Classic/antique tags?

[UconnTim97]

I am contemplating registering my car with either classic or antique tags. The benefit here in PA is that with antique tags, I no longer have to get a safety or emissions test every year as well as not having to pay registration yearly. This adds up to about a $110 savings every year. With classic tags I can forgo the emissions and yearly registration fees for a savings of about $70 every year.

I am just wondering if there are any pitfalls that I am not seeing here.

My car is no longer my daily driver. I drive it about once a week to keep it fresh. I think I put about 300 miles on it last year. So the limited mileage would not be all that bad.

The limitations are the same for either tag. Drive the car once a week and to club events, shows, etc.

[onZedge]

I'm not sure about pitfalls, but there may be some coverage issues with your insurance company you may need to be aware of. I'm sure MVD and Insurance carrier rules differ from State to State as well.

[speedracing944]

I have hobbiest tags on my '83 944.

requirments;
has to be >20 years old
have to have another primary vehicle
has to be modified from stock
can't drive it in January

benefits;
$145 one time registration fee
no need to renew the plates each year
actually get a discount on Insurance
unlimited mileage


Speedy

[toolboy62]

Isn't it 25 years old min. in PA? anyway... at least down here in VA (and MD) you also have the limitation that you cannot drive the car to work, that would be a problem for me. I'm actually considering paying the extra $$ and running my '55 Stude through inspection so I can drive it whenever I want, legally. There's lots of people that bend the rules, but I don't have much luck with such things.

nate

[Tishabet]

I have my 38 buick registered with antique plates, which means I can either display my MA plates that say "antique vehicle" on them (issued at time of registration) OR display a year correct plate totally different from the ones issued by the DMV.
The plus of this is that antique car insurance for the Buick (which has a blue book value higher than the P car) is about $80/year vs $1500/year for the P car. The downside is that there is SIGNIFICANT limitation on usage of the car, enforced by both the state and the insurance company.
Basically, in order to have the antique registration I can only drive the car for maintenance purposes and for club functions or "events of public interest." Driving the car to work or for an errand is specifically forbidden; If I get in an accident the insurance will not cover me, and I can be pulled over and fined by the police.
Things might be different where you live, but be sure you know what you're getting into before you jump!

[Dave L]

There can be pit falls. I have my car insured through a specialty policy. I dont have mileage limitations but I cant/dont drive it everyday, to work, to walmart etc. I have put 14,000Km on my car in the past 3 years so I wouldnt say it sits in the garage "all" the time. I also have another car which is a requirement of the policy.

My policy was put to the test 4 years ago with my previous car. I was rear ended on the 401 on a Tuesday morning. The car was written off and shortly after a check was issued. At no point was I asked what I was doing where I was going etc. (for the record I was bringing the car in for an oil change)

Ask questions, be sure to find out what you are covered for and what you arent. I pay $225 a year to insure my car.

[Aufgeladen944]

Being 21 and not being a girl, my insurance is naturally outrageously expensive. However, the number one thing I did to make the premium go down is BUY ANOTHER CAR.

Having two cars made my insurance go down by about $1500 every year. Of course, to make that worthwhile I had to buy a POS Subaru for $500. But then again, I needed another car for fuel mileage and snow/daily driver duty anyways. The Subaru is my daily and the P Car is my "pleasure vehicle." Total insurance cost with full coverage on the 951 and comprehensive and liability on the Subaru is about $1500/year for me.

The 951 is not my daily driver; I drive it to school or work about twice a week. I put about 4000 miles on a year, which is about half of what I put on my Subaru. BTW, my old Subaru got totaled so now I have a fancy one with heated seats. Thank you insurance company!

If you don't drive it much, then look into it some more. Not being able to drive the car to school, work, or errands EVER seems like a major problem. I would want to be able to drive the Porsche if I had to...or if I feel like, dammit.

[speedracing944]

Originally posted by Aufgeladen944
Being 21 and not being a girl, my insurance is naturally outrageously expensive. However, the number one thing I did to make the premium go down is BUY ANOTHER CAR.

Having two cars made my insurance go down by about $1500 every year. Of course, to make that worthwhile I had to buy a POS Subaru for $500. But then again, I needed another car for fuel mileage and snow/daily driver duty anyways. The Subaru is my daily and the P Car is my "pleasure vehicle." Total insurance cost with full coverage on the 951 and comprehensive and liability on the Subaru is about $1500/year for me.

The 951 is not my daily driver; I drive it to school or work about twice a week. I put about 4000 miles on a year, which is about half of what I put on my Subaru. BTW, my old Subaru got totaled so now I have a fancy one with heated seats. Thank you insurance company!

If you don't drive it much, then look into it some more. Not being able to drive the car to school, work, or errands EVER seems like a major problem. I would want to be able to drive the Porsche if I had to...or if I feel like, dammit.

Sometimes you just have to find the loop hole.

Speedy

[Gremlin85]

Originally posted by Aufgeladen944
Of course, to make that worthwhile I had to buy a POS Subaru for $500.

Hey, not all subarus are POS's. As long as its AWD its worth it. Now if I could find a $500 subby around here, I'd have a decent winter car....

As for the tag thing here in PA... I didn't get one becase of the limitations. I find it more worth my wild to hav stadard tags. just my .02cents.

[Aufgeladen944]

Oh it was a POS. It was mostly rusty with some baby-****-brown paint panels left. 218k miles, and a lot of stuff didn't work. It smelled bad and leaked rain, it also made strange noise. But it ran like a champ. Had it for about a year and then somebody ran into me head-on.

My new Outback was a little less than $3000. Heated seats/mirrors, automatic, and everything works on it. I'm doing the Porsche/Subaru thing from now on. I'd hate to drive it every day, but they're good cars. I wish it got better mileage but you can't have everything!

Subaru's are also very easy to work on, actually probably the easiest modern car I can think of to work on.

[jcommin]

Antique plates in Illinois are essentially the same. It should only be used for shows or events, not daily drive summer car. You are also exempt from emission testing.

I'm not worried about passing emissions testing. The emission system on my 83 is very good (as were most 944's). What I did do is switch my insurance to Haggerty Insurance. They advertise quite a bit on ESPN car auctions on Spike TV during their "power block" shows.

I can insure my car for value beyond traditional wholesale book value. It can be used as a summer car and not restricted to shows or events. You can call them or use their web site. I will pay $208 annually for the same coverage I have using State Farm insurance and insure the value to $8000. I probably could go more on the value. I sent them pics to show the condition of my car. The driving records and number of drivers to be insured on the car affects the rate. My wife and son are no longer insured on the car and that's ok by me.

[WizPorsche944]

I think classic is 25 and antique is 30 here

[DanAllen944]

Originally posted by Aufgeladen944

Subaru's are also very easy to work on, actually probably the easiest modern car I can think of to work on.

HA! Ever tried to change the plugs on a wrx? Its like a 944 clutch job.

[Aufgeladen944]

What do you mean by that?