The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Antique Vehicle Reg. in VA

FYI, here's what I just pulled off the DMV website ( http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/general/news/news.asp?id=5034 ). Not the last paragraph. Violate this and you're out for 5 years. Ouch.

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DMV Announces New Virginia Laws Effective July 1, 2007


Antique License Plates and Special Plates
Virginia motorists who own antique vehicles should be aware of several changes governing the use of antique license plates.

Applicants for antique license plates must show evidence of ownership or regular use of another passenger car or motorcycle.
Applicants must submit notarized certification that their antique vehicle meets safety equipment requirements for the model year in which it was manufactured.
Fees charged for registration and plate purchase changes from $10 annually to a one-time fee of $50.
Antique plates are available from DMV for vehicles with a model year that is more than 25 years old. New guidelines for these cars were prompted by concerns that many owners were registering older cars as antiques to avoid registration and safety inspection requirements.

Under the new law, if an antique vehicle owner is convicted of operating an antique vehicle determined to be unsafe or not properly equipped, DMV will suspend the owner's registration of the vehicle involved for five years.

Wonder where your supposed to get this "notarized certification" from? Arch5807

Reads like a back door way to keep old vehicles off the road... like a run around crusher law.

-W

Va Bolters,

The form is available here: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf

Much of the new law enforces the previous law. This is intended to keep junk 25 years and older from being used as daily transportation. Note that antiques (25 yr and older) do not have to be inspected in Va.

The fee is now $50, and has always been a onetime fee. The regular registration fee is $39.50 a year.

Antiques are bared from everyday use, thus the requirement to have another (non antique) as available transportation.

The old car hobby-lobby was heavily involved in this legislation. Join a car-truck club snd be proactive in your own defense.

Bill

I was thinking I would just get my truck inspected, as if it had regular plates.

I wonder why I need a "notarized certification" saying it is inspected for the year it was made, when I can just get the sticker? Not sure where to find that "Certification", as it is mentioned in the link provided above. The link above seems to only be the form that says you have another non antique vehicle.

I am seriously considering just getting regular plates to avoid the hassle and confusion, as I have yet to find information on what I need to do that is clear and not confusing.

Grigg

Va Bolters,

The "form" shows that the owner certifies that the car-truck is safe and meets the correct safety standard. That would keep me from running slicks and no wipers on a '64 Nova. Now here is a thought, keep antique tags and get the truck inspected.

Bill

Just a question. Will the DMV have the information on what the safety requirments were for all the years prior to 25 years ago? Thanks

beltfed,

I don't think that the DMV will have those records. The DMV requires you to certify that your car meets those standards. This new law and its enforcement is a result of the abuse of the previous law. This the current attempt to get the rusty '76 Granada, with bad brakes, and bald tires of the road. People have used the "loophole" of no inspections to operate deadly junk on the roads.

Bill

Seems to me to be a way for our good ole boys in Richmond to throw us under the bus.What if you ,like me, are going to have a non- stock ,modified ride and some police officer decides that he doesn't think it's safe? Who you gonna call ?Wish they had just left things alone as I really think there where other ways to stop someone from abusing the old laws.And as far as joining a club to express my opinion,I think I'll pass for now .

All those new roads have to be paid for somehow... We just got rolled under the bus with the rest of the Virginia drivers!

Another question. As I have no idea what the safety requirments were in 1939 (my year), how would this fly? I'm a member of the National Street Rod Association and they have a 23 point inspection by NSRA inspectors. These guys check such things as lights, horn, steering components, neutral safety switches, seat belts, fire bottles. etc. They give you an inspection sheet upon passing. Would this inspection appease the long arm of the law? Thanks

Yeah, and this is on top of new fines from $750 to $3,000 for particular traffic violations. It's enough for me to move away from VA.

Excerpt from www.collegiatetimes.com/news/1/ARTICLE/9204/2007-07-25.html

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Since going into effect July 1, controversy has mounted over House Bill 3202, which imposes between $750 and $3,000 in additional fees over three years for criminal driving offenses — but only on Virginia residents.

Many say the new law is going overboard, and Virginia drivers shouldn’t pay for the same mistakes, some say, up to 10 times greater than a out-of-state motorists.

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I'm actualy "ok" with the new high fee concept. Agree with you, I don't think it is fair to just bill Virginia drivers. However it has caused me to drive slower, better and as a result safer. I've got a 04 corvette that I'll admit to doing 140 on Interstate route 64 with. I normally would drive it at 80-90 mph. Now with the new fee structure, I do about 65. I can think of a lot of things that I'd rather spend $1,050 on than a reckless driving ticket. So if it makes me drive better maybe it makes others do the same. We'll have to see what happens in court as I hear a judge is looking at the fairness legal aspect.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Today, a Henrico County judge has declared the state's new civil fees on abusive drivers unconstutitional.