Topic: Clearing an old CA License Plate

[IVrunner]

I recently moved to California and brought my 87 4runner with me and am interested in using the CA plate that was issued when bought new.  I can buy a used set off ebay, but does anyone know if I can bring them in and validate with the DMV and be good to go?  I've searched around, but not sure.  I see many older plates (pre-60's) that are considered "DMV cleared".  How do I go about clearing one I buy used?

[Snowtoy]

I know there is a program called "Year of Manufacture" for pre-72 trucks and pre-69 cars for classic/antique cars, that allows the DMV to re-issue old plates for your classic car, but it isn't for newer cars. 

[Cheesemaker]

Give DMV a call to find out.  In Oregon you can transfer plates to any vehicle. 

[Tofudude]

best bet is to go to a junk yard and buy a POS with blue or black plates, and transfer the plates. Other than that probably not

[Rocksurfer]

As long as the plates are not registered to another vehicle, i.e. clear in the system you can register them to another vehicle. I don't know if there is a period correct plate system but period correct plates are very desired for the classic car collector and yes they do buy them and have them registered to their vehicles.

[Snowtoy]

The CA law governing the use of old plates is V C Section 5004.1 "Model Year Date License Plates", but it doesn't apply to anything after '72. 

[Rocksurfer]

So that would clarify when the cutoff is.

[Snowtoy]

Yes, unless the Legislature has a built into the law a provision that updates the qualifying years each year as the original "25yr and older No smog" law did.  If it doesn't, car groups would have to lobby for additional years to be added.  I know the local classic car clubs in my area don't allow anything newer than a '72, and other than the specific brand/model clubs, none are to particular about what vehicle you have only that it is '72 or older.

IVrunner
When you go to the DMV if they say No to re-using regular blue/gold plates from the '80's, check and see if you can re-use blue/gold vanity plates.  It would be an easier option than buying a parted out runner and swapping bodies or vin tags.

Also, if the first DMV clerk you go to says no, try others.  When my Uncle was trying to register original 1930's plates for his '34 Ford, he had to go to 3 different DMV offices until he finally found a clerk that said it could be done.  He said the first ones he talked to said it wasn't possible and wouldn't even bother to look it up. 

[Rocksurfer]

Yeah some of the workers at the DMV are not the brightest bulbs around and don't even try to find out the truth, when all else fails get a supervisor to clear it up. I had bought a car from a police auction once and the plate (which was a modern plate) didn't come back to the car it was on, in fact the plate came back with no record on file and the plate that was assigned to the vehicle was not on it. I figured I was going to have to pay for new plates but the girl assigned the plate that was on it to my car to save me a few bucks. So there is a way for them to assign a plate to a vehicle as long as it is clear in the system.