Does anyone in California have any experience with DMV on getting the 1963 issue black California license plates on your car? I have heard from license plate dealers that you have a 50/50 chance of getting DMV to let you put them back on. Any tips are appreciated. Thanks

If it's for a 69, I won't bother. They will not let them go back on.

They were talking about it but the Gov said no.

Originally posted by oger:
They were talking about it but the Gov said no. Sounds like we need a new governor. Thanks

larry!!larry!!!larry!!!

Okay - now promise not to tell anyone - here's what we did.

Found the old plates for the car in storage (but you could buy a pair from lots of places) - went to the DMV and found that they were not in the system anymore - applied for a 'personal' plate (or vanity plate in some states) with the number that is on the Black Plates - new plates came in the mail - stuck the stickers on the old Black Plates and .... :D

Good luck!

I was thinking like Vintage 68 says. Find some old black plates on a stored or junked car and bring them back to life. In hawaii if the car hadn't been declared in storage you'ld have a lot of years to pay for.
:D I'm not sure what prison makes the license plates but you could always try to get a job there. I here it's pretty easy to get in. Uh... nah that wouldn't be good :eek:
I'm sure some junk yards, people and abondoned cars have plenty of plates for the picking. Nice iea for nostalga.

JER69,
I've "been there and tried that" Here in Chico, CA the DMV would cut me no slack. I gave it every angle I could think of including the personal plates. If you apply for personal plates and the request resembles 60's plates they will deny your request. They will however approve 1963 and older original issues if the plates are inactive. The end result to my efforts is to get some historical plates. They look good and kind of add to the car a little. It's my second choice but it beats the regular issue CA plates by a mile.
Good luck!!,
Doug

[ 08-01-2003, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: z28doug ]

yeah here in texas it is really easy yo just have to have the plates and they will do it. you just have to have original plates from the year, no reproductions are allowed, also they have to be clean and not all bent up, i love mine they have a real classic look with the black and white letters

Vintage68, You are crazy that is considered using a fake license plate. Don't get caught there are no black personalized plate and it shows up on the reg. if you have personalized plates.

Originally posted by Vintage 68:
Okay - now promise not to tell anyone - here's what we did.

Found the old plates for the car in storage (but you could buy a pair from lots of places) - went to the DMV and found that they were not in the system anymore - applied for a 'personal' plate (or vanity plate in some states) with the number that is on the Black Plates - new plates came in the mail - stuck the stickers on the old Black Plates and .... :D

Good luck! You got lucky!! I did the same to see if they would issue the reflective plates with 3 letters and 3 numbers matching the restored black plates I have that are out of the DMV system. They told me it couldn't be done because it followed a pattern of production numbers used back in the 60's...

I just called the CA DMV on Friday about this and they said YES smile.gif -- I need to find TWO matching plates that are NOT registered to any car. Bring them to the DMV and they will register them to the car just like they are personal plates. You have to pay the fee each year just like personal plates also.

I will confirm this again on Monday.. the person seemed very sure about this and even suggested places to get the plates..

a black and yellow plate would look mighty good on the black/yellow car I have coming :D

I cant wait to here what your findings are. Keep me posted. Thanks

Originally posted by DjD: /qb]You got lucky!! I did the same to see if they would issue the reflective plates with 3 letters and 3 numbers matching the restored black plates I have that are out of the DMV system. They told me it couldn't be done because it followed a pattern of production numbers used back in the 60's... [/QUOTE]

Sorry for the late reply Dennis - just got back from Singapore (again), where I sent reply from, late Sat. and slept until this morning. graemlins/boring.gif Long flight!
Maybe I did 'get Lucky' - I used the DMV in Oger's hometown and breezed right through. Like Steve&#'s said - he just called and they said it's okay too.
I've dealt with lots of DMV's over the years and find they all have "their own set of rules".
It depends on how busy they are that day and how much you say pppleeeaaaasseeee to the nice lady(s) before they answer some questions and tell you how "they'd go about doing it".
I try to go to remote offices (Corona was one of my favorites when I lived in Orange Co.), mid week, very early and wait to see the registration clerk - they have always helped me get a vehicle registered so far.
I have been pulled over - say once or twice for arguments sake, and the nice officer has never said boo about the tags - just "nice car" (oh - and 'drive slower').
I quess someone is just going to have to go try and see what the poop is on this now.

Oh - Oger, yes I am crazy - don't let that get around.

You are right about their own set of rules. My Nova SS was a total when I bought it. You should turn in the black plates and be reissued new plates. The woman said do you want to keep your old plates. I said sure so I had to write a letter right there stating that I wanted to keep the plates. Maybe you found the same person. I know DMV is is absolutely screwed up now if you send your registration in by mail it takes them a month to process it if they do at all.

I've found that if you car's old title has them then you can get it done with all the necessary DMV paperwork.

graemlins/thumbsup.gif

:( I tried my DMV in Bakersfield, Ca today. I did not have any luck. The clerk quoted the YOM law, and then tried to configure a personal plate that matched my 69 plate, however the DMV computers have all #s/letters that resemble a 60s plate blocked. I am going to hold on to my plates in hopes that the YOM law will change in the future to include 1963-1969 vehicles. Jeremy :(