How the Texas Year of Manufacture Law Works
The Texas "Year of Manufacture" (Y.O.M.) law permits antique and classic vehicle owners to register their vehicle using license plates made in the same year as the vehicle. For instance, if you have a 1965 Mustang, you can register it using a pair of 1965 Texas license plates. Texas allows automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles to register with Y.O.M. license plates. The following is not a word-for-word quotation, but the Texas Y.O.M. law works like this:
The owner of an antique or classic vehicle can register their vehicle using Year of Manufacture license plates as follows:
1. The vehicle must be at least 25 years old
2. The license plates must have been made in the same year as the vehicle.
3. You must use a matching pair of license plates (both plate's numbers must be the same) if the plates were originally issued in pairs. Texas only issued single plates in 1945 and 1946.
4. The license plates must be the same color as they were originally issued. (You cannot repaint the plates to match the color of your car. For example, 1955 plates must have black letters with an orange background.)
5. The plates do not have to be restored or perfect originals, but must be in good condition and the numbers must be legible. (Large areas of paint or reflective sheeting cannot be missing, and the numbers must be easily readable. The plate's background area can have some holes in it, but any holes present cannot alter the numbers or distort their legibility. Some rust is acceptable, so long as it does not make the plate infirm or affect the number legibility.)
6. The plates can be repainted by hand or with machinery, so long as original colors and color scheme are used and the numbers are legible.
7. It is not necessary to verify that the serial number on the Year of Manufacture plates is not currently in use before using the plates.
8. Providing the vehicle and license plates meet all of the above requirements, you can register the same vehicle either as an antique or a classic, using the same Y.O.M. license plates, depending solely on how you will use the vehicle:
A. An antique vehicle is used only for parades, civic events, and club activities (plus a limited amount of maintenance driving). It cannot carry advertising signs or be used as a normal means of transportation. The cost to register as an Antique is approximately $60.00 for a full 5-year period. Antique vehicles do not require inspection stickers and a liability insurance waiver is available from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
B. A classic vehicle can be used in the same manner as any other vehicle. It can carry advertising signs and be driven daily. The cost to register a vehicle as a Classic is the same as the cost to register any other vehicle of its class. A classic vehicle requires an inspection sticker and must carry liability insurance.
Again, this is not a word-for-word copy of the law, but is a "plain language" layman's translation of the requirements.
In Texas, check with your local registration office or the Texas Department of Transportation Special Plates Division in Austin for current legal requirements before registering your vehicle. Using a Year of Manufacture plate improperly can result in legal penalties.
If you do not live in Texas, check with local authorities before displaying Year of Manufacture plates on your vehicle. Requirements vary from state to state. We do not have copies of other states' laws, but know that some (but not all) states allow various methods of displaying Year of Manufacture license plates on antique and classic vehicles.
