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 and evidence that the applicant owns or hasregular use of another passenger car or motorcycle, the Commissioner shallissue appropriately designed license plates to owners of antique motorvehicles and antique trailers. These license plates shall be valid so long astitle to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registrationcard and license plates of any of these vehicles shall be a one-time fee of$50.
B. On receipt of an application and evidence that the applicant owns or hasregular use of another passenger car or motorcycle, the Commissioner mayauthorize for use on antique motor vehicles and antique trailers Virginialicense plates manufactured prior to 1976 and designed for use withoutdecals, if such license plates are embossed with or are of the same year ofissue as the model year of the antique motor vehicle or antique trailer onwhich they are to be displayed. Original metal year tabs issued in place oflicense plates for years 1943 and 1952 and used with license plates issued in1942 and 1951, respectively, also may be authorized by the Commissioner foruse on antique motor vehicles and antique trailers that are of the same modelyear as the year the metal tab was originally issued. These license platesand metal tabs shall remain valid so long as title to the vehicle is vestedin the applicant. The fee for the registration card and permission to use thelicense plates and metal tabs on any of these vehicles shall be a one-timefee of $50. If more than one request is made for use, as provided in thissection, of license plates having the same number, the Department shallaccept only the first such application.
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. Antique motor vehicles and antique trailers registered with license platesissued or authorized for use under this section shall not be used for generaltransportation purposes, including, but not limited to, daily travel to andfrom the owner's place of employment, but shall only be used:
1. For participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, andsimilar events;
2. On the highways of the Commonwealth for the purpose of testing theiroperation or selling the vehicle or trailer, obtaining repairs ormaintenance, transportation to and from events as described in subdivision 1of this subsection, and for occasional pleasure driving not exceeding 250miles from the residence of the owner; and
3. To carry or transport (i) passengers in the antique motor vehicles, (ii)personal effects in the antique motor vehicles and antique trailers, or (iii)other antique motor vehicles being transported for show purposes.
The registration card issued to an antique motor vehicle or an antiquetrailer registered pursuant to subsections A, B, and C shall indicate suchvehicle or trailer is for limited use.
E. Owners of motor vehicles and trailers applying for registration pursuantto subsections A, B and C shall submit to the Department, in the mannerprescribed by the Department, certifications that such vehicles or trailersare capable of being safely operated on the highways of the Commonwealth.
Pursuant to § 46.2-1000, the Department shall suspend the registration of anyvehicle or trailer registered with license plates issued under this sectionthat the Department or the Department of State Police determines is notproperly equipped or otherwise unsafe to operate. Any law-enforcement officershall take possession of the license plates, registration card and decals, ifany, of any vehicle or trailer registered with license plates issued underthis section when he observes any defect in such vehicle or trailer as setforth in § 46.2-1000.
F. Antique motor vehicles and antique trailers displaying license platesissued or authorized for use pursuant to subsections B and C of this sectionmay be used for general transportation purposes if the following conditionsare 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.
G. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of anantique motor vehicle to tow a trailer or semitrailer.
H. Any owner of an antique motor vehicle or antique trailer registered withlicense plates pursuant to this section who is convicted of a violation ofthis section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Upon receiving arecord of conviction of a violation of this section, the Department shallrevoke and not reinstate the owner's privilege to register the vehicleoperated in violation of this section with license plates issued orauthorized for use pursuant to this section for a period of five years fromthe date of conviction.
I. Except for the one-time $50 registration fee prescribed in subsections Aand B, the provisions of this section shall apply to all owners of vehiclesand trailers registered with license plates issued under this section priorto July 1, 2007. Such owners shall, based on a schedule and a mannerprescribed by the Department, (i) provide evidence that they own or haveregular use of another passenger car or motorcycle, as required undersubsections A and B, and (ii) comply with the certification provisions ofsubsection E. The Department shall cancel the registrations of vehicles ownedby persons that, prior to January 1, 2008, do not provide the Department (i)evidence of owning or having regular use of another passenger car ormotorcycle as required under subsections A and B, and (ii) the certificationrequired pursuant to subsection E.
(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;2007, c. 492; 2008, c. 159.)