In Florida anything over 25 (maybe 30, I forget) years old qualifies for antique tags, Flat rate of about $22.00

 

At least when I lived there, Illinois used "Horsepower" to determine cost. Except that HP was equal to the square of the cylinder bore, or some such ancient rule. Most cars in the '60's were licensed at around 50 HP

 

You can get classic or horseless carriage tags here as well for anything older than 20 years but they limit you on how much you can drive the thing.

Bobby

 

In Colorado the fees are based on the value of the vehicle. My son's late model C30 four door diesel costs about $400/year. My 93 Miata costs about $25/year. Collector plates are available for 25 year old vehicles, but you must purchase them for 5 years at a time. Not sure what they cost.
Bobby, you said your Falcon weighs under 2500 lbs. I was just reading an article in a car mag the other day about how heavy our cars have gotten due to options and safety features. A Honda Fit, Honda's smallest car, smaller than a Civic, weighs over 2400 lbs.

 

Too much no matter how you look at it IMO. My 06' Tundra was 485.00 this year (600.00 last year), the Effie was 82.00 for a 5 year plate (no emisions needed ever due to pre 57') the Falcon was 65.00 for a 5 year (1 time emisions), the 30' A rod was 72.00 3 years ago for a 5 year. The rest of the cars 02' Sat Vue, 75.00, 00'Sat SL2 58.00, 93' Sat SC1 38.00, 83' E350 27' MH 90.00 per year. The rest are not renewed yet as I dont drive them.

Now Colo want to add a new fee (not a tax, yea right) to pay for bridges. The Govnor wanted 100.00 per year per vehicle, that was shot down to 25.00 per year and now the negotiations are at 10.00 per year. I will testify as a proponent of classic car exemptions in the near future at the statehouse.

I still wonder what happened to the gas and tire tax that was meant to pay for roads and bridges. They are still collect on a daily basis. And still not a single brain in the DOT (CDOT) Oh well.
Jon

 

In Arkansas my effie costs $25 for a lifetime antique tag with no restrictions on mileage. Only stipulation, you must have a "primary" vehicle for every antique tag you buy. My service truck is the primary for the 53, so I guess my Mack will have to be the primary for the Ol' Lady's Mercedes this year, it turns 25.

 

That's interesting that they test post-'57 for emissions. Are they just looking for flagrant smoking or belching soot from stuck chokes, etc? I wish they had an inspection in NM, it makes me puke to see some of the garbage that's on the road. When a car is in an accident and can't be licensed in CO, AZ, or TX, they bring them to NM. When they are wheezing too bad to be useful here, they go to Mexico. I've seen people driving cars with windshields that someone obviously went thru (still had blood stains), no headlights whatsoever, wheels at all kinds of angles...

 

Moose, Moose, Here Moose.
Isn't there something about how many Meese you hit a year or is that Maine?

 

Ross, the rules here drive me nuts. All of my old cars run cleaner (you get a readout with all the perts) at the emissions monopoly (air care colorado) BUT yet, there is a very stupid rule that allows ANY vehicle 20 years and older to register as "collectible" and get the 5 year plate. There are now putrid old boats spitting black smelly smoke on every road. My own neighbor has 3 c***y vans from the 70's that have collector plate on them and we can smell them in the AM when the workers come to take them out for the day.To save 25.00 per year and skirt the emissions laws. All this has done is make the lawmakers look at the collectibles as a whole as polluters. I do not know any person that collects or considers a 1978 Olds 98 4 door a classic. But I understand the law was written to benefit the clerks at the DMV who can't tell the diff btwn a classic and a "classic Coke" . This way nobody has to make a decision. I wish there was a way to show what makes for a classic or collector vehicle. And nobody seems to be looking at the "smokers" and "reakers", that being the disposable cars that can't get a waiver so they drive for 12 months and then toss them for another one for $200-$500.00 and then get 190.00 or so in scrap at todays prices. That is why I call this Stinkytown. I hope more of us real collectible owners join SEMA-SAN. They can help us.
PS: when I was in ALB in Feb, the air was/is WAY cleaner and clearer than any part of the Denver metro.
Jon

 

Jon,
I have been hesitant about getting the "horseless carriage" plates here in NM, mainly because they limit when and how you drive them (they are supposed to be used only to drive back and forth to shows or parades, etc) The other reason is kinda for the same reasons you mention. Maybe someday when my truck is purty but not now. Right now my truck just doesn't rate. The "classic" plates should be reserved for a untouched original, restored original, or complete car (I'm along way from that)
I don't feel its right for a 20 year old car to be able to be classified as a "classic".

All in all, the registration fees in NM aren't too bad (comparatively) I was just shocked that it was going to cost more to register my little Falcon than it was to register a truck (like I said, trucks are charged according to the GVW)

Bobby

 

LOL, I'll bet the air was clean, it doesn't hang around very long in the Spring! It's moving to the east at 50 mph...

 

The real reason nobody uses those stupid horseless carriage plates is because they are butt-ugly and look horrible on your nice vehicle......

 

Great info guys! Well, since I'm living in CA, I'm guessing my next renewal will require me to get some vaseline before opening the letter. Wonderful CA is now experiencing a State deficit of $20 Billion. Yep, not millions, billions. CA is in big trouble. So what does the governor Schwartzennegger want to do? More than likely make cuts to schools, etc. I'm sure DMV is going to raise their rates as well. Just like everything else..... Costs go up, but my paycheck stays the same.

 

Bobby, we also have horseless carraige plates but are limited to years and they do have restrictions as where the collector plate does not. Your truck is a collector vehicle even if NOT finished or even if NOT painted. And that is because there are many vendors to support the restoration, there are site,forums and clubs for that year/type vehicle as are the muscle,vette,Cam,Nova,Mustang,GTO,442,and many others. In any phase of construction as long as it drives, and is enjoyed and treated as a classic/collector ( an owner) you should have one as your truck fits all the criteria. You should see some of the carp that I see on the roads with the Coll plate, it would make you laugh or tick you off. Think of a 1975 Buick Electra 225 all banged up,falling apart,tailight of red tape,plexi side glass, spewing smoke,and a coll plate. I should post a few pics.
I would be proud to be seen in your truck with a coll plate on it. Does NM have coll AND HC plates??
BTW, does NM allow for YOM plates to be used. I just put the 1963 original plate on the 63'rag and the 30' A.
Jon

 

Take a look, dozens of choices. http://www.tax.state.nm.us/pubs/specplate.htm

It's Horseless Carriage only as far as collector plates, but I went for the Vanity plate: