California might issue vintage-style license plates under new bill (AB1658)

[bzcat]

This will only be of interest (probably) to TCL's California residents...

We are on the verge of being able to get classic looking black or blue plates again now that the bill (AB1658) has passed both chambers of legislature and on its way to "enrolling", which is a legislative term that basically means being presented for Governor's signature. The bill will establish a "Legacy License Plate" program and will offer 3 classic looking plates as option for regular plate issues.

(b) The California Legacy License Plates shall consist of one or more of the following designs:
(1) Yellow background with black lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1956 to 1962, inclusive.
(2) Black background with yellow lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1965 to 1968, inclusive.
(3) Blue background with yellow lettering per the appearance of California license plates issued by the department from 1969 to 1986, inclusive.

It will cost $50 to issue and $40 to renew just like most existing special plates. The DMV will need 7,500 orders for the new plates to begin production.

For full text of the law see here: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa...=license+plate





The 1984-88 Golden State "sunset" plate is not part of the program.

[nemo1ner]

Awesome. I wish more states would do this.

My favorite plates are from Delaware.

[Lwize]

This is some legislation I can get behind.

[mikegilbert]

The 1984-88 Golden State "sunset" plate is not part of the program.

That's my favorite one, too.

[kimilein]

More states need to do this!
Washington has a bunch of special plates but the designs are all butt ugly. Oregon has the Pacific Wonderland plates but those are on a limited run.

[bubbagti]

I fully support this

[MAGICGTI]

They would have my money right now.

[VadGTI]

That's my favorite one, too.

Too much 80s TV for you .

[kimilein]

Also, these are a lot cheaper than the Oregon Pacific Wonderland plates. Oregon wants $100 for theirs and they haven't been able to sell even half of the 40k yet and they've been out since 2010.

[MylesPH1]

I wish they'd hurry up already, I'm getting blue plates the day they make them available

[mellbergVWfan]

I want a goddamn blue plate. My friend recently saved a Scirocco that had a blue plate but for some reason the DMV wouldn't let him keep it.

[kiznarsh]

I can see the black/yellow combo being popular on the "bumble bee" Camaro's.

The state already gets my money with my personalized special plate (whale).

[mellbergVWfan]

You messed up the bill link.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa...=license+plate

[Mosbius Designs]

Awesome. I wish more states would do this.

My favorite plates are from Delaware.

Same here, if New Jersey ever brought back the 80s blue tags, I'd move back. I hope this succeeds, you know other states will then jump on the bandwagon for some extra revenue.

[ATL_Av8r]

The 1984-88 Golden State "sunset" plate is not part of the program.

Corbin Bernson agrees

[Noah Fecks]

is this for cars of those years only? or am i gonna see some douche bag in a new m3 with a black plate and gold lettering?

[MylesPH1]

is this for cars of those years only? or am i gonna see some douche bag in a new m3 with a black plate and gold lettering?

Guess you're gonna see a lot of douche bags. But to be honest, I'm thinking about the black plate too, because they look great, even though the blue is more "period correct" for the car I'm putting them on.

[Yo Teach]

How about some 1940s-era plates made out of soy?

[pknopp]

We are allowed to use an old plate that was issued the year of your car. You just have to find one in nice shape and send the DMV a high quality photo copy of it. They will search to make sure that number isn't in use and issue you a sticker. You are permitted to leave the sticker in your glove box.

But if California needs to raise revenue I most certainly see this as a positive way to do it.

[absoluteczech]

damn i just ordered a new plate. id be all over the black & yellow one

[Noah Fecks]

Guess you're gonna see a lot of douche bags. But to be honest, I'm thinking about the black plate too, because they look great, even though the blue is more "period correct" for the car I'm putting them on.

i just look at it as "cool" because youll be driving along and see a 55 chevy with the original 55 plates. why have a 2009 with plates from 50 years before.

[choochoo]

The 1984-88 Golden State "sunset" plate is not part of the program.

Yeah, what's up with that?!?!?!?

I need it to go along with my period correct louvres

[bzcat]

You messed up the bill link.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa...=license+plate

Thanks... I didn't realize the website had a time expiration cookie. I was pulling up cached version on my browser.

The link should work now in the OP

[Noah Fecks]

Yeah, what's up with that?!?!?!?

I need it to go along with my period correct louvres

those look like the wrong louvers...

[finklejag]

Also, these are a lot cheaper than the Oregon Pacific Wonderland plates. Oregon wants $100 for theirs and they haven't been able to sell even half of the 40k yet and they've been out since 2010.

That $100 goes to the repair of the State Capitol building.

[helement2003]

I just got vintage type plates for my car. Nevada calls them Circa 1982 plates. $26 initial fee in addition to regular fees, $0 annual additional renewal fee.



The wild thing is that to get these plates, you either order a full custom plate and incur the personal plate fees/renewal fees, or you pick from a plate that used to exist back prior to ~1983.

When I went to get my plate, they busted out a printed binder of old plate numbers used from 1973-1983. I had to choose some letters and numbers, but alas, found an old plate number that essentially is personalized to me!

The other neat thing is, because these are considered "reissues" of old blue plates, I got fully stamped plates in the mail, not the newer printed plates.

[kimilein]

That $100 goes to the repair of the State Capitol building.

It's going to be a looooong time before that shack gets fixed if they're counting on that money.

[bzcat]

Guess you're gonna see a lot of douche bags. But to be honest, I'm thinking about the black plate too, because they look great, even though the blue is more "period correct" for the car I'm putting them on.

It seems that the DMV will need 7,500 application to start producing the base (blank) plates so if people want the "period correct" look, they'll have to thank the douche bags for ordering the plates.

Also, these are not going to be really "period correct" anyway because the plates are reflective (so will look slightly different) and will use the current serial number format (old numbers are never re-issued in California). It is being offered as an alternative to the white plate - similar to 1984-1988 when you could get the "sunset" plate as an alternative to the blue plate for an extra fee.

[Omnilith]

Oh hell yes!

Black plates for me!

[VTECeateR]

This will only be of interest (probably) to TCL's California residents...







The 1984-88 Golden State "sunset" plate is not part of the program.

Came for this...leaving devastated.

[seawog]

Came for this...leaving devastated.

only like these. either way not gonna get any new ones. just ordered one for my new car =[

[Woodski]

Came for this...leaving devastated.

same

[VTECeateR]

Sacrilege or not...I'm totally doing this.


blackplate by ATPhotodesign, on Flickr

[choochoo]

^^^that just looks weird.

I expect that to go on something like this

[Lwize]

Came for this...leaving devastated.

[CSB]When I had my '65 Bug, it only used rear plates, so I had a fresh, clean 80's plate to put on the car when I had it restored in 2002.[/CSB]