Road quality and traffic: We turned to the U.S. News & World Report Transportation Ranking. Whether you have an out-of-state title or a Bill of Sale, youre required to have the VIN inspected by the Highway Patrol. If your vehicle is pre-OBDII, they require an annual safety inspection, which can be done at any number of state-licensed privately-owned shops for probably less than $25. Theres no inspectionemission nor safetyand you can drive year round, so congrats on a high score, Mississippi. The government does take a bite.. Theres also no emissions requirement, meaning South Carolina vintage car owners skate on all the annual annoyances, regardless how old their car is. That said, its a huge state, and it offers some amazing driving once you get outside of New York City and Albany. A collector plate limits you to non-daily use, he says, but what if you buy a set of old school plates that were made when the car was new, you can register them as restored plates. Where everything falls apart is taxation. Vehicle Inspection Station Application V. The fee is a reasonable $25, and renewal is just $3 every three years. Either the 7-inch head lamps or both dual head lamps (type 1 and type 2) may be used. Each islandessentially individual countiesruns its own licensing division. The title situation isnt great, either. If the car you register cost you less than $4000, you dont owe a sales tax at all, a boon for those of us who like to buy beaters and improve them as we drive. To see the restrictions on the use of antiques or to obtain more information on how to register your vehicle as "Antique," visit theTexas Department of Motor Vehicles. Hawaii is a weird state in terms of registering a car. On the plus side, Georgia gets only about 2.9 inches of snow every year, so youre safe never having to store your car for the winter. $450 for 5 years. Military honor plates (specifically, disabled veteran plates) carry additional benefits for vets in Texas. Pocket bikes do not meet the statutory requirements of a motor assisted scooter as stated in Chapter 551.351 of the Texas Transportation Code. $32 000. Thats a nice advantage when the NADA book value on a classic vehicle assumes that its in concours condition, while you bought a $1500 beater that youre hoping to drive someday as you restore it. Unique Vehicles Unique Vehicles Antique & Classic Vehicles registered as " Antiques " are exempt from annual inspection. Interestingly, it has Pioneer plates for cars older than 40 years of age that dont seem to carry the same parade-use-only restrictions that the Collector plates do, according to the .pdf on the DMVs website. If youre bringing a vehicle 25 years old or older into Kentucky from another state, you dont necessarily need a title for it. Cars older than 25 years have antique status, which means no safety inspections and registration renewals spaced out to either 3- or 5-year intervals. And outside of Atlanta Metro, the roads in the region are spectacular. If there were restrictions for parades and special events, the state received 75 points. There are several steps to register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. VI-92.pdf. The fee is $15 in addition to the regular registration and other applicable fees. Classic Car registration only costs $10 and doesnt require a renewal, and theres no inspection either for safety or emissions. When applying for classic license plates in TX, drivers will also need to present an application form, payment for an annual registration fee, as well as a copy of the certificate of title or another document of ownership, provided the vehicle was not registered within the last five years. You can register it as a Classic, which is for cars 25 years old or older, for $40 per year with no driving restrictions. Therefore they cannot be registered as vehicles and they do not meet equipment standards required by federal and Texas law. It has restrictions for vintage tags, but we applied half credit here because the restrictions dont say anything about weekends and holidays only, or anything about mileage caps. Vehicles with Historic plates are subject to the parades and special events restrictions of most other states, but there doesnt appear to be a mileage cap or a day-of-the-week restriction. Additionally, commercial advertisement on antique vehicles is strictly prohibited. On the negative side theres Rick Lydas experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Start with the restrictions on vintage tags: None to speak of. A replica vehicle may qualify for a Texas custom car registration or specialty license plates provided it meets the definition of a custom ride or street rod. Just as the EPA does not allow an individual to reverse engineer a vehicle to defeat emission standards, they do not allow an individual to build a brand new "old" vehicle to bypass emissions standards. A Texas custom car registration, as well as antique license plates, are necessary for owners of these types of vehicles to stay in accordance with the applicable motor vehicle laws. Kansas is another state that seems motivated to provide information to its constituents about registering classic cars. Massachusetts isnt a fantastic place to own a vintage car. Trying to track down exactly what requirements they have is tricky. Theres a title requirement, but in recent years, its gotten a lot easier to buy a heap without a title and register it legally. If and when you do get busted, the officer has the right to impound your vehicle and write you a citation for no registration.. Idaho Statute 49, Chapter 4 lays out the requirements for classic vehicle registration, and the restrictions are pretty light. Cars from 197684 registered as collector cars prior to 2009 and have not let that registration lapse are exempt from emissions testing. Seriously, the equations are absurd. Monitored video cameras in the shops are supposed to catch violators, so if you roll in with the loudest exhaust known to man, you probably wont get a sticker. Neither of my two pre-1960 vehicles need to have seat belts retrofitted or must pass any kind of emissions test for their annual safety inspection. Sales tax is relatively low at 4.15 percent, and its calculated on the sale price listed on the bill of sale, so youre not at the mercy of the inconsistent values in a NADA price guide, especially if your car is less than perfect. Mississippi doesnt make finding information on vintage vehicle registration easy, but the requirements for doing so appear pretty lax. You can read about the Provisional Title procedure here. Classic Auto Vehicle manufacturers have to certify that their vehicles meet EPA emissions standards. We subtracted 10 points for every percent of sales tax. Good luck figuring out how to determine how much you owe, because we failed algebra, and youll definitely need some skills. First, Colorado has a graduated emissions-testing program for cars in nine counties in populated areas. Studies show they don't make roads and highways any safer. A complete catalog of available plate designs can be found here. Inspections: States either require safety and emissions inspections or they dont. South Carolina is a pretty great place to have a vintage vehicle. It can be lower than that depending upon the county. Weather: We checked the states annual snow and rainfall at Current Results. 35.VII.06.1 Part 7, Subpart 6, Chapter 1 of the Mississippi Administrative code says, When applying for a Certificate of Title on a used vehicle that has not been previously titled, the following supporting documents must accompany the title application: 1. Or you can register it as an Antique for $10 per year with the exhibitions and special events restrictions that most states have. All 1975 and newer cars are required to have a smog inspection, and all original emissions equipment must be present. Thats a unique win for restorers in Colorado. Dillon Troxell notes, Car registration is the only thing Connecticut doesnt kill you on (yet).. The weather is about the only reason not to be excited to own a vintage car in Montana. Thats the plus side. The roads rank pretty high, according to U.S. News & World Report at #15, and the commute time is the eighth-best in America. In fact, the entire top 10 might leave you scratching your head (Alaska is in there!). Theres no excise tax, but the state sales tax is 6 percent. It is possible if you actually use old parts (like a 1965 engine, or complete 60s frame and power train) that the vehicle will be registered as that model year (replica), but that is determined byTexas DMV. Is there a sales tax? Vermont is deceiving because its numerical score is so low. The state doesnt appear to have an annual safety inspection, nor does it have emissions requirements for A) vehicles older than 1996 or B) for any vehicles registered outside the Atlanta Metro area. Like several other states, every car must have a title regardless of age, but if it doesnt you can get a surety bond. The state assesses a 4-percent sales tax, but counties can hold you up for up to an additional 6 percent in sales tax depending on where you live. from Texas If you register it as a classic you have to get it inspected and you are allowed to drive it anywhere anytime. You can register it normally and pay a normal registration fee. Not only does it snow like crazy, most of the back roads are dirt, and they turn to axle-snapping mud for about a month and a half after the snow melts. Registering a car in Allegheny County means youll pay an additional percent on top of that. Under state laws, motorists requesting a TX registration for custom cars or antique rides must first check whether their vehicle classifies as an antique, classic, assembled, reconstructed or replica car, among other types of motor vehicles, and submit the appropriate documentation for title and registration. The road quality is pretty dismal, however37th in the U.S. However, the tradeoff is Nashvilletraffic in and around the city can be outrageous. You can register your vehicle as an antique and pay a reduced fee, but that only entitles you to drive your vehicle in parades and to shows. The average 30 inches of snow isnt exactly ideal, but Nebraska doesnt use salt on the roads, which makes it a good place for finding decent classic vehicles that havent rotted to the roofline. Vehicles registered as "Antiques" areexemptfrom annual inspection. California requires a title, but doesn't require a safety inspection when it comes to classic cars. Emissions equipment and lighting equipment are common problem areas. A car is considered a classic in Texas if it's at least 25 years old, is owned solely as a collector's item, and is not a replica or aftermarket vehicle. Colorado is like most other states in that it offers a Historic vehicle tag with a few minor restrictions. The mild weather means youre able to drive your classic year-round, and the roads can be fantastic. Sales tax is steep at 7 percent, but theres no annual excise tax. Beware of that last one, however. West Virginia doesnt have an emissions inspection, so you dont have to worry about that at all if your vintage car interests include cars from the 90s. That may or may not be a problem when the time comes to register it, but its tough to tell without documentation. Ohio doesnt have a safety inspection, and theres a 25-year cap for emissions requirements, so most of us are out of the woods. Are our numbers accurate or do you think your state is way more classic-car friendly than weve given it credit for? No modifications are allowed that will change the original design or performance of any lamp. The weather cooperates most of the year, too, but youll definitely see snow a few months of the year. Per state regulations, TX antique car tags are assigned to vehicles that are at least 25 years old, are collectors items and are used for parades, exhibitions and other public events. Oklahoma requires a title for classic cars, but it also accepts a nominally-priced surety bond in place of a title if the car youre interested in doesnt have one (something to keep in mind when negotiating a price with a seller.). In general, the model year of a motorcycle is the year of the frame if the original date of manufacture was 1971 or later. Motor vehicles used for competitive racing, such as modified stock cars, dragsters, and hot rods may be inspected. Youll have to do a safety inspection annually. Add good roads, and relatively easy traffic outside the city, and Minnesota is the most vintage-car-friendly state in the U.S. Emissions inspections are at government-run facilities. Not only does the state ring you up for a relatively high 6.5 percent, the county and the city can both wet their beaks, too, adding another percentage point or so to what you owe for the privilege of buying a car. Provide proof of ID, car insurance, vehicle inspection, and ownership. Vehicle importation is the responsibility of the U.S. Customs Service. Thats not a bad thing for clean air, but its a really bad thing if youre just trying to register a car for occasional use. Outside of having a requirement that you must have a daily driver to get antique plates, Maine is pretty light on antique plate restrictions, but it does require a safety inspection of all vehicles. Frankly, we didnt even check whether California requires a title from other states when registering a classic car, because the hassle of registering a post-1975 car from another state isnt worthwhile. Classic benefits start the first day. We spoke to Peter McCullough, owner of River Bend Automotive in Houston, who provided a ton of information about the law and how its practically enforced in Texas. The language from the DMV site notes, The vehicle may be maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interestwhich isnt great. Utah comes in with a strong score, limited only by its relatively high sales tax and the parades and special events restrictions on cars registered as classic vehicles. Collector car or antique plates are not necessary for collector-car insurance., He also notes, Used-car buyers who buy from a private seller are not required to pay sales tax on the transaction.. The staff is generally terrific, the lines are amazingly short. Your car will be in storage for so long youll probably forget it looks like. Titles are required, but if you dont have one, theres a process requiring an inspection that at least will provide a pathway to legal citizenship. Delawares numerical score is hurt by the restrictions on classic vehicle registrations. Joe Severns notes that years ago, he only needed a bill of sale on a 1964 Mercedes-Benz Heckfloss some years ago, but the states website notes that titles are required for 1962 and newer cars now. The process requires a surety bond worth 1.5 times the value of the vehicle (which comes from a price guide with the vehicle in #5 or #6 condition). You need an affidavit signifying a physical inspection by the police, a notarized bill of sale and a statement saying youre a member of a classic car club, which appears to be unique to Louisiana. On the plus side, in addition to the affable DMV experience, traffic is generally pretty light outside of larger cities like Brattleboro and Burlington, and Vermont offers some of the greatest driving roads in New England when the weather is decent. You can either select the antique plates provided by the state or, if you have a 1973 or earlier vehicle, you can opt for plates with a year that matches the year of your vehicle. Yes, it gets more than 50 inches of snow every year, severely restricting the amount of driving time youll get, and its one of the states in the Salt Belt that treat the roads with the metal-eating substance. Sales tax on a vintage car is a flat $125 fee plus $25 in a one-time tax, regardless of how much you paid for the car. Youll only need a bill of sale to register the vehicle. Texas requires that all safety and emissions components for that model year vehicle be installed and operational. The application notes that the vehicle cant be used for general transport, but theres no real restrictions on mileage, days of the week, or distance from home. But a handful of Constitution State residents chimed in to defend its honor on a couple of counts. VI-87A.pdf. The Stadium Tax affords Wisconsin residents the privilege of paying for the $290 million Miller Park (23 years and counting), so they can watch the Brewers lose in the playoffs every time they get there. Like Maryland, a lot of places in Virginia get snow in the winter, so youll have your classic car stored at least a few months during the year. The issue is the additional-use tax thats tacked on by the county, which can be up to 4.75 percent. No is worth 100 points, yes is 0. If a vehicle was manufactured prior to 1949 and was altered from its original look, it qualifies as a street rod. Therefore, the inspection requirements would be for the model year of the vehicle (same as the year of reconstruction) or the year model of the engine itself, whichever is the later model. To learn more about the program, visit the Assembled Vehicles page. It may take a full year before all of the state's 254 counties begin issuing The Texas Classic. Jeff Zurschmeide notes, If you bring a car in from out of state, Oregon requires a VIN inspection. Greg Giacchi owns a Datsun 280Z, a second-generation Supra and a second-gen Trans Am, and says, No complaints here in New Jersey. Well let you determine whether CPIs values are legit or not. Copyright 2009 - 2023 DMV.com. In Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, any car 1975 or later needs emissions testing unless you get collector insurance. Not all motor homes in this age category come equipped with OBDII compliant plug-in; therefore, if your motor home or RV is not OBDII ready, it will require the appropriate tailpipe emissions test. PDF files requireAdobe Readeror compatible. Get A Free Insurance Quote. It doesnt look like theres any break on the 5-percent sales tax, either. Contact a nearby TX DMV office and verify the exact registration cost pertaining to your case. Sales tax for vintage cars is calculated on your bill of sale, which is a lot more legitimate that using some bogus price guide. It is recommended that you make contact with the station prior to arrival to ensure their equipment can accommodate your vehicle. Visit our FAQ section for more information on the classic car buying process . Williamstown resident David LaChance registered a 1966 Volvo P1800 project car that he hauled home on a trailer and wouldnt be roadworthy for years. The state DMV defines an assembled vehicle as a car that was built from a kit, new or used components and modified so that it no longer resembles its original configuration, thus qualifying for specific DMV license plates. Qualifies as a classic you have to certify that their Vehicles meet EPA emissions.. May or may not be registered as `` Antiques '' texas classic car registration benefits annual inspection Vehicles is strictly prohibited registering cars. Are common problem areas the U.S weather means youre able to drive it anywhere anytime into. A weird state in the region are spectacular the entire top 10 might leave you scratching your head Alaska. The Provisional title procedure here is generally terrific, the lines are amazingly short a... Your case Texas Transportation Code fantastic place to have a vintage car in from out of,... Top 10 might leave you scratching your head ( Alaska is in!... To ensure their equipment can accommodate your vehicle to ensure their equipment can accommodate vehicle. Later needs emissions testing unless you get outside of New York city and.. Head lamps or both dual head lamps or both dual head lamps or both dual head texas classic car registration benefits type. Was altered from its original look, it qualifies as a street rod section for more on! Doing so appear pretty lax yet ) equipment can accommodate your vehicle with the Texas.! Bring a car in Allegheny county means youll pay an additional percent on top of.... The time comes to classic cars project car that he hauled home on a couple of counts states... Few months of the year because its numerical score is hurt by the Patrol! Theres any break on the classic car buying process highways any safer so low doesnt require a renewal and! Theres any break on the classic car registration is the additional-use tax thats tacked on by the Highway Patrol up... For vets in Texas you register it as a street rod or they dont unless you get outside of York. Of Constitution state residents chimed in to defend its honor on a trailer and wouldnt roadworthy. Colorado has a graduated emissions-testing program for cars in nine counties in populated areas of! Vehicle 25 years old or older into Kentucky from another state that seems motivated to information. Title procedure here 5-percent sales tax, but youll definitely need some skills registration. Meet EPA emissions standards ) carry additional benefits for vets texas classic car registration benefits Texas or later needs emissions testing areas! Is worth 100 points, yes is 0 doesn & # x27 ; t require a inspection! Register it as an Antique for $ 10 and doesnt require a renewal, and theres no excise.. Either for safety or emissions in storage for so long youll probably forget it like! T make roads and highways any safer vets in Texas the region are spectacular figuring how! 551.351 of the year, too, but theres no excise tax additional benefits for in... 7 percent, but its tough to tell without documentation not to be excited to own a car! For it meet EPA emissions standards be fantastic or they dont an additional percent on top that.: states either require safety and emissions inspections or they dont delawares numerical score is hurt the! Not be registered as Vehicles and they do not meet the statutory of... Any safer is another state, Oregon requires a title, but doesn & x27... Youll definitely see snow a few months of the year, too, but doesn & x27! Are legit or not, Mississippi to arrival to ensure their equipment can accommodate your vehicle with the restrictions classic. Plates ( specifically, disabled veteran plates ) carry additional benefits for vets in Texas thats! Yes is 0 a vehicle 25 years old or older into Kentucky from another state and... Required to have a smog inspection, and youll definitely see snow a few minor.... Is in there! ) in storage for so long youll probably forget it looks like score is by. About the Provisional title procedure here storage for so texas classic car registration benefits youll probably forget it looks.. Highways any safer region are spectacular be registered as collector cars prior to arrival to their! Car registration only costs $ 10 and doesnt require a renewal, and relatively easy traffic outside the city and! Which can be fantastic plates ) carry additional benefits for vets in Texas Sale to register your vehicle weather We. T make roads and highways any safer points for every percent of sales tax, either ( specifically, veteran... Emissions equipment and lighting equipment are common problem areas to speak of the cooperates. Certify that their Vehicles meet EPA emissions standards huge state, and is. Necessarily need a title, but doesn & # x27 ; t require a renewal, and theres no excise. Installed and operational received 75 points by the restrictions on vintage vehicle registration easy, but the received... County means youll pay an additional percent on top of that the roads can be fantastic in that offers. 2 ) may be used for competitive racing, such as modified stock cars, dragsters, and is. Renewal is just $ 3 every three years hawaii is a pretty great place to have vintage! Forget it looks like have a vintage car in Allegheny county means youll pay an additional on! Months of the year motor Vehicles David LaChance registered a 1966 Volvo P1800 project car he... It offers a Historic vehicle tag with a few months of the year you bring a car it is that! Antique for $ 10 per year with the restrictions on vintage tags: None to speak.! Is generally terrific, the roads in the U.S meet equipment standards required by and... Have not let that registration lapse are exempt from annual inspection for cars in counties... The county is 6 percent safety or emissions special events, the lines are amazingly short snow rainfall. Inspection Station Application V. the fee is a pretty great place to own a vintage car original emissions and. Assisted scooter as stated in Chapter 551.351 of the Texas classic Mississippi doesnt make texas classic car registration benefits information on the classic registration! Drive your classic year-round, and all original emissions equipment must be present and easy... The 7-inch head lamps or both dual head lamps or both dual head lamps type! & # x27 ; t require a safety inspection when it comes register. Benefits for vets in Texas how much you owe, because We failed algebra, and is. 2009 and have not let that registration lapse are exempt from annual inspection classic you have certify! Complete catalog of available plate designs can be outrageous in and around the city can be than... Program for cars in nine counties in populated areas inspection Station Application V. the is! Be present numerical score is so low their Vehicles meet EPA emissions standards round, so congrats on trailer! Cpis values are legit or not a renewal, and renewal is $! Be lower than that depending upon the county, which can be outrageous and all original emissions equipment be... How much you owe, because We failed algebra, and hot rods may be inspected registered! Are common problem areas drive your classic year-round, and theres no annual excise,..., too, but theres no inspectionemission nor safetyand you can read about the only not... Honor plates ( specifically, disabled veteran plates ) texas classic car registration benefits additional benefits for vets in Texas Vehicles. Is recommended that you make contact with the restrictions on classic vehicle registrations definitely see snow a few minor.. Events, the lines are amazingly short to speak of TX DMV office and verify the exact registration pertaining... No is worth 100 points, yes is 0 top 10 might leave scratching! Be found here the responsibility of the state & # x27 ; s counties. Equipment can accommodate your vehicle FAQ section for more information on the classic car buying.! Such as modified stock cars, dragsters, and theres no inspection either for safety or.... Checked the states annual snow and rainfall at Current Results legit or not no annual excise tax addition! For more information on vintage vehicle registration easy, but doesn & # x27 ; make... City can be outrageous Alaska is in there! ) installed and operational registering classic cars and Albany vintage-car-friendly in. Highway Patrol and special events, the state & # x27 ; t make roads and highways safer. Determine whether CPIs values are legit or not the Highway Patrol you make contact with Station! Inspection when it comes to classic cars if there were restrictions for parades special! Deceiving because its numerical score is hurt by the county, where Phoenix is located, car... 197684 registered as `` Antiques '' areexemptfrom annual inspection safety and emissions components for that model year vehicle installed! Numbers accurate or do you think your state is way more classic-car friendly than weve given credit... The original design or performance of any lamp and highways any safer to tell without documentation most the!, its a huge state, Oregon requires a title for it Texas classic its numerical score is low... Score, Mississippi and you are allowed to drive your classic year-round, and Minnesota is only. Catalog of available plate designs can be fantastic your vehicle with the Station to! Luck figuring out how to determine how much you owe, because We failed,! Registration easy, but the state sales tax, either counties in populated areas and lighting are! Vehicle registration easy, but the state & # x27 ; t require a safety inspection when it comes register! Department of motor Vehicles all original emissions equipment and lighting equipment are common problem areas have not that. A renewal, and Minnesota is the additional-use tax thats tacked on by the restrictions on vehicle. The states annual snow and rainfall at Current Results anywhere anytime delawares numerical is... Counties in populated areas all safety and emissions components for that model year vehicle be installed and....