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Does California have required Vehicle Inspection Tests? I've seen other posts about people needing to get inspections and luckily passing even though their reverse lights don't work and what not. Does California have anything like this?

My '67 is registered and insured and all that and I've never gone through any kind of inspection. The lighting all works now, but when I first started driving there weren't signals and, for awhile, no brake lights. There still isn't a plate light but I purposely am not fixing that. (The popular burnout spot has around the clock video surveillance.)

So anyway, was I supposed to go through Crappy Old Car inspection or does California not have one? :confused:

Not for vehicles older than 1973.

california doesnt have safety inspections,,only smog inspections.

AH ha... ok cool. SO as far as "Collector License Plates" go, what are the requrie ments to get one for my truck?

Usually, it has to be roadworthy (ask your state police about what constitutes roadworthiness) and somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 years old or older.

I'm not sure how it works in Cali, but here in Michigan -- for an "authentic" plate -- you need to send in a registration form, photocopy of the plate, proof of insurance, and $35.00. You get a registration good for the entire time that you own the vehicle. You can also get the standard 10 year historical plates in the same way for $30.00.

You'd have to ask the DMV for the correct procedure. I can't imagine it being too different.

You should go to the California DMV web site to get the California requirements, as all states are different in their requirements. There are restrictions on the use of the vehicle with antique plates in most states, such as vehicle can only be driven to sanctioned meets and a truck cannot be used to haul anything.

Califoria has no inspections but... you can get a ticket for defective equipment.

I seem to recall seeing in Hot Rod Magazine some time back that you can use vintage plates as regular plates, provided that they are in good condition. And I would consider finding a more secluded burnout spot if they are monitoring the area that is being used now. It's not worth getting a ticket doing that, especialy if you know you're being monitored. Simply not having a license plate lamp probably won't work anyway, I would think that those cameras are set up for low-light photography.

If by Collector license plates you mean Year of Manufacture then:

5004.1. (a) An owner of any vehicle that is a 1962 or older model year vehicle may, after the requirements for the registration of the vehicle have been complied with and with the approval of the department, utilize license plates of this state with the date of year corresponding to the model year date when the vehicle was manufactured, if the model year date license plate is legible and serviceable, as determined by the department, in lieu of the license plates otherwise required by this code. The department may consult with an organization of old car hobbyists in determining whether the date of year of the license plate to be used corresponds to the model year date when the vehicle was manufactured.

SuperSix, No inspection is usually required. Visit the California DMV website for info on Historical plates, caution there are many restrictions as to when, where, and how much you can drive a Historical vehicle.

Here's a link for more info:

http://www.davesclp.com/yomregistration.htm

YOM
year of manufacture plates are done here. I have several.
i believe it's pre 1963. go to DMV an ask for the form. the plates (TWO) must be in good shape and the DMV will run a check to see if the #'s are clear. if not that plate can not work or the plate can be challanged. in other words the reg plate w/ your numbers will be checked to see if it's in use or still ion the system but not cleared out.
remember ... the DMV IS VERY SLOW WHEN WORKING ON THESE THINGS.

pS
I have seen a personal plate re-painted the old colors .... highly illegal !!!! on a hot rod.

When I imported my '61 truck from Arizona to California I had to do a few things including a cursory physical inspection at the DMV, and I had to get the truck weighed and provide a certified form stating the weight. I get charged extra on my registration each year because it's apparently considered "Heavy" (4995 lbs.). It weighs the same as my wife's Land Cruiser, FWIW. The physical inspection consisted of them checking the VIN plate on the frame inside the driver's side door, checking the headlights and tail lights. This was ~6 years ago, and the rules may have changed. Anything pre-1975 is smog exempt, but if you have any obvious modifications that are not street legal, the DMV inspector will probably catch them.

Troy, you are probably being charged extra for commercial license plates. All trucks are considered commercial vehicles, unless you register them as an RV (i.e. camper), then you can not haul anything in the bed.

Larry

Unless they've changed it, the only requirement when I registered my truck as a passenger vehicle was that I had a permanent camper valued at more than $100 affixed to the bed of the truck. This was about 10 years ago. But I continued to haul furniture, lumber, etc. in the bed of the truck and was never told that I couldn't.

The next time you go to a casino let me know I want to go with you.

Larry