CT: Redesign and Renaming Early American Plates

[Don]

CT: Redesign and Renaming Early American Plates

The new Classic Vehicle plate was a joint effort by the 4C’s and CT DMV

Excerpts from the 4C’s e-mail to members on Feb 21:

“ At a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford this afternoon (Friday February 21, 2014), the Department of Motor Vehicles announced the release of the new design of the antique auto plates that I have been reporting on in recent 4C’s newsletters. While it may not be all that clear, the new Classic Vehicle plate will have dark blue lettering. Also, the new Classic Motorcycle plate will have the same white background as the Classic Vehicle plate.) Commissioner Currey announced that vanity plates with the new “Classic Vehicle” designation can now be ordered following the details on the DMV website. These new antique plates can be ordered with up to seven characters in addition to a dot. Vanity plate numbers will be available on a first come first serve basis. The number on your current“Early American” plate (vanity or not) will not be assigned to anyone else but you with the Classic Vehicle designation, but only if you request the new plate design. "

“ Non-vanity Classic Vehicle plates will not be available until from DMV until April 1st. Antique vehicles registered without vanity plates between now and April 1st will continue to be issued the current Early American plate design. “

“ RESULTS OF DMV MEETINGS: "

“ The title on the antique auto plate will be changed from “Early American” to “Classic Vehicle” to be more inclusive of the spectrum of antique vehicles in the state. This change had been requested by Connecticut antique auto hobbyists.

The image of the Hartford Connecticut (Pope Manufacturing) Built 1897 Columbia with Hiram Percy Maxim (the vehicle designer) and Fred Law (the vehicle builder) riding in it is being removed. This will allow up to seven digits license plates in the future.

The new antique auto plate will have a white background with dark blue lettering. “

“ The new antique plate design will be introduced on a “going-forward” basis. Existing Early American plates will not be replaced. Antique vehicle owners who possess the current antique plate (“Early American”) design would be able to continue to keep those plates as long as their registrations remain current and do not lapse. However, if a current holder of the current design (“Early American”) wants to have a plate replaced because one plate is mutilated, the holder would be required to obtain the new style antique plate since the old style will not be manufactured any longer. The fee would be $27.
If a current holder of Early American plates wants to get the new style (when it becomes available), they can get the new plates with their existing letters and numbers (as long as the characters remain the same -meaning they are not requesting a new vanity plate). The fee would be $27. A new vanity plate request in the new style would be required to pay $96. "

" Regardless of whether the antique auto has the existing “Early American” or the new “Classic Vehicle” designation on their license plates, the same DMV code would be sent to the municipal property tax assessors identifying that the plates were issued in accordance with Section 14-20 of the State Statutes. With this same code, there should be no ambiguity whether the maximum $500 property tax assessment applies to vehicles with either the existing “Early American” or the new “Classic Vehicle” license plates “


DMV: Early American Antique Plates