Commonwealth Crackdown on Antique Automobiles - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mark DiSilvestro · #1 09-27-2007, 01:11 AM

Well, I guess the numbers of antique vehicles have reached a crisis level in the Old Dominion, so a new level of regulation was called for. From Virginia DMV last week I recieved letters demanding I provide proof that I own at least one regularly registered vehicle in addition to my antique Fintail. (Despite the fact that DMV already has on file that I own several 'regular' vehicles!)
Also demanded was a notarized statement that (1) my Fintail still complies with all regulations in effect at time of manufacture (I suppose technically this means I'd have to remove the Euros and reinstall my original sealed beams), and (2) that the car is safe to operate in Virginia.
Also when I looked up the amended statute on the Virginia DMV website, the phrase formerly allowing occasional trips up to 250 miles from home had been crossed out, and a new requirement for proof that the antique vehicle was insured by an antique or agreed value policy had been added. This could mean that I may have to surrender my antique plates, as without a garage, my Fintail certainly won't qualify for any antique insurance.
Compliance is requred by 1/1/08 or my antique plates will be revoked!
Any thoughts, or am I just being paranoid?

Happy Motoring, Mark

t walgamuth · #2 09-27-2007, 06:01 AM

Why won't it qualify?

Check with state farm.

Or with any of the large specialists.

Tom W

POS · #3 09-27-2007, 07:10 AM

Tell the insurance company you keep it in a garage.

t walgamuth · #4 09-27-2007, 07:54 AM

uhhhh, personally I wouldn't tell the insurance company anything that is untrue. If there is a loss and you lied about anything important they wouldn't have to pay.

Tom W

JimFreeh · #5 09-27-2007, 08:08 AM

......and I'm not too concerned.

Due to lax enforcement at the DMV, lots of sleazeballs in VA have been registering their daily POS as an antique.

We had a good deal going, $6 fee, one time, and plate had no expiratation.
No state inspection required, but we were required to keep insurance (regular or antique) on the antique vehicle. The usual restrictions for use, parades, club functions, etc. were in place for the license.

I've run VA antique tags since I moved here in 1990, and I've NEVER had an officer challenge me concerning the use of my vehicle. I doubt it will change anything for the "real" antique collectors.

The focus of this change is to root out the people who are using the antique plate on their regular/only means of transportation, and if this helps to keep the antique plates in the market, then I'm fine with it.

Only gripe is that there is now a $50 one time fee when first acquiring the plate, if you already have one this is waived.

As far as the garage and insurance, what has changed in that respect?

Jim

JimFreeh · #6 09-27-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Also demanded was a notarized statement that (1) my Fintail still complies with all regulations in effect at time of manufacture (I suppose technically this means I'd have to remove the Euros and reinstall my original sealed beams), and (2) that the car is safe to operate in Virginia.

Compliance is requred by 1/1/08 or my antique plates will be revoked!
Any thoughts, or am I just being paranoid?

Happy Motoring, Mark

All you need to do here is sign in front of a notary, no inspection is required. This is to put the burden of a safe car on the owner, and release the state from culpability because they have waived the inspection on the antique cars. Anytime i can self inspect my car, I'm happy to do it!

And technically, most inspectors don't have a problem with euros, as long as the the reflectors are good (lumens meet min std). Just ran my 560SEL through state inspection this week, and my inspector dodn't raise an eyebrow at the Bosch euros it wears.

Regards to the garage, how about one of the fabric quonset hut style ones you can buy for a couple of hundred dollars?

Jim

Mark DiSilvestro · #7 09-27-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Why won't it qualify?

Check with state farm.

Or with any of the large specialists.

Tom W

Classic car or agreed value insurance was stated as a requirement to acquire antique plates. I couldn't tell from the DMV site if this was the original or final form of the new amendment.
As far as I know, all the classic-car insurers insist the vehicle be garaged in a completely enclosed structure.
This spring I got one of those $200 tube & tarp garages-in-a-box from Pep-Boys to hide my unregistered '67 Sunbeam Alpine and provide shelter for the contents of an unregistered Dodge van I was using as a storage shed until I had it hauled away. Since Fairfax County announced a crackdown on unregistered vehicles and my next-door neighbor had his house on the market unsuccessfully for 8 months, I figured his desparate realtor might turn me in to the authorities.
(This actually happened 11 years ago during the last local real estate slump when someone reported 25 homeowners in my neighborhood, including myself, for having unregistered vehicles!)
As for classic insurance, I'm not certain a $200 tube & tarp shelter would qualify.

Happy Motoring, but Paranoid in Yuppieland, Mark

SwampYankee · #8 09-27-2007, 10:15 AM

I'm sure it's only a matter of time before CT adopts the same policy for the same reasons. I can get CT "Early American"

plates for my TD but just haven't gotten around to it yet. They're targeting the heavy abusers of the system and catching some that are just on the fringe while they're at it.

SwampYankee · #9 09-27-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

This spring I got one of those $200 tube & tarp garages-in-a-box from Pep-Boys to hide my unregistered '67 Sunbeam Alpine and provide shelter for the contents of an unregistered Dodge van I was using as a storage shed until I had it hauled away. Since Fairfax County announced a crackdown on unregistered vehicles and my next-door neighbor had his house on the market unsuccessfully for 8 months, I figured his desparate realtor might turn me in to the authorities.
(This actually happened 11 years ago during the last local real estate slump when someone reported 25 homeowners in my neighborhood, including myself, for having unregistered vehicles!)

That EXACT thing happened to me last year. My Scout was tucked behind my garage under a blue tarp, visible to no one on any side, except the house that had been on the market for 7 months. And even that view was obscured by my shed. The PO and I were good friends and he was a car buff, restored a '69 Chevelle, '67 Mustang and a '67 Malibu in his backyard. But he got relocated and his employer took over possession of the house and put it on the market. It didn't sell because they wanted too much for the house and it didn't have a garage.

Mark DiSilvestro · #10 09-27-2007, 02:01 PM

By late 1996, my neighbor's house across the street had been on the market for over a year. When I asked them later about reporting me to Fairfax County, they vehemently denied it. So perhaps their realtor, or some other desperate home-seller was responsible. I was given 60 days to either inspect, insure and register the offending vehicles, remove them, or conceal them from veiw behind a hedge or fence. I chose to build a fence enclosure around the back half of my driveway. According to the County, tarps or car covers weren't an option. Unfortunately, the fenced area, I now refer to as 'The Compound', has also become a kind of 'Death Row', as the additional barrier retains leaves, discourages cleanup, or operating and maintaining the confined vehicles. I hate to put anymore vehicles back there, but this latest hassle from DMV might do it.

Happy Motoring, but still Paranoid in Yuppieland, Mark

t walgamuth · #11 09-27-2007, 09:15 PM

In Indiana antique plates cost the same as any other plate. The car just has to be 25 or older, iirc. I never bother any more.

Tom W

meltedpanda · #12 09-28-2007, 08:49 AM

Hey mark, have not chatted in a long time, but as you know I have defected over to the 107 forum

Teh 450 is not the project that Libby was , but every bit a challenge.
Here in KY it is a $56 one time charge, and $6 -$12 per year after that. Only stipulaiton is car must be 25 years old. Law says "should" only be used for shows, ect but most outings for the true vintage cars fall under the "other clause"
If you want some under cover storage for your finny, I'd be glad to lend you one of my bays!

It sounds as though this is being brought forth to stop abuse. I think you will be fine

Ken300D · #13 09-28-2007, 09:05 AM

I am confused by the requirement for "antique or agreed value policy". Does that mean comprehensive and collision insurance?

For any regular car, that is not required. Only liability insurance is required to a certain level of coverage. I never put any comprehensive/collision insurance on my cars because they are all too old to have much value, and the insurance premiums would chew up that remaining value over about five years.

So, are you required now to have full coverage on antique vehicles?

I think what they must be trying to disallow are the weekend drivers who are "testing" their vehicles while enjoying a cruise.

In Virginia, it all comes down to revenue. Safety, common sense, and the poor man's plight is just an after thought.

Ken300D

JimFreeh · #14 09-28-2007, 09:18 AM

From the Virginia DMV website this morning:

Antique and Vintage License Plates

If you own a passenger vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or motorcycle with a model year that is more than 25 model years old before January 1 of the current calendar year, you've got an antique! Depending on how you plan to use your vehicle, you may choose antique, vintage or any one of our standard license plates. Antique license plates are provided by DMV; vintage license plates are original Virginia license plates issued prior to 1976 that you provide. Antique vehicles must be insured with motor vehicle liability insurance or you must pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee.
And, if you follow the insurance link:

Insurance Requirements

To purchase license plates or decals, you must certify that the vehicle is covered by the minimum insurance requirements or pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee. Insurance requirements also apply to antique motor vehicles. Your insurance carrier must be authorized to conduct business in Virginia. Virginia requires the following minimum coverage:

Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000
Property damage $20,000

I do not see any requirement for the antique or stated value coverage.
Biggest advantage to the antique policy is that the restrictions match, and the cost of the antique policy is almost insignificant compared to the regular liability.

Jim, with six antique cars and 4 regular ones....

Dee8go · #15 09-28-2007, 09:25 AM

I was under the impression that liability insurance was on the DRIVER, not the car. Is this not the case? Of course, if you have only one car, you have to have a liability policy to operate it. I thought the additional insurance on cars after the first one was just collision and comprehensive.