Year of Manufacture Laws

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Many states and provinces offer antique car owners the ability to register authentic vintage license plates (matching the year of the car) to the vehicle. The following chart lists each state & province, and the known rules regarding YOM (Year of Manufacture) plates. This information is provided to help license plate collectors better judge the value of old plates; Those that qualify for YOM usage tend to sell for higher prices to car collectors. Keep in mind:
  • Much of this information has been provided by collectors, etc., and has not been verified. Check with your local authorities for confirmation.  For some states I have a link to my source on the web.
  • The "rules" are often flexible... For instance, your local DMV clerk may not be able to identify a repaint from an original, or a truck from a passenger plate.
  • In some states (CA, DE, OR), older plates may still be valid, meaning a continuously registered 1955 car should still have the original plates.  If a car is brought in from another state or has had its original plates replaced, in some cases older plates may be registered.  Check with the DMV.
  • Keep in mind that, in many states, the number on the plate must be one not currently registered in the state. This can cause problems in states where runs of the same number over different years are often found. Only one plate in the run can be registered.
  • Most states require a matched pair of plates if they were originally issued in pairs.
  • A Yes in the "Types match?" column means the state requires a passenger plate to be put on a car, a truck plate on a truck, etc.
  • All states require the numbers to be legible, but most collectors only want plates in top condition on their restored cars.

    • STATE YOM 
    allowed?    		 min. 
    plate 
    age    		 must
    number
    be clear?    		 repaint 
    ok?    		 pair/  
    single    		 must 
    types 
    match?    		 other
    Alabama No
    Alaska No
    Arizona Yes 1958   S
    Arkansas No
    California Yes 1962* Yes No Pr** Yes Trailers & motorcycles qualify. 
    *Plates after 1962 still valid. 
    **Single in 1945 & before 1914; 
    Single tab in 46, 53, 54, 55
    Colorado Yes 1976 S
    Connecticut Yes 25 yrs.    
    Delaware No* *Plates since '42 still valid.
    D.C. Yes Yes No S or Pr. Yes
    Florida Yes 20 yrs.   No S No Horseless Carriage plates kept in car.
    Georgia Yes 1942     No Current plate must be kept in car.
    Hawaii No
    Idaho Yes 30 yrs. Yes No S
    Illinois Yes* 26 yrs. No Yes S. No *For display only.  Must have regular tags too. 
    Any state's plates can be used.
    Indiana No
    Iowa No
    STATE YOM 
    allowed?    		 min. 
    plate 
    age    		 must
    number
    be clear?    		 repaint 
    OK?    		 pair/  
    single    		 must 
    types 
    match?    		 other
    Kansas Yes 36 yrs.   S or Pr. County need not match
    Kentucky No
    Louisiana No
    Maine Yes* 1916 -
    +25 yrs.    		 No No Pr.  

    Motorcycles qualify.
    * For display only. Antique Auto plates must be kept in car.
    Maryland Yes 25 yrs.* Yes Yes Pr. or S. Yes *Or less, if automobile brand no longer manufactured
    motorcycles qualify
    Mass. Yes 26 yrs. Yes No S No

    No touch-up paint. 
    5 digits or less.
    No motorcycles.
    Michigan Yes 25 yrs.   S motorcycles qualify
    Minnesota Yes 20 yrs. Yes Yes Pr.* No passenger only
    *Unless originally issued singly
    Mississippi Yes Yes
    Missouri Yes 1979 S
    Montana Yes 31 yrs.
    Nebraska Yes?  
    Nevada No* Pr. *Plates must be reflective, so plates from 1969--> CAN be re-registered.
    New Hampshire Yes* S Y *antique auto plate on rear, YOM on front
    Motorcycles & Trailers qualify.
    New Jersey No  
    New Mexico Yes 25 yrs,  
    New York Yes 26 yrs.  Yes No Pr* No** *Singles OK if issued singly 
    **pass. plates may be used on commercial veh. & trailers. 
    Motorcycles qualify.
    N. Carolina Yes 25 yrs.   S current plate must be kept in car.
    Motorcycles qualify.
    N. Dakota Yes 40 yrs. No Number must be above 10000
    STATE YOM 
    allowed?    		 min. 
    plate 
    age    		 must
    number
    be clear?    		 repaint 
    OK?    		 pair/  
    single    		 must 
    types 
    match?    		 other
    Ohio Yes 26 yrs.   Yes* S *can be repainted any color. 
    can be from any state. 
    motorcycles qualify. 
    Historical plates kept in car
    Oklahoma Yes 21 yrs.
    Oregon Yes

    25yrs.

    		  Yes* S Yes *Must be correct color
    Pennsylvania Yes 25yrs? S
    Rhode Is. No  
    S. Carolina No
    Tennessee Yes Current plates kept in vehicle.
    Texas Yes 25 yrs  Yes Yes Pr** No* *Trucks may carry truck or passenger plates. Motorcycles qualify.
    ** Single plate if issued singly.
    Dealer plates now qualify??
    Utah Yes 1968 Yes
    Vermont No
    Virginia Yes 25 yrs. Yes* Yes Pr** No *Duplicate #'s OK, if reg'd to same owner.
    **Singles OK for 10, 11, 13, 45,46, or if vehicle not designed for 2 plates.
    Tab years (43, 52) may use previous yr. plates.
    Motorcycles qualify.
    Washington Yes 31 yrs   Yes S motorcycles qualify
    West Virginia Yes 26 yrs Yes No S No motorcycles qualify
    Wisconsin Yes 1945 S motorcycles qualify
    Wyoming No
    Province YOM  
    allowed?    		 min 
    plate 
    age 
    must
    number
    be clear?
    		 repaint 
    OK?     		 pair/ 
    single    		 types 
    match?    		 other
    Alberta Yes 25 yrs. No Yes Pr. Motorcycles qualify.
    British Col. Yes?
    Manitoba No
    New Brunswick No
    Newfoundland No
    Northwest Terr. No
    Nova Scotia No
    Ontario Yes 30 yrs. Yes Yes
    Prince Edward Is. No
    Quebec No
    Saskatchewan No
    Yukon Yes? 25 yrs.
    copyright 2004 to 2007 Nick DiFonzo
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