Antique vs regular plates: hidden downside?

[Fraser Field]

Here in British Columbia we can have Vintage or Collector plates on the vehicle but not the trailer. I added a 73 plate below my regular plate. I have a 1948 plate on my 48 panel and collector plate on the 41 cabover both have towed the airstream. Gets lots of looks and thumbs up. We will use our 62 Imperial to tow the airstream to Newfoundland and back this summer as part of a vintage and classic car tour. About a 12,000 mile tour of Canada with 60 other elderly vehicles.
www.coasters2022.com
Question, is there a thread for classic airstreams and vehicles

I haven't figured out how to post a picture.
Fraser

[ole81]

IS that a '52 or '53? My First car was a '53 Club Coupe.

[Aspen H]

I looked into it several years ago, and at least at that time, officially there was an annual limitation on miles driven for an antique plate. (Sorry it has been too long, I don’t remember what it was.) It was supposed to be original or like original. (Certain safety improvements such as seatbelts were permitted even if they weren’t original.) And of course it had to be at least so many years old. Basically it was likely intended for show cars or collectibles that were rarely driven. Unofficially, most DMV employees were not aware of those limitations and would even recommend antique plates for any vehicle old enough, regardless of condition or annual mileage, so the official restrictions rarely came into play. That said, I think this would only apply to an RV, because Arkansas trailer plates are permanent anyway — one of the local advantages a trailer has over an RV.

[Airwave503]

I have the original plates on my '61 Spaceliner. Stripped and polished. At first I wasn't sure if police would have any issue with it, but so far so good after 8 years. Does this count as vintage?

[ole81]

In Texas, you can put original year plates on your antique car, but they cannot be rusty and they have to be, if restored, the original colors for the year. You are required to bring them to the DMV where they have a book of original color plates going back to the teens.
You just are not able to paint the plates to match the color of the car.

[Boondocker]

Still not asking about plates that are antique, asking about antique designation plates.

[PC Conner]

It seems the confusion is: plates that are antiques, like the 1966 plate on my 1966 El Camino, vs. current plates for an antique vehicle. But, I like the all metallic look for the AS.

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by Boondocker

Still not asking about plates that are antique, asking about antique designation plates.

Rodney,

The plates & their names vary by state, as does the requirements for each. Some are called "Antique", some "Historical", etc. - in addition to the retagging with original plates for the year of manufacture like ours here in CA & the TX "Original" plates noted above.

In CA there are "Antique Vehicle" which apply to Brass era cars/trucks/trailers, "Historical Vehicle" plates for vehicles 25 years & older, & "Year of Manufacture" (YOM) plates like we have on our 1960 Avion T20. Here they all have similar requirements & restrictions on vehicles & uses of them.

While forum members can & have given you the various other states' "downsides" that you asked about, you're going to find far fewer folks from AR with Antique plates on AirForums to give you direct experience. So far you have one AR reply from Aspen H up in Harrison. Since I joined AirForums back in 2012, aside from you & Aspen, I've only seen a handful of AR members posting (there may be more).

If you only want AR Antique plate input, then I'd suggest that you go to some of the local AR Hot Rod & vintage/classic car shows around your Dardenelles area, Ft. Smith/VB area, L'Rock & UA/F'ville/B'ville areas & talk with car/truck owners with the AR Antique vehicle plates about their personal experiences with cars/trucks. I think that there used to be a big show down in Harrison Hot Springs too, but I don't know if they've continued or resumed putting it on post-COVID.

Their experiences with "downsides" would be similar to trailers - aside from having a daily driver that you previously mentioned as a requirement, which is meaningless for a trailer. Nor would I think that it restricts anyone from towing an "Antique Vehicle" plated trailer with a classic car/truck with such plates - but check that with AR-DMV if you plan to do so.

I know a few folks in FS/VB, F'ville/UA & L'Rock areas with Classic cars/trucks with Antique Vehicle plates, because I have inlaws in the L'Rock area, & a few Cherokee buddies across the state line in AR - but I can't say what current restrictions they have since we've not traveled back to OK/AR since 2019 to chat with them.

So AR car shows, cars-&-coffees, Hot Rod & Restoration Shops would be your best bet to hear personal "downsides" that owners have experienced.

PS - In some cases in many states the restrictions on YOM/Old-Plates & Historic Vehicle &/or Antique Vehicle Plates are the same or very similar. It may be so in AR as well, so you can ask at local shows about that too. Also check with your Tradewind's insurer to make sure that they don't add any restrictions &/or costs to your policy - aside from AR "downsides".

Good Luck!
Tom
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[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by ole81

IS that a '52 or '53? My First car was a '53 Club Coupe.

You talk'n to us?

"Bertha"

[pahorbatt]

I had not given much thought to special plates until I came across this thread.

Arizona does not offer historic or classic plates for travel trailers as they do for motor vehicles.

Up until some time in the '90's license plates in Arizona, if I recall correctly, were assigned to the vehicle. Then the law was changed to give possession to the owner when a vehicle is sold. I still have the old 1980-'96 style plates on my newer car and pickup to this day.

When I registered my Airstream in '09 I was given a modern computer printed plate.

I looked online and purchased one of the cool 1980-'96 issue maroon plates for the modest price of $12.95. I took the plate to one of the 3rd party motor vehicle contractors and for a one time fee of $65 was able to have the plate number changed with the registration otherwise unchanged.

The old plates have held up well under the Arizona sun, unlike the newer plates that fade and burn out.

[millers grg]

Just got my 65 plate approved in michigan. The registration came back with "cannot be used for routine transportation" printed across it.

Now i get that for a car, can't go to work, get groceries, etc, but a trailer? Not sure what qualifies as routine.