Ont. Historic Plate Crackdown

[YYZ]

Not that I necessarily want to pay any more than I have to, but the cancellation of annual license sticker fees was a pretty naked vote grab, and the money is still needed for other things.

Whoever wins the election in June will almost certainly introduce new fees/regulations that more than make up for the former license stickers.

IMHO this is setting the stage for mileage based licensing fees, especially since the users of EVs and PHEVs are paying little to no road tax.  If the fleet is to be electrified, the governments will want to make up the revenues somehow.

With respect to a safety inspection every 2 or 3 years for daily drivers, I'm not opposed in principle -- it may actually do more good than the former emissions testing which was a waste of time and money.  We already have it for heavy vehicles and pickups used to tow over a certain weight, and states like NY and PA have had annual inspections for a long time.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Catalitic's on cars that NEVER had them.... hmmmm.    Way easier here, "collector plates" - cant be a daily driver cant drive 1 month out of the year (like I thro snow chains on NIKKI)  And they are transferable. I still have the set from my Pontiac. Just no car to put them on.   

[YYZ]

So I took a look at the current regulation -- strictly speaking, going to a cruise night, car show, or even a pleasure drive are not necessarily prohibited.

1. (1) The definition of "historic vehicle" in section 1 of Regulation 628 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 is revoked and the following substituted:

"historic vehicle" means, despite the definition in subsection 7 (1.1) of the Act, a motor vehicle that,

(a) is at least 30 years old,

(b) is operated on a highway in parades, for purposes of exhibition, tours or similar functions organized by a properly constituted automobile club or for purposes of repair, testing or demonstration for sale,

(c) is substantially unchanged or unmodified from the original manufacturer's product, and

(d) does not have attached to it year-of-manufacture plates;

For greater clarity, (b) should have been written as follows:

(b) is operated on a highway

   (i) in parades, or,

   (ii) for purposes of exhibition, or,

   (iii) for tours etc., or,

   (iv) for purposes of repair, or

   (v) for purposes of testing, or

   (vi) for purposes of demonstration for sale   (and IMHO, this is an odd one, since if you were a selling dealer, you'd probably have a dealer plate, and it would seem odd to get an historical plate just for the purposes of sale -- it doesn't make sense).

The spirit of the law clearly intends a limited use, and that the special plates are reserved for substantially unmodified vehicles -- i.e. historically accurate.  It does not make sense to state that one can go on a fall colours tour with a car club, but not go to a car show where everyone is parked.

It could further be argued that the historical plate requirements should be interpreted to be substantially the same as the classic insurance restrictions.  Otherwise, what's the point?

[Mopsquad]

One thing I miss about living in Canada as opposed to California is how relatively cheap registering a car is.  Here my '70 Barracuda is over $600 per year as well as the Hellcat.

[blown motor]

With respect to a safety inspection every 2 or 3 years for daily drivers, I'm not opposed in principle -- it may actually do more good than the former emissions testing which was a waste of time and money.  We already have it for heavy vehicles and pickups used to tow over a certain weight, and states like NY and PA have had annual inspections for a long time.

The inspection in NY state is a joke. My fiancee lives there. She took her car in in January for its annual and it cost her $25. How much time is a shop going to spend on a car for $25? Further, she asked them if they had fixed the windshield washer because it wasn't working. Their response was " oh, we didn't realize it didn't work".

Catalitic's on cars that NEVER had them.... hmmmm.    Way easier here, "collector plates" - cant be a daily driver cant drive 1 month out of the year (like I thro snow chains on NIKKI)  And they are transferable. I still have the set from my Pontiac. Just no car to put them on.   

I thought cats came along in the mid to late 70s. 

[dodj]

I thought cats came along in the mid to late 70s. 

There were no ebodies  made with cats.

I don't think many of us would have a problem passing a safety every 2 or 3 years, but what a pita it would be.
I could see it if Duca wins, probably not if Ford wins.

[usraptor]

Utah is facing a similar issue with "Antique" vehicle plates.  Too many people using them as daily drivers ruining it for the rest of us.

[70vert]

wow, I hope Texas doesn't change!

I have "special plates", simply authentic 1970 plates I bought at a flea market. Just had to take them to the county tag office where they did a search for any with matching numbers then registered them to me. Texas does require front plates. though I have not put mine on . I like to drive my car a lot, 3+ times a week (though not far) so I did not go the Antique car route and just have a normal registration. Which means it must be inspected yearly, we have both safety and emission test but pre-?? year vehicles are exempt from emission. So they basically make sure the brake lights and horn works which I pay the inspection place about $7 for. The state tacks another ~$65 for taxes/fees.

So it costs me about $72 per year to drive my car whenever and wherever I want. Well worth it   

[jimynick]

Personally, I have no interest in, nor use, for historic plates. If, after I've invested thousands of dollars and hours, I have to squeeze the cost difference out of the MOT, just to have them tell me where and when I can drive my car, then I'd be better off selling it. Bite the bullet, buy regular plates AND insurance and drive the damn thing where and when you wish. Period. 

[blown motor]

  Although I do put classic insurance on it. I have confirmed it with the insurance company that I AM allowed to do the occasional pleasure drive aside from shows, etc.

[Cuda_mark]

Although I do put classic insurance on it. I have confirmed it with the insurance company that I AM allowed to to the occasional pleasure drive aside from shows, etc.

With regards to Hagarty insurance, I was driving my 1967 Chevelle SS one Sunday on a pleasure cruise 10 years ago and a little kid threw a rock at it as I was driving past his driveway...took a big chip out of the passenger's side door. I called Hagarty and they said that it was no problem at all and they would cover the claim. I ended up not doing anything with it, the chip is still in the door to this day. I even mentioned to the adjuster that I was driving it for pleasure and she said "no problem, you're covered"

[usraptor]

One advantage to the classic/vintage license plates is that in most states if you have them you are not required to have your car smog checked to renew your registration.  I think this is a big motivation to a lot of people to get these plates because a lot of these cars wouldn't pass a smog test because they have modified engines, etc. 

[anlauto]

With regards to Hagarty insurance, I was driving my 1967 Chevelle SS one Sunday on a pleasure cruise 10 years ago and a little kid threw a rock at it as I was driving past his driveway...took a big chip out of the passenger's side door. I called Hagarty and they said that it was no problem at all and they would cover the claim. I ended up not doing anything with it, the chip is still in the door to this day. I even mentioned to the adjuster that I was driving it for pleasure and she said "no problem, you're covered"

Did they ever find the kid's body ?

[Cuda_mark]

With regards to Hagarty insurance, I was driving my 1967 Chevelle SS one Sunday on a pleasure cruise 10 years ago and a little kid threw a rock at it as I was driving past his driveway...took a big chip out of the passenger's side door. I called Hagarty and they said that it was no problem at all and they would cover the claim. I ended up not doing anything with it, the chip is still in the door to this day. I even mentioned to the adjuster that I was driving it for pleasure and she said "no problem, you're covered"

Did they ever find the kid's body ?

Haha...I was pissed but the kid was probably only 3 years old at the time (which makes you wonder why he was standing in the road unsupervised. I turned around and parked in the driveway and the kid ran up the hill to the garage where his father was working. I brought his father out to the car and showed him and he was like "yeah, what do you want me to do about it". I made a report with the state police constable in my town so that I would have record of it for insurance. I watched the kid grow up into a teenager since it was right down the street..at one point I wanted to show him the car and the damage he did but...he was 3 at the time. It's cool to throw rocks when your 3.

[73440]

 It's cool to throw rocks when your 3.

Heck ya !!!