From the Iowa Department of Transportation on Vintage and Antique License Plates

VINTAGE LICENSE PLATES Dave Davis Jefferson IA (515) 370 - 0283

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

---- from the Iowa Department of Transportation on Vintage and Antique License Plates

For information about Antique and Vintage Plates (or motor vehicles 25 years or older) contact your County Treasurer or Iowa Department of Transportation / Special Vehicles Section.

Iowa believes antique vehicles are special and deserve special license plates. If you have a vehicle 25 model years or older, you may want to use our special Antique Plates which are available from your County Treasurer. If you already have Antique Plates issued for your vehicle, its possible to also use Vintage Plates.

Questions and Answers

Q: How old must a vehicle be in order to be eligible for Antique Plates ?

A: They must be at least 25 years or older.

Q: What restrictions are placed on vehicles displaying Antique Plates ?

A: The vehicles can be driven on public roads to and from county or state fairs and other places of entertainment for display purposes. They may also be driven to an from service stations for maintenance.

Q: Are special documents needed to apply for Antique Plates ?

A: No special documents are required. Any motor vehicle 25 yeas or older than has a title and is registered in Iowa is eligible.

Q: How man plates can be purchased ?

A: One set for each qualified vehicle. Q: What is the registration period ?

A: Plates are issued on an annual basis according to your registration month.

Q: How much is the registration fee ?

A: The annual fee is $5

Q: What are Vintage Plates ?

A: They are registration plates representing the model year of a motor vehicle.

Q: Who provides the Vintage Plates ?

A: The vehicle owner must furnish the Vintage Plate.

Q: Where can they be used ?

A: If Antique Plates have been issued to a vehicle, Vintage Plates may be substituted as long as the Antique Plates and registration are carried in the vehicle for inspection at the request of a peace officer.

Q: What are the restrictions for use of Vintage Plates ?

A: The same restrictions apply for Vintage Plates as Antique Plates.

Q: Is there any fee for the use of Vintage Plates ?

A: No extra fee is required if the vehicle is currently registered as an Antique Vehicle.

Iowa Code addressing Antique Vehicle License Plates

321.115 Antique vehicles -- model year plates permitted.

1. A motor vehicle twenty-five years old or older, whose owner desires to use the motor vehicle exclusively for exhibition or educational purposes at state or county fairs, or other places where the motor vehicle may be exhibited for entertainment or educational purposes, shall be given a registration for a registration fee of five dollars per annum permitting the driving of the motor vehicle upon the public roads to and from state and county fairs or other places of entertainment or education for exhibition or educational purposes and to and from service stations for the purpose of receiving necessary maintenance.

2. The sale of a motor vehicle twenty years old or older which is primarily of value as a collector's item and not as transportation is not subject to chapter 322 and any person may sell such a vehicle at retail or wholesale without a license as required under chapter 322.

3. The owner of a motor vehicle which is registered under subsection 1, may display a registration plate from or representing the model year of the motor vehicle, furnished by the person, in lieu of a current and valid Iowa registration plate issued to the vehicle, provided that any replaced current and valid Iowa registration plate and the registration card issued to the vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection to any peace officer upon the officer's request.

4. Truck tractors and semitrailers used in combination for exhibition and educational purposes as described in subsection 1 may be registered, exhibited, and driven according to the provisions of subsection 1. Subsection 3 shall not apply to vehicles registered in accordance with this subsection.

5. A person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 2, paragraph "b".

Editors note from Randy: The part in subsection 3 about running an old plate as long as you have the current ones with you is what the lady at the courthouse told me, but she didn’t mention the special registration noted in subsection 1. Maybe you could argue that a standard registration should also qualify for cars that are not daily drivers…after all, burnouts are entertaining and educational!Another section said if your car is a 1948 or older, you can run only a rear plate provided you keep the other one in the vehicle.

Here is the link to the Iowa Code: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/2003/321/115.html