2006 Code of Virginia § 46.2-730 - License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers; fee

46.2-730. License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers;fee.

A. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner shall issue appropriatelydesigned license plates to owners of antique motor vehicles and antiquetrailers. These license plates shall be valid so long as title to the vehicleis vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and licenseplates of any of these vehicles shall be $10.

B. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner may authorize for use onantique motor vehicles and antique trailers Virginia license platesmanufactured prior to 1976 and designed for use without decals, if suchlicense plates are embossed with or are of the same year of issue as themodel year of the antique motor vehicle or antique trailer on which they areto be displayed. Original metal year tabs issued in place of license platesfor years 1943 and 1953 and used with license plates issued in 1942 and 1952,respectively, also may be authorized by the Commissioner for use on antiquemotor vehicles and antique trailers that are of the same model year as theyear the metal tab was originally issued. These license plates and metal tabsshall remain valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in theapplicant. The fee for the registration card and permission to use thelicense plates and metal tabs on any of these vehicles shall be $10.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of 46.2-711 and 46.2-715, antique motorvehicles may display single license plates if the original manufacturer'sdesign of the antique motor vehicles allows for the use of only singlelicense plates or if the license plate was originally issued in one of thefollowing years and is displayed in accordance with the provisions ofsubsection B of this section: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1945, or 1946.

D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, motor vehicles andtrailers registered with license plates issued under this section shall notbe used for general transportation purposes, including, but not limited to,daily travel to and from the owner's place of employment, but shall only beused:

1. For participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, andsimilar events; and

2. On the highways of the Commonwealth for the purpose of testing theiroperation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, transportation to and fromevents as described in subdivision 1 of this subsection, and for occasionalpleasure driving not exceeding 250 miles from the residence of the owner.

E. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this section, antique motorvehicles and antique trailers displaying license plates issued pursuant tosubsections B and C of this section may be used for general transportationpurposes if the following conditions are met:

1. The physical condition of the vehicle's license plate or plates has beeninspected and approved by the Department;

2. The license plate or plates are registered to the specific vehicle by theDepartment;

3. The owner of the vehicle periodically registers the vehicle with theDepartment and pays a registration fee for the vehicle equal to that whichwould be charged to obtain regular state license plates for that vehicle;

4. The vehicle passes a periodic safety inspection as provided in Article 21( 46.2-1157 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title;

5. The vehicle displays current decals attached to the license plate, issuedby the Department, indicating the valid registration period for the vehicle;and

6. When applicable, the vehicle meets the requirement of Article 22 (46.2-1176 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title.

If more than one request is made for use, as provided in this subsection, oflicense plates having the same number, the Department shall accept only thefirst such application. Only vehicles titled to the person seeking to uselicense plates as provided in this subsection shall be eligible to uselicense plates as provided in this subsection.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of anantique motor vehicle to tow a trailer or semitrailer.

(Code 1950, 46-99.1; 1954, c. 60; 1958, c. 541, 46.1-104; 1980, c. 359;1986, c. 8; 1989, cc. 338, 727; 1999, c. 292; 2000, c. 259; 2004, c. 796.)