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Historic Tags

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Historic Tags #1
NJMGA Barry Boehner Bellmawr, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: April 05, 2012 01:54PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 20

My 1960 MGA has been off the road since 1983, I am about to apply for tags and debating on Historic or not Historic. How much can I use the vehicle with Historic tags? I don't plan on using it every day but the occasional day trip would be appealing. What are your opinions?

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Re: Historic Tags #2
ghnl Eric Russell North Carolina, USA	Posted: April 05, 2012 02:02PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 534

Every state & insurance company has their own rules. You'll have to investigate that for your location & insurance company. Most insurance policies will dictate the vehicle cannot be your primary use vehicle, must be garaged, and it might only allow use in parades/club events/shows/etc.

Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1960 MGA, 1981 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: Historic Tags #3
David Pyle TX, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500	Posted: April 05, 2012 02:07PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 426

I have Texas historic tags on my MG. I think state rules differ. I have a contact here (Houston) who can answer your questions and has appropriate year plates for your car. In Texas you can only use them if they match the year listed on your title. I just bought a pair for another old car and they were $125 (used) for the appropriate year. I am not sure that my source had plates for other states, however that is his primary business. Insurance wants a limit of 1000 miles a year.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2012 02:12PM by David Pyle.

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Re: Historic Tags #4
NJMGA Barry Boehner Bellmawr, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: April 05, 2012 02:08PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 20

The form states use for exhibition and educational purposes. Well every time I go out in in I break down and then I get a education on how to fix it, does that count, lol. I also feel like an exhibitionist standing along side of it while it is broke down.

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Re: Historic Tags #5
ghnl Eric Russell North Carolina, USA	Posted: April 05, 2012 02:41PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 534

In reply to # 2032221 by NJMGA I also feel like an exhibitionist standing along side of it...

Do you wear a rain coat (only)?

Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1960 MGA, 1981 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: Historic Tags #6
David Pyle TX, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500	Posted: April 05, 2012 02:44PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 426

That's why you get two tags...one for your back and one for your front...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2012 04:47PM by David Pyle.

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Re: Historic Tags #7
cschaefer Chuck Schaefer West Chicago,IL, USA	Posted: April 05, 2012 03:19PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 660

from what i can tell, NJ is one of the toughest states for us hobbyists.

Sent to committee in 2010 is bill AN1693 which will allow 1 day use per week for pleasure driving. It has been bounced back several times since ~2006. You might want to write the current sponsors to see what their feeling of being enacted is.

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Diegnan, Assemblywoman N.Munoz, Assemblymen Prieto,
Milam, Giblin and DeAngelo

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Re: Historic Tags #8
JimNH Jim Mail Nashua, New Hampshire, USA 1957 MG MGA "Camilla (the Other Woman)"	Posted: April 05, 2012 04:45PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 2,660

In NH there is not a provision for antique plates - I checked.

They said I can put them on at a car show, but then have to take them off before driving, and I have to keep the real plates in the car.

JIM

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Re: Historic Tags #9
PaulM9999 Paul M New Jersey, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600	Posted: April 05, 2012 11:14PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 81

Barry,
NJ DMV will give you historic plates for your MGA without a problem. Details are here. Don't forget to bring photos of all sides of the car on photo-quality paper.

Once this is done, you can do what MGARuss suggested in another thread, and order a front British style plates with your NJ tag number on it from these guys. I found the Jersey tag looked pretty bad on the front of my 1960, but the Euro style is much more pleasing. No problems from the authorities yet.

www.chubbcollectorcar.com

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Re: Historic Tags #10
jeffs555 jeff schultz wake forest, nc, USA	Posted: April 06, 2012 12:00AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 287

I think there are two different types of plates being discussed in this thread, Historic and YOM. Here in NC both are allowed.

Historic plates, at least in NC, are new issued plates that say "Historic" or "Antique" on them. They usually have restrictions on them as to the type and amount of driving you can do, but often have tax and insurance benefits. I think many if not most states have some form of this. This was the subject of the original question, and you just have to weigh any tax or insurance benefits against the restrictions.

NC and many other states also allow YOM(year of manufacture) plates on cars of a certain age. These are plates that were issued during the year the car was manufactured, in other words old plates found at antique stores, flea markets, etc. In NC for any car 35 years or older, if you register it with normal plates, you can run with a plate from the year of manufacture as long as you carry the regular plate inside the car. I think some other states that allow YOM require you to register the number on the YOM plate, but NC doesn't.

And Jim, according to this site NH does have a YOM law but it is only for cars from 1942 or older. http://www.turnerplates.com/YOM%20Laws%2003.html#nhdmv

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2012 12:02AM by jeffs555.

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Re: Historic Tags #11
MGARuss Russ Sharples New Jersey, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600 "Bonnie"	Posted: April 06, 2012 06:16AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 603

Barry,

I'm in central NJ and pondered this question last fall when I got my MGA. The simple answer is that the NJ law is pretty strict: it says you can drive the car to or from an exhibition or educational event, club meeting, or service location. That's it. No pleasure drives. However, every NJ classic car owner with QQ plates I have spoken with has told me the same thing - they have never been stopped driving their car with QQ plates.

The place where it probably matters the most is if you got in an accident and the police were called in, it seems likely to me that they would ask what you were doing with the car. While the QQ law does not mention that you can take the car on a test drive after servicing it yourself, it seems clear to me that this falls under the permitted use of driving it to and from a garage. So this might be a catch all reason to be driving the car. I'm not sure what the penalty would be for violating the QQ law.

One minor benefit of the QQ registration is that you don't need to get an emission inspection and resulting windshield sticker.

Your insurance carrier probably has different policies. Neither of the classic car insurers I have worked with have any conditions related to how the car is registered with the state. One had a pretty high mileage limit and the other has no mileage limit. Generally, they don't want you commuting to work in the car or using it in that way. I have heard of some insurers having other restrictions like the owner can't park the car at a mall or shopping center but this was in the case of an Olds 442 insured for $100K.

As Paul said, I have a regular NJ QQ plate on the back of my car and a reproduction plate on the front with my QQ number styled to match 1960's British plate design. I carry the other QQ plate in the car in case the police want to see it (to ensure I haven't attached it to another classic car).

Russ

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Re: Historic Tags #12
ELBBLB Ed B Haddonfield NJ, USA 1969 MG MGC 1969 MG MGC "Butters"	Posted: April 06, 2012 06:42AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 85

Barry,

I too have the QQ plates on both of my NJ registered MGC's ( and my Sunbeam Alpine too). As has been stated NJ is pretty strict in what it can be driven for. But remember, every time you go somewhere you are getting gas, going to the service station, a club activity,or meeting a member of the club.With Skye's new "member map" you should always know someone on the route......But I have NEVER been stopped and questioned.

I think the one time fee and then free for life and no inspection outweigh any perceived negatives.

Never tried the modified front plate deal, and we definitely do not have the YOM plate option.

Finally. I agree with Chuck, call/write along with your local Assemblyman

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Diegnan, Assemblywoman N.Munoz, Assemblymen Prieto,
Milam, Giblin and DeAngelo

1969 MGC BRG Roadster
1969 MGC Pale Primrose Roadster
No major modifications

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Re: Historic Tags #13
cschaefer Chuck Schaefer West Chicago,IL, USA	Posted: April 06, 2012 07:03AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 660

One other benefit with the Historic plates in NJ, from what I read, they allow for rear plates only. You can get away with removing the front plate altogether, cleaning up the front of the car.

Since whe are comparing states, Illinois allows for antique plates on anything 25 years or older. The plates are 30 bucks and good for 5 years, which alone saves about $470 over the 5-year span. IL has the same meeting parade, club, service etc restrictions but also allows for occasional use, whatever that is. In 20 years, I have never been questioned about what I was using the car for. With "antique" registration, I am alloed to display a YOM plate. I had 1956 Illinois plates on my car. No reproductions allowed, they must be issued by the state "back in the day". The number color just so happened to match the BRG of may car too!, We must carry the real registered plates in the boot for any traffic stop.

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Re: Historic Tags #14
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, ,N.C., USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 06, 2012 08:13AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,222

Many people in N.C. use personal plates instead of YOM. There is little difference in a antique store plate and a personalized plate. Neither has any info on the car or owner. You still must carry the normal plate..
I have talked to 2 law enforcement officers and neither cared about the personal plate.

I had mine made at Buld A Sign for about $20 delivered.

http://www.buildasign.com/?pscid=10871&extcid=1402&mtcid=e&ntwcid=g&kwcid=build%20a%20sign&gclid=CIDL9J-1oK8CFQid7QodWhiddQ

Gary

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2012 09:19AM by Gary E.

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Re: Historic Tags #15
JimNH Jim Mail Nashua, New Hampshire, USA 1957 MG MGA "Camilla (the Other Woman)"	Posted: April 06, 2012 11:34AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 2,660

Right - I have "Antique" plates, but I wanted to buy a set of YOM plates on eBay, but they were not allowed (didn't know about the 1942 rule - but it doesn't help me).

JIM

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Re: Historic Tags #16
peter d peter h yorkshire, United Kingdom 1958 MG MGA Coupe 1977 MG MGB "Abomination"	Posted: April 06, 2012 12:34PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 699

Have to say your system over there seems very complicated

Over here cars built up to 1972 are classed as Historic,And are tax exempt.

Its up to the deal you come up with the insurance company's as to your mileage.More mileage more wonga.

Have to ask Gary what are the two holes in your boot lid for?

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Re: Historic Tags #17
bleteaches6 lee orphan Sumner, WA, USA 1956 MG MGA 1500 1979 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) 1979 MG Midget 1500	Posted: April 06, 2012 01:29PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 6,961

In Washington you can have collector (read historic or collector) or year of manufacturer, or the standard plate

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Re: Historic Tags #18
Gary E Gary Edwards Kernersville, ,N.C., USA 1962 MG MGA MkII 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 06, 2012 01:55PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,222

In reply to # 2033024 by peter d
Have to ask Gary what are the two holes in your boot lid for?

It was originally the bottom 2 holes for a aftermarket luggage rack. I am considering mounting a real flame thrower there instead in case I run into Wyatt.

Gary

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Re: Historic Tags #19
RJBrown Randy Brown Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500 1958 MG MGA 1500 Coupe 1960 MG MGA 1600 "Later" 1962 MG MGA MkII	Posted: April 06, 2012 03:34PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 805

The Colorado historic plate has no driving restrictions and is good for 5 years. You are required to get a emmision test the first time the car is registered. After that you pay the bill every 5 years and drive anywhere you want. Insurance is a company by company question.

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Re: Historic Tags #20
MGARuss Russ Sharples New Jersey, USA 1960 MG MGA 1600 "Bonnie"	Posted: April 06, 2012 03:44PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 603

In reply to # 2032728 by cschaefer One other benefit with the Historic plates in NJ, from what I read, they allow for rear plates only. You can get away with removing the front plate altogether, cleaning up the front of the car.

I had been told this by a number of NJ car club members. When I asked about it while picking up the QQ plates, the agent flatly said to me "NJ has always required both a front and rear plate". I don't know that the agent is an authority on this point. I drove the car for a month or so with no front plate and passed police a couple of times with no reaction but that isn't definitive either.

Russ

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