The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Can't use 1954 tag

MVA will not allow me to use my 1954 tags. If the tag said 55 they ,MVA, would allow me to display this tag. I have 2 options, 1- touch bases with GM and ask for a document witch would say this truck is a 54. The title describes my truck as a 1955.1. 2- Or, go to E-Bay and order a 55 tag from Maryland. E-Bay has some unique 55 Maryland tags. Option 2 is the way to go but, I was born in 54 and the truck is the last of the 54's. I want the 54 tag. Any thoughts on the GM option. Jim

Why would GM give you fake information saying your '55 truck is a '54? If the truck was originally titled as a 1955 model, that's what it is.

The other alternative is to sell the truck and buy an actual 1954 model.

Jim - Just my $.02 worth, but IMHO there is no GM option. They aren't going to provide evidence your truck is actually a '54 as that would put them in a legal bind. Guessing your MVA won't allow you to use YOM (Year Of Manufacture) 1954 tags which would have actually been issued on '54, prior to your truck being built.

I see that MD has a Vanity Plate Program that you might be able to get them to issue a license plate like "1954" or "1954 TRK", or something along those lines if they haven't already been issued to someone else in the past. That might be an option, but you will only know for sure if you try.

Your truck being a 1955.1 (First Series) is the last of the AD trucks. Yes it carries the '54 look, but can't change the fact that it's a '55.1 and your option 2 of getting a 1955 MD plate is there if that's the way you must go.

Also, the GM today is not the same GM who made the truck, the original went bankrupt and had to start again.

Two reasons to not want fake paperwork. 1 - It's illegal. 2 - 55.1 trucks are far more rare than 54.

It might be easier to have your birth certificate changed to 55. Problem solved.

Good one, Carl.

If you could find out when the truck was sold and plated maybe it was one that was sold in late 54 even though it is a 55 . Or did they even sell the new trucks back then before the new year ?

I like the vanity or personal plate option like I have. Montana has a permanent tag which you can get for ANY vehicle 11 or more years old, not just collectibles. Pay the state about 2 1/2 - 3 years of fees and they don't ask for more money forever. It's PERM like the tag says.

And it answers questions like "What year is it?"

I own a ‘37. When I bought this truck it was titled incorrectly. Some how along the way of ownership a clerk, DMV worker must have typed in the wrong year. To receive a corrected Pennsylvania title I had to take photos of the serial number plate, do a rubbing of the plate ( place a clean piece of paper over the serial number plate, then rub lightly over the paper.) then, go to a public notary service that supply’s me with the proper PennDot form that I then had to take the filled out form to a State inspection station. The certified state inspector checked the form, the rubbing, and the title to confirm all the information I put on the form, he will sign it and place his state inspection number on that form. The form asked simple questions about the truck such as GVW, etc. The information I put on that form I found on the net. I strongly suggest you print out the pages you used to gather this information from. Print it out and send it with the package you are building, for their reference. The easier you make it for the people confirming all of this shi….stuff, the sooner you will receive your corrected title. We are not done yet, after the state inspector signs off on it, the form needs to be taken back the the public notary, they will confirm all the required information is present. The notary will then sign and use a paper stamp seal. In in Pennsylavania this package will then be sent to the state capital which is in Harrisburg Pa. You will then receive a properly done state title. When I jumped through all these hoops my corrected title arrived within a week or so. I hope I didn’t leave anything out. I know this sounds like a lot of running around but it took me about 5 hours to do this. Personally, I think it is well worth the time to hold a correct, indisputable state issued title for you truck. I’m sure your state has a similar process. Good luck to you, I hope this helps anyone reading this. Dan

I think you missed the point, '37ChevyPU.

87GN has a 1955 pickup that's titled correctly as a 1955. He's trying to find a way to convince the DMV into changing the title to a 1954.

I placed that for anyone that needed to correct a title (at least in Pennsylvania). Although it doesn’t fit the exact topic, I wanted to help anyone that wanted to do a title correction the legal way. Of course, an attempt to misrepresent information to the state and they may want to place your behind in a very uncomfortable position. Maybe it should be placed in a separate place and start a new thread. Maybe the moderator can help with that decision.

For the record (John and Peggy will correct me if I'm wrong), Stovebolt does not condone misrepresenting information involved with vehicle titles/registration/etc. to any government entity.

Further discussion on correcting a title when discovered/necessary is welcomed as there are many situations that a previous error or omission must be corrected to restore proper records and ownership, but discussions involving misrepresenting facts goes against who we are as the Stovebolt Community. Further posts not directly related to the legal correction of trucks identification/titling/registration will be removed.

Get personalized plates.

FIFTY4

John

For the record, Dan, you are not wrong.

Tiny summed it up perfectly.

Just one last note to remind the newer guys -- Registration/titling questions are like Insurance questions -- They can not be answered here definitively. And personal anecdotes are only helpful to the person posting them (posting your personal painful ordeal does have a cathartic effect). The*ONLY* (I'm slapping the lectern and stomping my foot while my assistant rapidly dims and undims the house lights) definitive titling and registration information you will get is from your state DMV/MVA.

Remembering that Stovebolt.com was HQ'd in Maryland for 25 years .... In Maryland specifically, the answer you get may depend on which office you call, what day of the week it is and how good the crack was the agent smoked on his or her last break, so when you get an answer, make SURE you keep a record of the person's name and the time and date of the call. Best is to just request the answer through the MVA web site.

Trying to game the system only leads to trouble down the road.

We're all natural out here, so you have to gamble on how good was the ganja or shrooms :-D But yeah. There's a guy at the DOL in Issaquah who is really great-actually understands how to make the system aware that the full built in kitchen, bedroom, fridge, and fold out couch makes the rig an RV and no longer a school bus. So you get the correctly labeled title.. but you pretty much gotta find him or else it's a nightmare.

If you are dead set on using the plate, you might look into placing an ad seeking a trade for a 1954. You may find someone that wants a1955. Just throwing it out there.
Currently there is a 1954 3600 in the Swap Meet other online sources. Swap running gear and you are ready to go legally.

1954 Chevy 3600 Truck 3/4 Ton - $3,500 (Lebanon) MO

Indiana allows an unrestored YOM plate on older vehicles. In 1953 Indiana did not make a new plate due to metal shortages. They used a 51 plate with a topper. It took a long time to find a nice plate and even longer to find the topper. They give you a modern plate for your stickers and you have to carry it with you but not displayed.