Cheap way to own an old car

[JIPJOBXX]

Just thought I would put in a plug for vintage license plates today and also antique car insurance. I have three of my rigs with vintage license plates on them and sure I use them to go to the store and other odd ball things. Suppose to be for car stuff and mostly is but if to tell you the truth if the the cops stopped me for the plates I guess you know a tall story would be told.

Now as far as insurance I also have antique insurance and that runs me about 60 dollars a year per rig. Not bad as if I had them insured as regular cars or trucks it would probably cost me whole lot more.

So with my plates good forever and no renewal cost each year I can afford to keep my old rigs and not worry to much about the cost of just letting them sit around for most of the year. Oh yes I even have my old 78 motor home with vintage plates on it got to save a dime when retired.

Check out my little movie presentation of my old restored coach! Below:D

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942dodge/Rebel%20Bird/Rebel%20Bird%20Custom%20Motor%20Home/?action=view&current=ec8eab96.pbw

[greg g]

We had an aquaintance whose older sister was a retired Nun. shen and a couple of her friends bought a coach similar to yours (is it not a Superior) the space above the windhield was emblazoned withthe name they called it by

"Mother Superior"

My insurance's language says shows, displays, celebrations, ad other activities related to the antique car hobby, and other occasional transportation. Since I only really use it 4 months of the year, and only 2 or 3 days each weel, that in my estimation fits a definition of occasional. And when you travel you always talk about this fine website, you are supporting a branch of the old vehicle hobby. The only hitch is that it says the vehicle will be kept in a scured garage when not in use.

[P-12 Tommy]

Nice coach!! What do ya get in gas mileage? 6 mpg?

Tom

[JIPJOBXX]

Well would you believe 9 to 10 MPG. It has a 210 HP Cat engine none aspirated. Lots of tork not much in the high end speed. Usually when I'm going somewhere I drive it at about 55 to 60 and that is what I call it a happy speed. I have a buddy that has the same size coach and he get 11 mpg but his rear end ratio is higher that mine. The big draw back to owning such a rig is that it weighs in at 13 tons and when going up a real steep grade you better get over in the slow lane. And sometimes it gets to a point that it feels like that you could get outside and walk faster. But that's ok as I know that's the way the coach runs and I'm not a speed demon anyway or I would not own a stock 1942 Dodge. If your at all interested in this paticular type of coach there is a site that owners privately sell them on and that is Vintage Bird.

www.vintagebirds.com

[David Strieb]

good luck collecting an insurance claim when you need to. 150 bucks a year ( 50 X 3 ) to keep my '36, '38 and '40 registered with a standard registration is a bargin. I can get in any of my cars at anytime and drive them anywhere without having to worry about telling a tall tale to law enforcement. I also carry regular insurance on my cars so I KNOW I am covered when needed, but I also use my cars as daily drivers.

If I couldn't shoulder the RESPONSIBILTY of using my old cars legally, I wouldn't have them. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not into scamming and cheating on anything.

[Young Ed]

If I followed the strict rules of the YOM plates I have on my cars I wouldnt get to drive them much either. Restricted to parades club functions and car shows. No provisions for shopping just going for a drive or anything

[Captain Neon]

good luck collecting an insurance claim when you need to. 150 bucks a year ( 50 X 3 ) to keep my '36, '38 and '40 registered with a standard registration is a bargin. I can get in any of my cars at anytime and drive them anywhere without having to worry about telling a tall tale to law enforcement. I also carry regular insurance on my cars so I KNOW I am covered when needed, but I also use my cars as daily drivers.

If I couldn't shoulder the RESPONSIBILTY of using my old cars legally, I wouldn't have them. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not into scamming and cheating on anything.

I live in "Hazzard County." I know better than to think I can convince local law enforcement that I am involved in a car club related activity when I am out after midnight on a Sunday night, esp. since they would know that I am not a member of a local car club. Remember, while still the county seat, this is a small town. Also, Missouri requires a log of all miles driven w/ a limit of 1000 miles/year when using "historical plates." Other than disconnecting the speedo, there is no way that I could doctor my log to stay legal. I have regular plates, but have flexible collector car insurance. I've got enough anecdotal evidence in just one year to know that one cannot pound the facts, law, or table to get out of trouble here. "Officer says you done it. If you are willing to pay a larger fine for a lesser offence we have room to bargain, otherwise pay the fine before you leave."

I paid $260 to Grundy County for a "burnt-out taillight" after hiring a lawyer for $200 when I moved to Missouri. The actual fine was closer to $50, and I didn't do what I was accused of, but a "burnt-out taillight" doesn't get a fella points on his driving record, and it was my word against the word of a "trained observer." It's been suggested that a fella in these parts glue-stick a $100 bill to the back of his driver licence.

I may not like it, but usu. one is just better off playing the game by their rules. It is usu. cheaper in the long run. I've known too many people that have thought they were getting away with something, and have ended up paying dearly.

[JIPJOBXX]

Oh well I just thought I would throw that out about my license plates. I only use my old Dodge for car shows and other related things like club meeting and maybe going down to car show or so. I probably put almost 500 miles on my Dodge this year and that would be on the high side. Now as for insurance well if I insured all my vehicles at what my small truck cost that would be around 1200 dollars a year over 120 dollars a year so I don't feel so bad about that. I really believe that the antique insurance policies are made for careful drivers as I know I sure drive ahead of myself when out in the Dodge. My 78 Olds kind of just sits out in my garage and that also maybe got another 500 miles or so on it last year.

My old motor home well that mostly is used for our club getaways and so its used for show purposess. I do pay full price on the insurance for the motor home and there again I try as hard as I can to drive it with lots of caution.

So if anyone here wants to pay for none oust of the vintage cars than that's up to them as for me I want the most bang for my hard earned buck.

[Tony Cipponeri]

I talked to a guy with a 1956 Ford truck that got slammed on the right rear, fender and wheel. He was insured with Haggerty, he told them that he wanted to fix it himself, amd they said fine keep track of your hours and they paid him I think it was $20 an hour for his labor. I think they are a great vintage car insurance company. When iI had my El Camino and the 50 Plymouth it cost me 250 a year for both cars. I called them before I went on hot rod magazines power tour, and they told me no problem that I was going about 6000 miles, that was okay. Tony C

[Jim Saraceno]

I'm glad you guys brought this subject up. I spurred me into rechecking the regulations for antique plates and either the law has changed or I didn't understand it in the first place.

In Missouri, Historic License plates have these three restrictions (4 counting the car has to be 25 years old):

Vehicles displaying historic or antique license plates may be driven:

1. To and from exhibitions and educational events without any mileage limitation;

2. To repair facilities within a 100 mile limit; and

3. Up to 1,000 miles per year for personal use.

It's a one time fee with no need for renewals or inspections.

Back in 2003, when I first bought the car I also bought a pair of 1935 plates and was going to re-register with the YOM plates, however I was sure the law stated that they had to be renewed every year. Now it states it is a one time fee.

I guess I'll have to spruce up those plates and get it re-registered. Cool beans!

[JIPJOBXX]

Yep up here in Washington state its also a one time deal. I registered my old motor home as a Vintage classic and I think I paid somewhere around 45 dollars. But the rigs up here haft to 30 years or older.

Just a few years ago our state had one of the highest license plate charges in the nation. I know a new motor home could cost you and arm and leg to have registered here. But someone got smart and ran an initiative to lower them and now I think they start at 46 dollars and don't get to much higher. Now we have one thing in this state that bugs alot of people is that you haft to buy new plates every so many years as they say that the reflect ability of the plates loss there ability to do so-what a crock of dun that is but oh well they haft to make some money somehow? Another good reason to buy vintage license plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David Strieb]

Beware before you jump head first into that pool!! Washington state also does a title change, and your vechicle is listed as "restored status". Once registered with yom plates, you cannot reverse it.

I know if the law was enforced here, a lot of car owners would be walking. I've seen model a fords registered with 1948 plates. I've also seen people use the same plate on several different cars. This abuse of the system will eventually cause some changes. If I see it, lawmakers do too. I wouldn't be surprised if one day collector vechicles are taxed as a luxury item, and anyone with "collector car" registrations would be the target.

I doubt if collector insurance would cover a claim on a car with yom plates that got into a wreck comming home from the store with a week's groceries in the back seat.

All I'm saying is beware. Sometimes it's worth the extra dollar.

[Young Ed]

YOM plates and ins are two different things.

[Captain Neon]

It all depends on your policy stipulations whether or not the insurance company will cover you in an accident. I have no worries that if I took my P15 to the grocery store and was in an accident that my collector car insurer would pay the repairs. I just don't want to deal with local law enforcement, and my vehicle's use. John Law sees me every day. My insuarance company is in NJ. One can have YOM plates and get regular insurance, and one can have regular plates and get collector insurance. One is not restricted to collector insurance with YOM plates, and one is not restricted to regular insurance if running on regular plates.

I do not fear my insurance company. I do fear my local law enforcement.

[David Strieb]

My feeling is that yom plates have restricted use, grocery shopping is not an approved use, at least not in washington.

I don't believe an insurance company would settle a claim if the vechicle was't being opperated leaglly (approved use). I'm not talking about fenderbenders, though they would apply, rather a serious accident that you don't drive the car away from.

I was just trying to point out some possible consequences of stepping outside the box if you choose an option that restricts vechicle usage.

Like I said, I drive my cars all the time, year round so I happily pay for standard registrations so I have unrestricted usage.

Lets all use our vechicles the way we choose, but please be legal about it if only to protect yourself.

[Plymouthy Adams]

here the YOM tag is not restricted..it does not even cost you to register it..thus far our folks at the capitol are pretty much into the older cars and support us in things like this, bue dots..even the Antique/Hobby tag this state offers for cars 25 and older has no restrictions..same as an everyday tag..just that it has an old car pictured on it..

our YOM tags are cross referenced to a standard tag we have to purchase and keep in the car..along with the letter to display your YOM tag..I can live with that..

[Norm's Coupe]

Here, there are no restrictions on miles driven for collector or antique plates. They do say it's only to be driven for pleasure and shows etc. with those plates. But..........you see people driving to work all the time with those plates on the car. About the same thing the insurance company says. Both of those plates here are also a one time fee. I haven't had to renew my collector plates since I put them on the coupe back in 1995. The only real restriction on those plates here is that you cannot drive the car in January, without a letter from the DMV to allow it. And, that letter is only issued if you are going to a show that month, and is only good for the day of the show.

Now, here's the question. What is driving for pleasure? If you enjoy your work, then driving to and from work could be driving for pleasure to some. The same could be said about driving to the store also. Without food, I can't have any pleasure, so again, I'd be driving for pleasure because I like to eat. So........with that in mind, driving for pleasure could mean different things to different people, so that's a very vague statement.

[BobT-47P15]

Another thing to consider regarding "stated or agreed value" insurance is - if you do any

substantial upgrades or improvements to the car that increase it's value, you would be

wise to inform the insuror, have them inspect it or whatever they do, then increase your

dollar coverage.

Some probably use such things as the Old Car Value Guide and perhaps the NADA

antique auto listings to determine if they think you are in the right ballpark with your

coverage request.

My brother-in-law had added some chrome dress-up items to his 88 Corvette, as well

as had some other work done. A brake line was not tight, or something of that nature,

and shot brake fluid onto the hot exhuast manifold......car burned in the front end area

and smoked up the interior. Declared a total loss. The insuror gave him exactly the

amount it was insured for.....but no more. Even though he showed them receipts for

the items and work done.

Granted that some of the work was basically maintenance stuff, but the chrome

goodies shown to the agent probably could have gotten his coverage increased some.

[Don Jordan]

One of the things people are discussing is the price of YOM plates. First they have to clear with DMV so beware when buying plates.

The other thing in California is that they used the plates for 3 years. So not only are you working with all the cars in 46, 47, 48 but you're also competing with all the other brands.

These plates have been restored - the guy was asking $350 - I was able to trade other plates for them. The whole business is tricking.

In California I don't think there are any restrictions on YOM - I pay I think about $30 above the regular fee.

Here's another thing - frames. They are also hard to find. Swap meets! I did get a frame for mine - long story.