bike all the time. I have a 77 and none of the local cops give me any grief. The rule in Texas is, if you have antique plates you can ride your bike to shows and to the shop. Isn't there a shop in every city? Hell yeah there is. Only problem that I've ever had was a DPS trooper hit me for "Display of Speed" aka spinning the back tire, and he was perplexed that I didn't have an inspection sticker. I politely told him the law and subsequently informed him that the shop had just tuned up my bike and I was testing it out. He was cool with that and away I went with no ticket.

Also, keep your insurance current. Otherwise it doesn't matter how far you ride it with those plates, it's not legal in Texas.