Antique vs Classic - in Texas

[bloody hammer]

I recently got my first "old truck" ('62 Stepside) and I'm needing to take care of all the paperwork on it.

I'm trying to figure out if I should register it as an "Antique" or a "Classic".

My understanding is this....

Antique: Vehicle must be over 25 years old. Will NOT require a State Safety Inspection, tags are good for 5 years, But, vehicle should only be driven to shows, gatherings, parades, etc or to and from a garage for maintenance.

Classic: Pretty much the same as a regular registration including requiring a safety inspection.


What I'm wondering is..... how tough are the police on registering it as "Antique" but maybe driving it around town once a month or so just for kicks?

I'm not trying to get away with anything.... just curious.

[Dadsredwagon]

you are correct on your info, but here is what I have found out in the Houston area, some are not so concerned, so I have mine as a classic I can drive it to work every once in a while and some Sat night fun.....

[62 short step]

I have mine as an antique, and they didnt say anything about only in parades or once a month. I drive mine about 3 or 4 times a week. Louisiana must have different laws from Texas. I'm surprised that Louisiana doesn't charge you every time you pull out on the road.

[BIG CTY]

I have all 3 of my old Chevy's listed as antiques, and have them insured with Grundy, and I drive them whenever I want to. I've never has a problem. Now let me go find some wood....

[iride]

go for antique, here in Illinois you can only drive to speacial events so I drive it every day and it is a special event!!!

[jtm]

mine is registered as antique with original 64 plates, drive it all the time, have never been questioned...

[Bishops Trucks]

All 3 of mine are registered as antiques and I run Vintage Tags and drive them every day and have never had a problem in Virginia. I would think, as long as you drive by the rules and keep a low profile most cops don't care.

[Rogue 64]

My '64 had Antique plates when I lived in BR,LA.
Now in Texas I have Classic YOM plates, and pay out the nose for them.
I will get Antique next time, like evryone else does.
also I like the Year of Manufacture plates.

If someone ask your always going to a show, damn, your a showing fool.

[dwcsr]

It depends on where you are in Texas. In Katy they will follow you to the shop or event just to break stones. If its hot rodded you are more likely to get pinched for it.

[TruckinDaddy]

I run antique plates and have not had any problems in Austin.

Of course, in my old beater the cops may just feel sorry for me!

[dennislbrooks]

I run classic on my 67 which allows anytime driving in TX. My insurance actually is more restrictive than my tags.

[jsbgump]

I have ran classic for years. I just recently went to antique. I hardly drive the ole girl much anymore but have never had any problem when i drive it everywhere.

[Rogue 64]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

In Katy they will follow you to the shop or event

Do Katy cops really have that kind of time?
When I lived down that way HPD was pretty busy.
I ran my LA Antique for years, in H-town with no problems.

Hammer: Check with South Austin Speed, the can give you the skinny on Austin.

[jtm]

I bought my'64 from Jeremy at SASS. He drove it as daily driver for quite a while with the vitage antique plates, I have been doing the same. He gave me the plates with the truck but through a beurocratic glitch, I first had to get a Vintage Modern day plate then wait 10 days and get the vintage plates reregistered to me.

if you can find plates that match your truck (ie-Texas 64 Truck) and they are not registered to someone, you can register them to you and your truck, then voila you have an antique registration with matching plates....

[Rogue 64]

Originally Posted by jtm

if you can find plates that match your truck (ie-Texas 64 Truck) and they are not registered to someone, you can register them to you and your truck, then voila you have an antique registration with matching plates....

Correct, but you can register them as Antique or Classic.

$15 a year for YOM, on top of state registration.

[Rogue 64]

Here's my classic YOM plate on my other mode of transportation.

[patrolman1964]

In oklahoma you are only aloud to drive it to shows and holiday events But i drive mine all the time and i never get asked plus oklahoma does not have inspection anymore so i run open headers and i get pulled over alot and they never say anything but ask whats under the hood LOL... Jtm nice pic of a wimer Here

[87 STEPPER]

It's funny i just stumbled on this thread by accident.

I just renewed my plates this mounth and when i was there i asked about Classic plates for my '87 since she's turnin' 20 this/next year and the guy told me that the state of Fla. did away with them they only have the Antique plates available now and the vehicle has to be 30 years or older to qualify for them.

Anyway he never mentioned anything about restricted driving habits but it sounds like you guys in Texas live in a commi state why does the state have any power to tell you where and when you can drive your vehicle and what the hell would it matter if it were hotroded or stock it's still a Classic or Antique either way right!?

Im thinking how in the hell do they know if it were yesterday or a month ago that you drove it? They dont!

So why would they even have a right to pull you over unless you violated some road rule.

And how is a cop gonna follow you if your going to a show or event that's in another county or state or if your goin' on the HotRod Power Tour that would be a good one to hear but boss i figured?

This is America you pay Tons of road Taxes every time you pay for fuel and Tags & Registration you are paying for the right to drive any vehicle you want to drive on them so drive the wheels off your truck's and just tell Texas it's :Liz:

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

It's funny i just stumbled on this thread by accident.

I just renewed my plates this mounth and when i was there i asked about Classic plates for my '87 since she's turnin' 20 this/next year and the guy told me that the state of Fla. did away with them they only have the Antique plates available now and the vehicle has to be 30 years or older to qualify for them.

Anyway he never mentioned anything about restricted driving habits but it sounds like you guys in Texas live in a commi state why does the state have any power to tell you where and when you can drive your vehicle and what the hell would it matter if it were hotroded or stock it's still a Classic or Antique either way right!?

Im thinking how in the hell do they know if it were yesterday or a month ago that you drove it? They dont!

So why would they even have a right to pull you over unless you violated some road rule.

And how is a cop gonna follow you if your going to a show or event that's in another county or state or if your goin' on the HotRod Power Tour that would be a good one to hear but boss i figured?

This is America you pay Tons of road Taxes every time you pay for fuel and Tags & Registration you are paying for the right to drive any vehicle you want to drive on them so drive the wheels off your truck's and just tell Texas it's :Liz:

I agree 100% !!

[jtm]

Jtm nice pic of a wimer Here
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actually Luna is a Blue Lacy...same color as a weimi though a little darker...they are particular to Texas are used to herd sheep and hunt hogs (though Luna mainly just lords over her brother and sister and chases squirrels)

[ldanny]

your right the antique plates are only supposed to be driven ito parades etc. like u said and there is a 5,000 mile a year limit on how far u drive but they never enforce it i would go with antique the plates look so cool

[lux]

I dug this old thread up because I've been told that Texas DPS has been stoping folks for this. I can't verify that and would like to know if its true? My bigger question is, What is the fine if they do write you one?
I kinda understand the law to be for folks with old vehicles driven very seldom, giving them a break on insurance and fees. I also read it was written by a lawyer who was also a hot rodder, I can't verify that either.
If any of you guys got a ticket for this let us know the details?

[franken]

Yay, 500 halfwits from other states post BS about their law or BS not related to TX law.
TX law is well documented, but enforcement is up to local (city) popo. I've never heard of anyonne being stopped.

[Tx Firefighter]

I've had at least one truck registered as an Antique here in Texas continuously since way back in the 90s. I drive them all the time. Anywhere I want to go. The law is so ambiguous as to be basically unenforceable.

"Yeah, I just did a ton of work to it recently and I figured I'd drive it today to make sure everything is squared away before I take it to a big show out of state this weekend. I wouldn't want something unexpected to pop up on a long road trip to the show"

He can't argue with that.

The main thing that would raise any law enforcement eyesbrows is that I'm starting to see some real broke down looking late 80s, early 90s crappy beater cars running antique plates and you know the only reason they are doing it is to save registration costs and to avoid inspections. When you see a Ford Tempo with three different colors on it and bald tires, broken windshield and a shiny new antique tag, you're just asking for popo to hassle you.