License Plates

Guys,

I thought I would share this cause I thought it was pretty cool. A friend of mine told me that it is legal to put on period correct plates on your classic car. He is a cop, so I took him seriously, but asked for verification. Here is what he sent me a while ago-

Bill, here is the Illinois statue...
(625 ILCS 5/3-804.01) Sec. 3-804.01. Expanded-use antique vehicles. (b) Any person who is the registered owner of an expanded-use antique vehicle may display a historical license plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle, furnished by such person, in lieu of the current and valid Illinois expanded-use antique vehicle plates issued thereto, provided that the valid and current Illinois expanded-use antique vehicle plates and registration card issued to the expanded-use antique vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection.

I am pretty excited because #1. I have the original plates from 1962 and #2. I had applied for extended use plates. This is for Illinois, but I bet it is something most states do. Hope you find it interesting!

I've got an authentic Michigan '62 plate on mine. It's called a historic vehicle plate here and costs $35 for lifetime registration.

The downside is the registration has restrictions (must be driven to or from shows, parades, etc). It provides unlimited mileage in the month of August (due to Dream Cruise month). However, there can be found on any evening a local cruise night within a 20 mile radius or so, which enables essentially unlimited miles ("Well officer, I drove the car to work because I'm attending a cruise night afterward...").

I recently ordered a black CA plate on a bill the state just started, its your regular plate with no restrictions...woohoo

No restrictions in illinois either. I plan to get the magnetic plate holders that dealerships use just in case I happen across an onery cop though.

Bill--

On the expanded use there are restrictions -- it can only be driven from April - October.  Only reason I know is cause I just went through all that back in December.  You can get antique plates, only good for shows/parades, etc... for one price that needs to be renewed every 5yrs IIRC.  OR you can get the EU antiques for another price and they are renewed every year.  Just fyi....

I got the eu plates. I am good with the small restrictions. I ddid not want the restrictions that came with antique plates.

Kewl Bill!! Just wanted to make sure you were properly informed!

Thanks. I did a lot thinking before I got the EU plates. I knew I did not want antique because I did not want to even think about being hassled about how much I am or am not driving the car. The Nov-March restriction doesn't bother me- I can still take it to a mechanic if I need to during that time anyhow. Gives me a good reason to pull it off the road and do cool things to it.