Information on Antique Vehicle Registration
Vehicles that are classified as antique, classic, historic or vintage has a
special form of registration called antique vehicle registration. How the term
"classic" is used as well as its definition are different from one country to
another, and within a country that is a federation.
In general, a vehicle is considered antique based on its age at the time that
its owner is seeking an antique vehicle registration for it. For instance, in
Virginia, a vehicle qualifies for antique vehicle registration if it is 25 years
or older. In Queensland, Australia, a car must be at least 30 years old while in
Singapore, a car must be at least 35 years old. In the United Kingdom, a car
built prior to January 1, 1973 qualifies for antique vehicle registration.
There are a few benefits to antique vehicle registration. The registration fee
may be either reduced or waived, the vehicle is exempt from inspection and the
vehicle is issued a distinctive registration plate. There is one limitation to
an antique vehicle registration and that is there are restrictions to driving
the antique vehicle. In Virginia, for instance, a car that is registered as an
antique could only be driven to and from car club activities, parades and
similar events, for testing, for obtaining repairs and maintenance and
occasional driving within 250 miles of the owner's residence. A car that has an
antique vehicle registration is not allowed to be driven to and from work. In
Tennessee, the owner of an antique car cannot transfer the antique license plate
when he sells the car. The antique license plate must be surrendered by the
original owner and the new owner needs to apply for a new license plate. By
Tennessee law, a person from a law enforcement agency, either a state trooper or
police officer, can perform a special verification of an antique car in order to
ensure that the vehicle is really an antique and has not been modified.
Going back to the special license plates for antique cars -- an antique license
plate can be a new license plate that includes "Antique" or "Historic" on it.
License plates for antique cars have a different number sequence from the
standard license plates. They may also have a different color scheme. For
instance, Virginia has two types of antique license plates. The first type is
one that has an old look design to it. The second type is a license plate that
actually comes from the year as the model year of the antique car. Such antique
license plates is allowed for use in Virginia if the appropriate year is
embossed on it and not stickered. In Tennessee, antique model year license
plates are allowed for use in antique cars only if the car is registered as an
antique vehicle and the antique tag and registration issued by state are kept in
the vehicle at all times for inspection. While this is legal in Tennessee, it
may not be legal in other states.
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