Antique Tags

[HerHotRod]

Well I renewed my reg. a couple months ago and when they sent me my new sticker in the mail I also got a new regular tag. I didn't realize I would be getting one, but o.k. I had been wanting an Antique tag for a long time but didn't know how to do it and I was lazy. So since I don't really care for my new tag :lol: I figured I would call and see how to get the Antique one.

Anyway, I just called and all I have to do is go in and ask for one and it will only cost me $18.10. If I knew it was that easy I would have done that yrs ago :nono:. So I'll be making a trip to get my new Antique light blue tag at lunch today :D.

[Frankie]

Duh! My car has only had an antique tag since I bought it. The only downside is that you can't customize them, but they're so cheap it doesn't matter. Registration for the car is like a dollar every year now too.

[BigBadBuick]

Tell them what your new tag number is :lmao:

It's the real reason she wanted to switch

[Flastangs]

Does this apply to using a "year correct" tag too? I mean when you find a 70 Florida plate for your 70 car.

[HerHotRod]

Tell them what your new tag number is :lmao:

It's the real reason she wanted to switch


The new tag they just sent me was C19 1BJ. I figured I get enough attention in the car as it is, I didn't want that tag :lol:. So it pushed me to inquire on the Antique one.

Well I got it!! I just got back as long as its 30 yrs or older you can get one. He said there used to be a "Collectible" tag as well. Those were for cars 20yrs or older but people were putting them on pieces of shit that were not collectibles. So they discontinued those. Makes sense to me.


Does this apply to using a "year correct" tag too? I mean when you find a 70 Florida plate for your 70 car.

No, he said for those you have to find one in good shape, the yr of your car like you said, and for the state you live in, then you have to send it to Tallahasse. They have to authenticate it for you. Then once you get it back you can register it to your car. You will get a sticker each yr. for it like normal from then on. He said it is like $40 for the authentication. Then whatever to transfer the new tag I think. He told me back then you got a new plate ea. year instead of a sticker. I didn't know that. I want to look for one at the next swap meet I'm at.

[Dano Moparo]

C19 1BJ :lol: :lol: I would too!

[corey r.]

BJ... nice!

[HerHotRod]

I happened to mention I didn't like the tag they had sent and they said I just had to bring it in and they would replace it free. I guess they've had a lot of that lately. They said they don't want offensive tags out on the road and don't know why some are printed. I told her mine doesn't say a word, it' just how you interpret it. She looked it up and just started laughing :lol:.

Oh, well now I have a pretty blue one :)

[2wdBlazer]

Mine is Baby Blue and says antique.

[Flastangs]

I like the idea of having the "original" plate on the car.

[Just Dave]

There is a guy that always shows up the car swap meets that sells Florida tags in all years, counties, classes (determines the color) and condition very reasonably. I had one on my 66 VW bug. The only downside is I was always getting pulled over by sherriffs, and they would always ask for my out of state registration. I would politely tell them to read the tag where it says "florida". Of course I was an 18 year old kid with long hair and a lowered VW so I stuck out a bit :lol:

[Dano Moparo]

Well I got it!! I just got back as long as its 30 yrs or older you can get one. He said there used to be a "Collectible" tag as well. Those were for cars 20yrs or older but people were putting them on pieces of shit that were not collectibles. So they discontinued those. Makes sense to me.




I bought POS 72 celica GT and I got one of the collectible plates for it. :clown: I knew eventually I'd put it something else. Last time I went to renew they just gave the pretty blue one to me :dunno: I was like wtf I thought they were only for the really old cars. :lol:

[HerHotRod]

I bought POS 72 celica GT and I got one of the collectible plates for it. :clown: I knew eventually I'd put it something else. Last time I went to renew they just gave the pretty blue one to me :dunno: I was like wtf I thought they were only for the really old cars. :lol:

So your one of them ;-) :lol:.I have a question though, when someone buys a new plate to register a car, for the first time, that they just bought, do they get an antique plate right off the bat, or do you have to request it?

[Dano Moparo]

I'm not sure, I thought just cause they gave me the antique without asking it was an automatic thing. I guess it depends on the clerk you get.

[68Valianteffort]

Your prolly right Dano. When i bought my valiant 3 yrs ago and put plates on it the clerk didnt ask me and i didnt even think about it. I dont really know how it works but up here in Tennessee you can get antique tags for $46 and after that you dont have to renew them anymore. I was gonna do that but it has a 2000 mile limit and you can only drive your car to shows and cruise ins. Which i wouldnt mind but my valiant is my daily driver for now.

[HerHotRod]

Theres no mileage limit in Florida associated to an antique plate. The only thing that would limit mileage I can think of is if you have special insurance on it for classics. I don't have that insurance though because mine was a daily driver too until recently. As far as renewing it, we still have to renew the antique plate ea. yr for a new sticker. Mines only $21. :)


Mine is Baby Blue and says antique.
Thats the one I just got :)

[Justin G]

sweet

[70Z]

Ok, let me get this straight. If you go in and ask for an Antique plate they give it to you right on the spot?

I've never registered my car because it rarely gets driven and on those rare occasions I just pull a tag from one of my other cars. I've been intending to order a vanity plate but I never seem to get around to it. If it's so easy to get an antique tag maybe I'll do that instead.

Also, anyone know what happens if you register and dont have a bill of sale? Do they just take your word for how much you paid? Also, any complications here in Florida that I might run into registering a car that hasn't been registered anywhere since like 1994?

And one more thing, in some states you can go online and find out if a particular vanity plate is available. I haven't been able to find a way to do that in Florida. Anyone know if there is such a program?

[HerHotRod]

Ok, let me get this straight. If you go in and ask for an Antique plate they give it to you right on the spot?

I've never registered my car because it rarely gets driven and on those rare occasions I just pull a tag from one of my other cars. I've been intending to order a vanity plate but I never seem to get around to it. If it's so easy to get an antique tag maybe I'll do that instead.

Well it in my case it was only $18 because it was registered already and I did already have a regular tag. If you have to buy a tag for the first time you can get the Antique one no problem, but because you didn't already have a plate registered on that car you have to buy one. I think its, we'll I'm not sure :lol:. My husband would know I can check w/ him since they are closed today. But yeah it's that easy. You'll have to show proof of insurance though. Do you have that?


Also, anyone know what happens if you register and dont have a bill of sale? Do they just take your word for how much you paid? Also, any complications here in Florida that I might run into registering a car that hasn't been registered anywhere since like 1994?

And one more thing, in some states you can go online and find out if a particular vanity plate is available. I haven't been able to find a way to do that in Florida. Anyone know if there is such a program?

Bill should know. I can check w/ him. :)

[70Z]

Thanks HHR..and yeah, I have insurance so thats not a problem.

[Flastangs]

Thanks HHR..and yeah, I have insurance so thats not a problem.

Do you have a tag in your name that you are not using? If you do turn it in when you get your new plate if you dont then they will hit you with a "impact" fee for a new plate.

[70Z]

I thought impact fees were eliminated a few years ago?

[BigBadBuick]

No, they got rid of the impact fee for brining a car into the state and said it was unconstitutional, I guess because it singled out people moving to the state. Now they charge a $100 fee for a new tag for everybody :roll: If you have an old tag you're not using or there is one in the computer that they can find, you shouldn't have to pay the $100. Do you have the car titled in your name already? If it's titled in your name, you don't need a bill of sale, just tell them that you are ready to put it back on the street and you want to get a tag. They'll want to see insurance and while the title info is in the computer, it may not hurt to take it with you as well. If you've never titled the car in you name, what do you have to show you own it?

Figure on spending around $170 to get a new antique tag if the car is already titled in your name, $70 if you have an old unused tag to turn in (this isn't a tag that has been replaced with a new one, but a tag you actually retired off of an old car, for instance if you used to have three cars and now you have two. We couldn't use Janien's old BJ tag to get out of the $100 on another car because it has been replaced, not retired) Figure on an extra $30 plus sales tax on the purchase price to transfer the title if you haven't already done so but I'm hoping you have because it may get tricky if you've had the car for ten years and haven't done it :lol:

[Flastangs]

When you transfer title from another state to Florida you have to have the vehicle inspected by the state or a lisenced dealer. Do you have a Florida title?

[70Z]

argh!!! Why does everything have to be so freakin complicated?!:wtf:

Lets see, is the title in my name?..nope, I never registered the car, nor did the previous owner, so the title is in the name of a guy who last owned the car in 1994.

What do I have to prove i own the car?..Well, other than the car, the keys, insurance, tons of awards from shows, etc I have absolutely nothing. I figured I might have a problem with the declared value but I'm not sure. The NADA has a high retail of about 45K for a 1970 Z/28. Hagertys Insurance had me get an appraisal from some company they use and it was appraised at 60K. I bought it for 25K a few years ago. So do I pay taxes on 25K, 45K, 60K? beats the hell out of me. Do I have that bill of sale you might ask?..nope. Bought it from someone I know very well, knew I wasn't going to be driving it so it didnt seem important. I could always get something from him or just make something up but I just hate bs'ing and jumping thru all kinds of hoops for what seems like a simple situation.


Do I have other plates..nope, I have just pulled one of one of my other cars when I would go out. Understand, this car has less than 250 miles since I bought it. it usually goes on a trailer so no need for plates.

As for the car being inspected. Do either of you know what exactly they are inspecting? I assume I wouldn't have a problem since the car is literally a brand new 1970 Camaro that is 100% stock. Stock to the extent that it won the Camaro nationals legend concourse division at Carlisle and scored way over 950 points for originality. It even has the full functioning smog system still intact and is not modified in any way, shape or form.

I guess I need to plan on this being less than just a quick in and out thing at the DMV, huh?:sadwave:

[BigBadBuick]

They are just checking the vin to make sure that is really the car the title is for. What state is the title from? Has it been signed off on by the previous owner? Last but definitely not least, is it a conforming title? Meaning, does it have a federal odometer statement included on it where the previous owner signs off? If it's conforming and the person whose name is on the title has signed off aaaaand you are listed as the buyer (not your buddy) you can still get a title and tag pretty easily. If it's not conforming, you are going to have to come up with some sort of bill of sale with an odometer statement to keep the mileage original and documented which I'm sure you want to do. Sales tax is paid on the purchase price of the car, in pinellas it's 7% on the first $5000, 6% on everything above that. Figure $1550 if you go in and tell them you paid $25,000 for it :lol: You could always tell them less, but being that it is what it is, I'm not sure how cheap you could get away with. There is a $10 late fee if you don't transfer the title within, I believe, 30 days (that's what it is for dealers). I'd love to see their face when you walk in with a title 11 years after the purchase date. Of course if the purchase date was never filled in, you could have just bought it last week :wink:

[70Z]

Thanks Bill.

I just spoke to someone at the tax collectors office. I couldnt see their face, but when I told them about the car being last titled in 1994 they said, "um, huh, thats a long time not to have a car titled, does it run?". Once I told him a little of they story though he was very helpful and gave me some advice on how to proceed. Assuming he's right, it shouldnt be a problem.

One thing he did say regarding Antique plates was that ANY car over 30 years old automatically gets the reduced tag fee whether they get an Antique plate or not. He said alot of people dont know that and sometimes their own employees forget.

As for the title. Its from Michigan. the owner did sign it and there is a place for the odometer reading but it is blank. Is that what your refering to? If so, you think I should fill that in before hand? The guy I spoke to didn't mention anything about that.

You've been a big help Bill, I really appreciate it.

[Just Dave]

Cars over 10 years old are odometer exempt. I wouldn't fill it out.

[BigBadBuick]

Dave, read about his car, he wants to document mileage :wink: You don't have to claim exempt if you don't want to as long as no one has before you.


Yes, don't have a single thing blank on the title when you take it in or they will throw it back at you and tell you to have a nice day. If all the original owner did was sign it and no other information has been filled out (date of purchase, mileage, purchaser, etc.) I personally would put my current info in as purchaser, current mileage, sign and date it as if I bought it last week, load it on my trailer and head for the tag office :wink: (not the one I called for info :lol: ) If it is dated, just follow what they told you, but yes, don't have anything blank when you go in, that's a BIG nono...

[70Z]

Thanks guys, you've been a big help on this.

Bill, the owner did sign the title but no purchaser info has been filled in so I think I'll do as you suggest on that one:)

I still can't believe (thou its become obvious its true) that I have to friggin load up the damn car and haul it to the tax collectors office. It's not far from my house so maybe I'll just drive I guess. The guy did say that any dealer or police officer could sign the vin form. Any car dealers or cops want to ride in a cool car?:)

[BigBadBuick]

If you want, pick up the form and bring it and the car to the Wendy's car show this friday and I will sign off on it for you. Don't drive the car to the tag office though, I'm not sure about all of them, but I know the Curlew office has a sheriff there that works security and guess who they send out to do the inspections :lol: While chances are good he would be cool with you, there's also that slim chance that he may read you the riot act for driving it up there without a tag. If you do drive it, make sure there isn't a tag on it when they come out to inspect it, believe it or not, in the eyes of the law it is worse to have the wrong tag on a car as opposed to no tag at all.....

[70Z]

Bill, thanks for the offer and I think I will take you up on it.
As long as it doesn't rain I'll be at Wendy's this friday. I'll be easy to find. I'm the guy with no license plates:)

[BigBadBuick]

Cool, either pm me or post in here that you'll be there for sure so we can plan accordingly. We usually get there around 8 (a little late, but it's the best we can do with me getting off at 7) though I'm sure you'll want to go a little earlier to be able to enjoy the show