The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Texas year of manufacture plates law changes 2011

I went in to renew my registration today on my 57. I have not been driving the truck for the last 6 months and it had expired. I have YOM plates.
I was informed that sometime in the next year that TXDOT will not be approving any more YOM plates, so if you have them, make sure that you keep them current. If you let them expire, they wont approve renewal. If you want them, get them approved soon before its too late.
This is the first I had heard of this. I assume it is correct info as it came from their office. Anybody else heard this?

I use YOM on my Nova ,Thanks for the info will look into it.

On my trucks I use the antique plates they are good deal last five years ,only one plate and no inspection or registration stickers to deal with.

Thanks for the heads-up! I had no idea. I think all current ones are due for renewal in 2013, if memory serves me correctly. Perhaps this has something to do with being too close to the state-wide renewal date, and they don't want to issue a tag that will expire in less than a year. If you applied in April of 2012, your fee would be about $10 and the plates would only be good for 11 months. Seems to be a drain on personnel.

Then again, I could be fulla'bull.

Also, my YOM plates have the same use as the antiques: 5 year span, ~$60 cost, no inspection or windshield stickers.

One think I've learned from TxDOT: it all boils down to who you talk to. It wouldn't surprise me if you get a different answer on a different day.

Bill

From TxDOT:
Antique plates are issued for five-year periods. The registration fee for the five-year period is $50.30 ($10 per year, plus an additional 30 cents for the registration insignia) for vehicles manufactured in 1921 and subsequent years and $40.30 ($8 per year, plus an additional 30 cents for the registration insignia) for vehicles manufactured in 1920 and prior years. Fees are reduced $10/$8 for each year of the period that has elapsed at the time the application is filed.

YOM = Year of Manufacture, correct?

I was wanting to know more about this as the guy at the car show doesn't explain it very well. If I want a plate for my 1958, I can get that and pay the fee and then not have to worry about registration or inspection stickers? Am I understanding that correctly?

Yes, YOM = year of manufacture

You're close. Here's my experience:
1. Buy the SET of plates. Must be correct year, both front and back, and legible. No exceptions.
2. Take them to your county tax office. Mine made a photocopy of the plates, and confirmed they were color correct for that year, legible, and that the numbers/letters were not in use.
3. Pay the registration, ~$10/year. It has fixed, not rolling, expiration- all YOM plates in TX expire in 2013. At that time, all YOM plate users will go to the tax office and re-register their plates for another 5 year period.
4. Tax office gives you a 3"x2" metal tag with the expiration date. This must be attached to the plate (I used rear).
5. No annual inspection or registration. You won't have any windshield stickers!
6. If you sell the vehicle before the tag expires, bring it down to the tax office and you'll get a prorated reimbursement for the months/years you didn't use.

Others might have a different experience.

The only hiccup I had was when one clerk didn't want to allow me to run Farm Truck tags since my truck isn't for agricultural use. The supervisor weighed in and allowed it. (I argued that they allow YOM Dealer Plate use, even though the user isn't a dealer.)

Bill

YOM tags can be registered two ways. The way Bill and I have ours registered is Antique Registration. We are restricted by Sec. 504.502 to "(3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades,

and other functions of public interest and is not used for regular

transportation; and

(4) does not carry advertising."

They can also be registered by Classic Registration (Section 504.501). With this you can drive it to work or any other daily use and requires yearly renewal and inspections. For this you pay regular registration fees.

Thanks Charlie. Mine have been on the shelf for the past 5 years hoping to register when we are drivable. I'll take care of it next week.

I wonder why they changed that?

Weird.

-W

Thank you guys for all this great info! I'm now looking for a set of '59 plates.

Jerry

WOW that was quick... found and snagged a set on Ebay for 20 bucks.

Jerry

WOW AGAIN... Seller already sent a USPS tracking number.
This was too easy...

Jerry

You stole them.

If Murphy is paying attention the number will be in use and the plates will be just a decoration. At least that is the way it would work for me.

FriedGreenTmater we seem to have the same bad luck for a good deal!

You might consider this as a source of information for your next step.

Bill

That was a steal. I had to pay $80 for my 49 plates.

Good find! Somehow I don't think getting my hands on a '46 Texas plate is going to be that easy...or cheap. They only issued single plates in Texas for '45 & '46 (not pairs) but they are a bear to find at anything remotely akin to "reasonable". Saw one listed for $375...not!

And I have a set of 53 and 55 that I don't need

Here's some (Texas) law that may be of interest to us Texans. I've emphasized relevant text. This is from this website.


Sec. 504.502. CERTAIN EXHIBITION VEHICLES; OFFENSE.
(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or former military vehicle that:

(1) is at least 25 years old, if the vehicle is a passenger car, truck, or motorcycle;

(2) is a collector's item;

(3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and is not used for regular transportation; and

(4) does not carry advertising.

(b) The license plates must include the words "Antique Auto," "Antique Truck," "Antique Motorcycle," or "Military Vehicle," as appropriate.

(c) A person eligible for the license plates may instead use license plates issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the vehicle and approved by the department, provided that a passenger car must bear passenger car or truck license plates and a truck must bear passenger car or truck license plates. The department may require attachment of a registration insignia to the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of information originally on the license plate.

(d) License plates issued or approved under this section expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance or approval.

(e) The fee for issuance or approval of license plates under this section is:

(1) $10 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured in 1921 or later; or

(2) $8 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured before 1921.

(f) The department may exempt a former military vehicle from the requirement to display a license plate or registration insignia if the exemption is necessary to maintain the vehicle's accurate military markings. The department may approve an alternative registration insignia that is compatible with the vehicle's original markings.

(g) A person entitled to specialty license plates or to department approval under this section may register the vehicle without payment of any fees paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plate. An owner of a vehicle registered under this subsection who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $200.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle issued license plates under Subsection (a) shall be required to attach and display only one license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

(i) In this section, "former military vehicle" means a vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size, weight, or year of manufacture, that:

(1) was manufactured for use in any country's military forces; and

(2) is maintained to represent its military design and markings accurately.

(j) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that at the time of the offense the vehicle was en route to or from a location for the purpose of routine maintenance of the vehicle.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1318, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

I'm not interpreting it, just copying it here.

Bill

Tango,

Had a hard time finding 46 plate as well. Saw the same one you mentioned, same opinion, no thanks. Had just about decided to buy a set of 48 plates and do a little modifying of the 8 into a 6. Got very lucky, very lucky, and found a 46 that appears to have never been used and in near mint condition for $50 on eBay.

Then you'll have to wrangle with the tax office to convince them 45 and 46 only issued one plate.


Keep looking and googling.

I talked to a lady at our Annex in Lufkin. She said I could use my '59 plates as classic and would only have to pay the $15 over regular registration. She did say I needed to bring in the plates to verify correct color. I asked her if I needed to be in a hurry to do this due to a law change... she said she wasn't aware of any changes.

You can thank State Representative Todd Smith for the change.

All about making the state budget balance and cut extra money spent by TXDOT.

I guess they want us to pay for vanity plates. I guess I'd better hurry up and get mine registered, even though right now it is in many many pieces. Either that or just get straight farm plates and throw the YOM plates that I bought and restored when I take it to a parade or a show.

I guess that is why people put wing nuts on trailer license plate holders - so you can use one plate on several trailers.

Thanks to all for the input. Did find a very clean '46 at the bargain basement price of under $50 bucks (blind pig finds an acorn). Hope the Great State goes along with the plan without too much hassle.

I have some additional information that I will share and then ask if anyone else had the same experience and can confirm that it's true, noting that different offices give differing info.....

I bought a nice pair of 1950 FARM truck license plates on Ebay for $175. Went to register the truck for the first time, showed them the YOM plates I wanted to use and after much discussion and several phone calls the lady informed me that I could NOT use the FARM plates. Only plates that were for Trucks were legal. I nearly threw up thinking about the money that I'd apparently wasted. I settled for Antique plates. They were the cheapest option at that point. No inspection required.

Anyone else in Texas have a similar experience?

Spot

Spot, my experience was 180 degrees different. I presented my FARM year of manufacture and the window lady raised an eyebrow. I told her that it was legal to use DEALER year of manufacture without being a dealer. At this point, the head lady stepped over to the window, and told the other lady that it is OK to use farm plates for YOM.

The kicker is this:
Current year farm plates limit your truck to agricultural uses and (I believe) church and maintenance. You can't even drive your truck to work, assuming your "other" job isn't on a farm.

YOM plates limit your truck to "automotive interest" uses as well as maintenance. You can drive it in a parade (unlike farm plates) and you can drive it to car shows (unlike farm plates.)

Having YOM plates that are farm, and applying BOTH limitations is a contradiction.

I recommend you talk higher up, and plead that these are a form of antique plates, and that your truck will be under the antique restrictions.

Bill
(Parker County)

Bill, Thanks for sharing your experience and input. There's only one thing that bothers me and that is the fact that the supervisor told the lady on the phone that the Texas legislature had made the change specificably for FARM plates. What we all had to accept that day (begrudgingly!!) was the fact that Farm Truck YOM plates could no longer be used. I will go back to the office and argue if you think that information was incorrect.

Thanks!

My experience with the tax office and TxDOT, it all comes down to who you talk to, because there is inconsistency in applying the law. I just now went to the very first posting on this thread, and see that it is about law changes NEXT year, not this year.

IIRC, my sticker (registration verification, not inspection) expires in March 2013.

It seems pretty illogical that the state would eliminate farm YOM, as if the farm designation changes the fact that we're using 50+ year old license plates (not to mention saving the state from having to issue new tags, etc.)

I know if it were me, I'd keep on until I ran out of options. If my closest tax office wouldn't re-up me, then I'd go to another office in the county (we have 2 offices in this county) and keep trying. I bet Bexar county has quite a few places to try.

I'll try to remember to stop by the tax office after work this week and see what they say.

Bill

Thanks for looking into it this week Bill. I actually went to a little office in Pipe Creek, TX to have this done to avoid having to stand in line in Bexar county. I'll maybe try to find another office and try them.

Thanks.

I spoke with the Blanco County Tax Office on this and was told there would be no discontinuing of the YOM plates for the antique vehicles, just those registered as daily drivers. If you register and use YOM you will be quite restricted in where you drive.

That's the way I understood it. I may be wrong...
I got to looking at my 1951 plates and there's no way they will OK them they way they look. Looks like I'll have to paint a bit.

Jim, thanks for the info but did you specifically ask them about Farm Truck plates and their not being allowed?? That's my issue. I was gold by the office in Pipe Creek that you could no longer use them as YOM on your vehicle.

Anyone have any facts on whether or not you can use FARM truck YOM plates in Texas?

I have some very important information. Granted, this is the interpretation of the law by my local office, but I think it bears considering:

First, if you have YOM plates, they will expire in (I believe) March 2013. If you renew the plates before they expire, you can continue to use your plates. If you fail to renew your YOM plates, you LOSE them. The reason is very simple: Texas used to issue specialty plates, but they now subcontract this out. (I think it is subcontracted to myplates.com) YOM plates are treated like vanity plates. Since the state doesn't issue them, you must deal with the subcontractor, and the subcontractor does not deal in YOM plates. No renew, they are lost. Period.

As for farm tags, my tax office told me that you can't use farm plates, and this has been the law "for a long time." Nevermind the fact that this is the exact same office that allowed me to register my truck with YOM farm plates 2 years ago. Personally, I think when they did the inquiry as to whether my plate numbers were already issued, I think they see the tags as plain ol' YOM, not farm. In other words, the state has no official record of me running farm, only YOM.

When March 2013 comes around, I'm going to make darn sure that I renew before they lapse. I think I only send in the statement and the money, and don't have to walk in with the plates in hand. They don't ask, I won't tell.

Spot, if I were you, I'd still troll the various branch offices in your county and see if any allow you to register the farm tags as YOM. All they can say is "no". If you don't get them registered soon, you'll lose the window of opportunity.

Jim, YOM continue to be treated as antique tags with severe restrictions on use. No work travel, ok for maintenance, vehicle events, parades, etc. They will be changing CLASSIC plates in the next roll. According to my local clerk, they currently say CLASSIC AUTO or CLASSIC TRUCK. The new issue will simply read CLASSIC. (Reads like cost saving measure to me.)

One last thought: this change, as a result of subcontracting, is basically ending YOM plates in Texas. Those of us with the plates are grandfathered in, but over time, they will cease to be legal. Use'em if you got'em. We'll be quite rare as time goes by.

...and that's the interpretation in east Parker County. Your mileage may vary.

Bill

Bill,

EXCELLENT detective work!! Thank you so much for taking time to settle this once and for all. Yes, you got lucky when they okayed your Farm Truck YOM plates. I wasn't as lucky, but I'll continue to seek out and ask different offices if they will okay mine. I agree that it probably depends on the office and who's working behind the window that day that makes this process so "iffy".

One last thing....I sure would like to know the absolute, drop-dead-date for getting approvals for YOM plates. You stated in your post that you thought it was March of 2013. That gives me about 18 months to do something. If it's sooner I sure would want to know so I don't miss the cut off date.

Thank you again for all your hard work. It's apreciated here in Texas.

Spot (Chuck)

It is interesting to pick through Bill's report. In Texas if you have 10 or more acres and have livestock on it or are farming it in someway it can be declared farm land within the taxing structure. This provides a great tax benefit and one many would like to have. A Farm truck years ago was just that, a farm truck. Most trucks were either farm trucks or commercial trucks. In the early sixties trucks began to be driven more and more by the average citizen. Before then the tags were either blank or read Farm Truck. As more people began to drive trucks they added the Truck tag, without the Farm on it. For some reason the Truck tags were a bit cheaper than the blank tags. I’m sure the state doesn’t want us to drive around with Farm Truck tags because we are not agg. exempt and there may be some benefit there.
Or I could be wrong...

Seems the benefit to the farmer was not so much a reduction in taxes or a reduced rate on the plates, but the convienience factor. The fact that he didn't have to "come into town" but once every 5 years in order to renew his tags would have been a big help to a farmer living out in the country.

What I heard anyway.

Spot, I doubt it is going to be as late as 3/13. That is when all YOM plates already issued expire. For example, if I registered my plates last year, they prorate the fee so that they expire 3/13. Same goes if I registered two years ago- prorated to expire 3/13.

So, in response to your question about 3/13 being that latest you can register, I think the answer is "no". I'm only running on gut instinct, but it would seem odd to me that someone could walk in and register their plates 12/12, pay for only 4 months of use, and then renew in 3/13.

The original post in this thread mentioned problems after next year. I place my bets on no more YOM registrations starting 3/12. The key issue comes down to when Texas turns over this aspect over to myplates.com.

Just my $0.02.

Bill

It appears the tag dealers see the end coming. I went to the Traders Village swap meet today and bought NOS tags for a '69 car and a '57 truck for $50 each. He had them marked at $120. He offered them at half that. This guy has hundreds of them. I guess he's trying to turn as many as he can while he can.

If anyone is interested, it's the guy with tag stickers all over his Suburban.

Cletis, did he mention the upcoming changes in the law? I'm not accusing him of anything, but generally speaking, I wonder how many plate dealers are going to keep mum about the law...

Sounds like you got a good deal. You going to get a set for the burb too?

Bill

I decided my plates, bought several years ago, awaiting the completion of the truck, would not pass muster at the tax office. So I bought a set in near perfect condition last week for $95.00. According to the new law I should have waited a few weeks or months.