So I know other states have classic car (type) registration for cars a certain age, that don't need to be re-registered again after obtaining this type of registration (or cost much less to re-register) but have mileage restrictions or something along those lines, and I imagine because of this insurance rates might be cheaper too if the car can't be used as a daily driver. Anybody know if California has something like this? My 240 is too nice and too slow to be a daily driver so I was thinking about going this route if possible since it rarely gets driven, and right now the insurance company is charging as if I drive the car 10k miles/year

Thanks!

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

last time I looked into classic car registration, I think the limit was something like no more than 1000mi per year. However, that was several years back, so it may have changed.

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"Time's never wasted when you're wasted all the time"

iowa used to be if you licensed it as an antique that is was for show and parade duty only.BUT what the state did do is allow you to use old license plates of the same model year as your car,as long as you have current tags in the vehicle.so old license plates here in iowa have gone up in price.i was at a swap meet this weekend and picked up a set of 1966 plates for my 66 chevelle.

the rules here are similar, no more than a certain amount of driving per year, registration is cheap, and no safety or emissions inspections on cars registered under antique plates.

The reality is that the mileage restriction is effectively impossible to enforce unless you drive your antique by the same cop every single day for months and they are feeling especially bored and willing to pull you over and bust your balls.


However, you should be able to change the driven mileage on your 240 based on your actual use, I have 5k on my MB, and 15k on my work vehicle. Also you should be able to go to storage insurance if you aren't going to be driving it for a while. That will basically make it a fire policy or damage while parked, but you will not have liability or collision.

Call your insurance company and see what options they might have

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

You think your '' used car '' 240D is a classic? That's funny. Last Classic Car built was a 1947 Town and Country Chrysler con.

Just because some State agency doesn't have a clue doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't as well.

The California license plate renewal for my 1967 Mercury Cougar for 2013 was about $80 for 2013, so I don't think your savings yearly would amount to much by switching to historical vehicle California plates, but being over 25 years old, it appears to qualify for them.

And they are white and ugly, those collector car California historical plates, not too many people bought them. If your car has the original California blue and gold plates that came with it for its first 1974 registration in California, it would likely be better to leave them on, as proof of its provenance and originality.


To save money, it would be better to see if it qualifies for collector car insurance under Grundy or Hagerty,s policies, which would likely give you complete liability, BI and PD, and comprehensive coverage for likely no more than just $250-$300 for everything, per year...

I suspect you may qualify, from what you said, and you'd get agreed value insurance included in the price.

The biggest hurdle I would foresee is for them to agree that a 1974 240D is a "collector car", which probably would take a pretty vigorous argument on your part to convince them it is.

Good luck though, whatever you do....

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

sure it is. Ive got "antique" plates on my horrendous 74 240, he might as well have "classic" plates on his, which is in a heck of a lot better shape than mine. All we are talking here are rules for old vehicles.

If the RMV rules allow savings and inspection allowances for anything over 25 years old, might as well take advantage is my opinion.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

One of the benefits of AZ is that they don't force you to have "historical vehicle" plates for cars registered as classics.

Sure, I understand all of that. If age alone makes any car a classic, the term no longer has any meaning or signifigance.

as far as the Registry of Motor Vehicles is concerned, thats exactly the critera they run by.

I have a classic 1988 ford tempo to sell you. Only 23 owners and fresh out of impound, no pesky maintenance history to bother with, and ready for Canada with a liberal amount of rust. It ran 3 years ago!

If sassparilla were in CT, he could get a historical vehicle plate for his 240 that said "early American antique". I saw this on a SL once

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Thought it was the 46-48 Lincoln Continental.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

AZ has (or had) antique, classic, and historical.

Depends on what you are trying to register.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

I guess I'll just ask when I go visit the Department of Mindless Villains about getting a duplicate title for our Jetta so I can scrap it

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

From what I've read, in California the car has to be at least 39 years old for anything like this

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

I'm talking about Full Classics which I see you are also talking about. Not the stuff made after 1972 which are simply used cars. Milestones, which most people think are classics were made between 1946 and 1972.

The Town and Country was inducted recently so it is now a Full Classic.