Volvo Antique Car Classifications

Post by **MrAl** » 26 Jul 2022, 10:39

Hello there,

Anybody have any idea how this works? I know if might vary by state, but basically you register your car as an antique if it is older than some certain age. In NJ it is 25 years and my car or anybody else's 1998 is going to reach that in January.
I am in New Jersey but can not find any definitive statements on what is allowed and what is not allowed. The NJ Motor Vehicle site says one thing and there are other references that say another thing.
The Motor Vehicle site say use is only allowed for educational purposes or for driving to and from shows.
Some places on the web say that is true but you can also drive up to 250 miles from home for pleasure.

Im looking for a definitive answer to this mostly for my state but other people might want to know about their state too since so many people that post here have older vehicles even older than 1998.

Thanks in advance.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 26 Jul 2022, 12:06

Check with your state Motor Vehicle Registration and follow their rules. These regulation will be followed by law enforcement. As I recall, Kansas and Oklahoma limit annual mileage to maybe 1000 miles.
In Oklahoma, after 20 years, tags are cheap anyway.
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 26 Jul 2022, 12:32

Exactly, at that age the plates are pretty cheap. You can register it with the vintage plates, and there may be limitations, but you can just use those for fun and keep it on regular plates, which is what I do on a '67. And my local guys aren't going to care if I'm driving around with vintage plates, if it's a genuinely old car.

Crazy to think a '98 is an "antique vehicle" anywhere!

Each State DMV will have it's own rules on this.

Post by **MrAl** » 27 Jul 2022, 05:49

volvolugnut wrote: ↑26 Jul 2022, 12:06 Check with your state Motor Vehicle Registration and follow their rules. These regulation will be followed by law enforcement. As I recall, Kansas and Oklahoma limit annual mileage to maybe 1000 miles.
In Oklahoma, after 20 years, tags are cheap anyway.
volvolugnut

I was trying that but their web site isnt very good it's even contradictory at times.

I guess i was hoping for some answers like:
1. You can do this.
2. You can do that.
3. You cant do this.
4. You cant do that.

Right now the web site says two things but other places claim you can do three things. Does not make sense.

Post by **MrAl** » 27 Jul 2022, 05:56

BlackBart wrote: ↑26 Jul 2022, 12:32 Exactly, at that age the plates are pretty cheap. You can register it with the vintage plates, and there may be limitations, but you can just use those for fun and keep it on regular plates, which is what I do on a '67. And my local guys aren't going to care if I'm driving around with vintage plates, if it's a genuinely old car.

Crazy to think a '98 is an "antique vehicle" anywhere!

Each State DMV will have it's own rules on this.

Hi,

Yeah it seems weird but if it works what the heck.

Not sure what you mean by getting the antique plates for fun and keep it on regular plates. Here they only allow one plate number for one car. So if i register it as antique i'll get a plate that has numbers and two Q's like this: 12345QQ
and if that isnt strange enough you have to take pictures of the car in order to apply for the new classification and plates. But they always make you surrender your old plates here.

I was hoping somebody already knew about this antique deal because there are so many Volvos on the road that are aged. Was hoping for a list of what you can do and what you cant do. I already know different states do it differently.

One thing on the site is interesting though. They say you can use it for 'educational' purposes. So how about if i educate the public on how well this Volvo puts up with going back and forth to the store. It really is a topic of interest because other people might find it helpful to know what kind of car will last over the miles and miles. Also, i could drive it around and say that i am showing people all over town what an antique Volvo looks like, so i am educating them. This is interesting too because i saw some on the road older than mine and it did teach me about the longevity of some of these Volvos.

Need some touch up paint next.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 27 Jul 2022, 07:14

Perhaps if you go to the place that issues the plates, they can tell you the rules. I know states have different ways of doing this, and you may only have mail service for plates in New Jersey. In Oklahoma there are independent tag agents who act as agents of the state for all tags and title work. There are even more than one agent in my medium size town. When I grew up in Kansas, you when to the county court house.
volvolugnut

Post by **Sveedy** » 27 Jul 2022, 08:22

Well as usual, Arizona is a bit weird re: antique plates. At 25 years you can put them on any car or truck. No millage restrictions.
The plates were / are made of solid " Arizona copper ", according to the MVD website. These old ones of mine weigh quite a bit, being solid copper. Not sure if they still are made this way.
If you can find a vintage plate for your vehicle, you can use it. I know folks you have old model T's etc, and if they can find a plate from the 20's, then they can have it assigned to their car.

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Post by **BlackBart** » 27 Jul 2022, 11:46

MrAl wrote: ↑27 Jul 2022, 05:56Not sure what you mean by getting the antique plates for fun and keep it on regular plates. Here they only allow one plate number for one car. So if i register it as antique i'll get a plate that has numbers and two Q's like this: 12345QQ
and if that isnt strange enough you have to take pictures of the car in order to apply for the new classification and plates. But they always make you surrender your old plates here.

I see. In Montana, I have my normal plates on that car, and then I bought the permanent vintage plates for it. I can put them on for an event or trip or something. Haven't decided if I would drive around with them.

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Post by **BlackBart** » 27 Jul 2022, 11:46

Sveedy - COPPER plates, wow!

Post by **scot850** » 27 Jul 2022, 19:22

Up here your plates are yours. You can transfer them to any other car you own. Issues are like my wife and I have cars in one or other of our names, the other can't use that plate unless I give her joint ownership of the vehicle they are on.

You cannot get new plates made up with the same licence numbers if it wears out, you have to retire it and get a new different licence assigned. We also only have one plate on the rear of the car. Still don't understand that one.

I believe we can get antique plates but don't know the rules on that one.

You can also get speciality plates with your set of up to 7 digits within limits.

Stupid system all around that you cannot get a new plate with the same number renewed and swap the old one in when you get the new version.

Neil.