Legacy CA Plates VS Year Of Manufacture

I have done the YOM plates two different times. Both successfully.

 

Here is how it worked for me:

1) I restored/rebuilt a 1955 Teardrop Trailer a few years back. I just didn't look right with a white and blue plate on it. I wanted to run the original vintage black and yellow 1955 plate.

 

 

1. Locate an ORIGINAL 1955* license plate.
2. Locate a 1955 registration 'tab'. (Back in 1955 they used metal tabs for registration not the stickers we use today)
3. Take registration, 1955 license plate, and 1955 metal tab to DMV and request to register the antique plate to my antique vehicle.
4. Fill out the special form
5. Pay the fee
6. Wait

At this point the kind lady at DMV handed me a temporary registration card and said the registration was 'pending' until Sacramento could verify that the license plate was official and that it was not currently registered to another vehicle. 3 weeks later I received a registration card.

 

* A '1955' license plate is actually a 1951 plate with a 1955 metal tab placed over the 1951 year stamp.

 

 

Second time I did this was with my 1967 replica Speedster. Again, the classic lines of the speedster begged for an era correct plate.  Ideally I would use a 1957 plate, but my car is based on a 67 pan. So I would have to use a 1967 plate.  This is actually semi period correct because in 1963 California DMV did a mandatory plate swap. Any vehicle currently using pre 1963 plates was required to turn in their existing plates for the new size/color plates being issued in 1963.

 

To register the Speedster with a YOM plate, I followed the exact same process as the trailer except I had to locate two serviceable 1967 era plates and a 1967 registration sticker. The sticker AND plate had to be original from the DMV and free of the DMV system.

 

1. Locate an ORIGINAL 1967* license plates (yes, you need TWO!)
2. Locate a 1967 registration 'sticker'**. (you only need one of these)
3. Take registration showing that the car was a 1967, 1967 license plate, and 1967 sticker to DMV and request to register the license plate to my 1967 vehicle.
4. Fill out the special form
5. Pay the fee
6. Wait

At this point the kind lady at DMV handed me a temporary registration card and said the registration was 'pending' until Sacramento could verify that the license plate and the registration sticker were official and that they were not currently registered to another vehicle. After 4 weeks I received a letter from the DMV saying I didn't include the registration number listed on the 1967 registration sticker.

 

DOH! I forgot to write that on the form! I updated the form and went back to dmv. Repeat everything after step 3...  3 weeks later I received a registration card.

 

 

* A '1967' license plate is actually any plate yellow number/lettered plate with a black field issued from 1963 to 1969. Commonly referred to as a 'black plate'. 

 

** A 1967 registration sticker is 'blue'. Other years vary by color.

You'll notice the 'blue' sticker on the left. I was lucky to find a pair of excellent used plates of the correct year with the sticker already attached.  

 

The ONE THING I would caution anyone on when buying a used plate for the YOM program - Make sure the plate is guaranteed 'free' or 'clear' of the DMV system. Both plates I purchased off of eBay were stated 'guaranteed free and clear'. During that 3 week waiting period, you are waiting for Sacramento to prove this.

 

This process is actually VERY simple so long as you have official plates and an official registration sticker.

 

Hope this helps,

Ted

Oh, the other thing... I haven't actually seen the new plates, but from what I understand the Black and Yellow "Legacy Plates" are more like the white and blue plates we know today. They don't use the same 'font' of the older plates and they yellow numbers/letters are said to be reflective.

 

 

 

Ted, thanks for this.

 

So the YOM program is ONLY for old plates you already have in hand. Maybe it was this language on the application form that made me think you could order a personalized YOM plate from DMV:

 

 

"...Configuration of letters and numbers cannot carry any connotations offensive to good taste and decency..."

 

If it's an existing plate, wouldn't DMV already have signed off on the content? 

 

So it looks like the only option for an old-look personalized plate is the new Legacy Plate program. I wonder if they're actually shipping those yet.

 

 

Correct, if you want old look and personalized you're going to need to go with the legacy program or get really lucky.  I'm still looking for 'TRP 356' or '356 TRP' from 1967.

All kidding aside, you do see old plates pop up on eBay with a desirable number / letter combo from time to time. I purchased a plate from Wyoming that has 356 in the number sequence. Hey, why not? it was $5.00!

Ted

I went online to the Legacy Plates section, filled out the form, mailed my check, and now I'm standing by.  I opted for non-personalized plates so I'll get a random three lettered three numbered plate.  It'll be black background yellow letters/numbers but it'll most likely be in the current font and it will be a newer more modern reflective plate as per the current DMV regs.

 

When the plate arrives I will have to pay a transfer fee and turn in my current plates.  registration fees after that will be whatever my current fees are now.

 

Thanks, Robert.

 

I'm about to do the same thing.

 

 

Anybody have the initials of HG or HGX?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/321658549968

Rough pair of black plates - 'HGX 356'

Gives me hope! TRP 356 is out there somewhere!