Will I lose the original license plates to DMV?

[kaliona]

I'm in California and am going to register the '67 F100 I just purchased. I was told DMV might take the original black plates with yellow letters and issue me new plates. Is this true? I see classic trucks and cars with original plates all the time. I wouldn't drive the truck down to DMV if I didn't have to, just to avoid this, but there's an issue with the title so I was told they have to see the truck to verify the VIN. Do they have the right to take the old plates?

[70shortbox]

If you have a title or even a registration card with the plate and vin number and a clean history you keep the plates. Get the verification done by The CHP. Bring the correct forms.

[mrollings53]

http://dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/vin_memos ... 9vin20.pdf

Here is some info that might be of interest.

[Calfdemon]

If those black and yellow plates are currently assigned to the vehicle, they will not take them away and you can keep them. When you buy/sell a vehicle in CA, the current plates stay assigned to the vehicle unless they are personalized plates and the seller requests to keep them. That is the only time they will assign new plates, or if the plates are missing. But if you bought the vehicle from a private party with those plates currently on it, then you are good because the plates transfer with the vehicle.

[Mancar1]

Can they take them.......Yes. Will they......No.

[kaliona]

Thanks guys. Now I understand.

[maddogjohnson]

If you only have 1 of the 2 plates (the front is missing) then you do run the risk of them wanting to issue new plates.

Otherwise, as others have mentioned, as long as you have the period correct plates on the truck you are good to go. You can even acquire period correct plates for an older vehicle and replace newer one's with the period correct one's.

[rjewkes]

in 2000 it was optional i could have kept the original Blue and yellow 940 STA or get the new 4JZU557 california white,blue and red with California in Cursive. I had no idea about older/YOM plates being Desirable at the time. As of now in mo i would almost kill for a 1972 YOM for my truck. Came close with a set of '71 but Lamberts' Cafe' would not sell them even if i could use them being permanent decor at what.