Half-ton pickup redux

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I asked the Notary if there are any restrictions and she said only that its not your daily driver. But i guess she may be unaware about load restrictions.

Yea there are a few restrictions, not daily is technically only one day a week.

FACT SHEET July 2017 - over - Antique, Classic Vehicles and Vintage Registration Plates

PURPOSE This fact sheet outlines the policy for issuance of antique, classic and vintage registration plates.

DEFINITION OF ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC MOTOR VEHICLES AND VINTAGE REGISTRATION PLATES Antique Motor Vehicle - A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformance with manufacturer specifications. Classic Motor Vehicle - A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 15 years prior to the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer specifications and appearance. Vintage Registration Plates - A vintage registration plate is a “period-issued” registration plate from 1906 to 1976 to be displayed on an antique or classic vehicle with the same corresponding model year. Vintage registration plates are not manufactured or issued by PennDOT. Applicants are required to provide the vintage registration plate they wish to display on their antique or classic vehicle.


USE OF ANTIQUE, CLASSIC AND VINTAGE REGISTRATION PLATES The use of antique, classic and vintage registration plates is governed by Section 1340 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, which states: “It is unlawful for any person to operate a motorcycle or vehicle with antique, classic or vintage registration plates for general daily transportation. Permitted use shall be limited to participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar uses.” Occasional transportation and similar uses are defined as no more than one day a week. Although buses and trucks are eligible for antique, classic and vintage registration plates, buses MAY NOT be used to transport passengers and trucks MAY NOT haul cargo. Antique, classic and vintage registration plates are not available for motorized pedalcycles or motor homes. No registration configuration will be duplicated. PennDOT recommends that applicants verify if the configuration of the vintage registration plate can be issued by checking the configuration on PennDOT’s website. To check personalized registration plate availability, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov and select the Plate Availability link from the list of services under the Online Services heading.


EXPIRATION OF ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC REGISTRATION PLATES Antique and classic registration plates and vintage registration plates (when displayed on an antique or classic vehicle) are permanent and are issued for the life of the vehicle while it is owned by the present owner. If the present owner sells the vehicle, the registration plate remains with the seller/owner and may be used on another qualified vehicle, provided the proper registration and title fees are paid. However, if ownership is transferred between spouses, or between parent and child, the original registration plate may be transferred with a title fee and a transfer fee. If the owner sells the vehicle and wants to give the new owner the registration plate, the seller must write a letter of release for the registration plate and give it to the new owner. The new owner should forward the letter to PennDOT, along with all appropriate documents and fees when applying for title and registration of the vehicle. The new owner must pay the full registration fee in order to use the registration plate. The transfer fee is not required in this case.
 
I wont be hauling much cargo ,but i will be using it more than 1 day a week. I dont think there is any monitoring being done and i dont rack up very many miles in a years time. Less than 1000 . Since i have 2 other newer vehicles it cant be considered my daily driver.
 
They will ticket you for using a truck with historical plates in NY. Basic liability insurance + registration for one year costs much more than the truck did. I explained to my agent that the truck would be lucky to get 500 miles a year on it, but that didn't get me far.

I guess $60 a month is not the end of the world, but it galls me that it costs the same if I wanted to add a new driver who drove the truck 30,000 miles a year, or if I wanted to add a fourth vehicle that really doesn't go on the road much. :\
 
Glad i dont live in NY state .After the first year my operating cost will be about $10 a month for Liability insurance and gas .The $75 for the classic plate is a one time charge. Even the first year its only $16.25 a month figuring in the cost of the plate.
 
Glad i dont live in NY state .After the first year my operating cost will be about $10 a month for Liability insurance and gas .The $75 for the classic plate is a one time charge. Even the first year its only $16.25 a month figuring in the cost of the plate.

I could go that route too, but 1) you're risking a ticket every time you go on a road and 2) the insurance won't cover any claims unless you can prove you were on your way to a parade or a car show.

At that point, since you are already functionally uninsured and also risking a ticket for your plates any time you drive on a road.... why pay for this? I can get the same treatment for free by just not putting any plates on it. :)


Hey officer, I was just on my way to the Work In Progress Car Show in some really boring place you've never heard of. Starts any minute now. So, did you pull me over because my car is so cool?

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not that much of a stretch to me, those old trucks are cool and interesting, as much as any old car. my uncle has an old snow king he plays with that more than the duster and cuda. funny part is he worked for rochester tuning carbs for mostly gms forever. you see old cars at the show all the time

i have them on my firebird and i have not been pulled over since i had them let alone anyone care whats on the car, inspection guy said between you and the cops all i check is safety stuff.

gready ny bastards want 50 per year for all 4 of my cars, my truck is registered as a car too. law says you cant go on expressways with car plates on a truck but no one is checking that around here and when before it was 50 to 100% more depending how much you told them you were going to haul

most people around here have the farm plates, i dont think you have to pay for insurance or reg with those but same restrictions, you see them driving way further but hows to say you arent going to the feed store in the city

theres always some show or cruise you could say are going to, im for anything that gives the greedy bs less money because most of what we pay goes in there pocket one way or another
 
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not that much of a stretch to me, those old trucks are cool and interesting, as much as any old car. my uncle has an old snow king he plays with that more than the duster and cuda. funny part is he worked for rochester tuning carbs for mostly gms forever. you see old cars at the show all the time

i have them on my firebird and i have not been pulled over since i had them let alone anyone care whats on the car, inspection guy said between you and the cops all i check is safety stuff.

gready ny bastards want 50 per year for all 4 of my cars, my truck is registered as a car too. law says you cant go on expressways with car plates on a truck but no one is checking that around here and when before it was 50 to 100% more depending how much you told them you were going to haul

most people around here have the farm plates, i dont think you have to pay for insurance or reg with those but same restrictions, you see them driving way further but hows to say you arent going to the feed store in the city

theres always some show or cruise you could say are going to, im for anything that gives the greedy bs less money because most of what we pay goes in there pocket one way or another

Hey that's an idea... the truck does qualify for agricultural plates according to the DMV... so maybe that will help me with the insurance. I'll make some calls!
 
I could go that route too, but 1) you're risking a ticket every time you go on a road

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Im not worried. No 1 the statute does allow for occasional transportation . I estimate i got stopped in traffic perhaps 3 or 4 times in 45 years . How on earth can anyone tell how often you drive a particular vehicle. I do have to run the truck at least once or twice a week just to keep it in running condition ,battery charged ect. If by chance im in an accident ,i cant see my insurance company trying to deny a claim because i wasnt on my way to a car show. And i do have to get yearly inspections with a classic tag. Its not my daily driver but i wont hesitate to use it when i want to.
 
Im not worried. No 1 the statute does allow for occasional transportation . I estimate i got stopped in traffic perhaps 3 or 4 times in 45 years . How on earth can anyone tell how often you drive a particular vehicle. I do have to run the truck at least once or twice a week just to keep it in running condition ,battery charged ect. If by chance im in an accident ,i cant see my insurance company trying to deny a claim because i wasnt on my way to a car show. And i do have to get yearly inspections with a classic tag. Its not my daily driver but i wont hesitate to use it when i want to.
Ok but what about the restriction of no cargo? Not much of any way around that one. And honestly what makes you think they would not deny a claim if you are in clear violation of state law and your insurance policy.
 
Ok but what about the restriction of no cargo? Not much of any way around that one. And honestly what makes you think they would not deny a claim if you are in clear violation of state law and your insurance policy.
State law does allow occasional transportation use. Im not going to use it to haul loads of stone. its a half ton and i have a 3/4 ton truck for that. My insurance co already has reduced rates for vehicles that are used occasionally regardless of what kind of plate they have. This truck also has a cap. Ill be using it for camping at my local gun club. "occasionally" Iv also drove overloaded a hundred times in my 3/4 ton truck cuz it only had a half ton sticker and never had a problem ,by finally after 15 yrs i got it upgraded. Wont matter cuz the $158 fee is waived for retired people in PA another perk of the fine folks wasting money on lottery tickets.
 
State law does allow occasional transportation use. Im not going to use it to haul loads of stone. its a half ton and i have a 3/4 ton truck for that. My insurance co already has reduced rates for vehicles that are used occasionally regardless of what kind of plate they have. This truck also has a cap. Ill be using it for camping at my local gun club. "occasionally" Iv also drove overloaded a hundred times in my 3/4 ton truck cuz it only had a half ton sticker and never had a problem ,by finally after 15 yrs i got it upgraded. Wont matter cuz the $158 fee is waived for retired people in PA another perk of the fine folks wasting money on lottery tickets.
Yes you can use it for occasional transport. But you cannot use it to haul cargo. That means no camping gear even.
 
Yes you can use it for occasional transport. But you cannot use it to haul cargo. That means no camping gear even.
Ill take my chances. With all the guys out there hauling a ton or more on their half ton trucks and i dont hear much about anyone getting tickets.
 
Ill take my chances. With all the guys out there hauling a ton or more on their half ton trucks and i dont hear much about anyone getting tickets.

I got pulled over with a dumpster load (nowhere near being overloaded). Cop thought I was boozing it up after a day of work, saying I was swerving and crossed the line 3 times in 100 yards or something like that. She walked up to the window, and asked me where I was headed, so i told her I was going to my office, "was I drinking"- "No officer", "are you having issues controlling your vehicle?" - "No officer, but my steering wheel has a lot of play in it. If you don't mind, I will show you that I can move it without my wheels turning", "oh, ok. Well be safe then"

*This has nothing to do with being the majority of this thread.
 
NY doesn't have occasional use- it's only for going to car shows. The insurance companies are on the same page, because first thing my insurance agent said when I said 'historical plates' was 'We won't cover any claims unless you can prove you were on the way to a car show'.

$800 a year for liability insurance will shake out to about $16 per mile on that truck. I can hire a chauffered limousine to conduct my concrete and lumber in luxury from Home Depot to my house for that. ("Those 6x6s go around the back, Jeeves. I'll be over here enjoying a beverage if you need me.")

They have a laundry list of rules about farm plates, but there's also "agricultural" plates which are less restrictive. If there's an insurance discount for that, it may be my way through the maze. I'll update once I get a couple quotes.
 
How do you prove your on your way to anywhere? Liability only is about $120 a yr for occasional use designation, so $10 a month. Even when i had a brand new vehicle with full coverage it was never $800 a yr ,i think like $550
 
How do you prove your on your way to anywhere? Liability only is about $120 a yr for occasional use designation, so $10 a month. Even when i had a brand new vehicle with full coverage it was never $800 a yr ,i think like $550
Yes you can use a vehicle with classic plates occasionally in pa. But that still doesn't get rid of the flack that you can't haul cargo in it. And yes you probably won't get pulled over but if you do there goes your savings. And if you get in an accident using your truck in a way you are not allowed to good luck with your insurance company. To me it is not worth the risk. And my truck is used commercially anyway so I couldn't get them regardless
 
We had this same discussion on another thread about all the guys overloading their half ton trucks with pellets and wood. Didnt change anyones mind about it ,everyone doing it planned to continue overloading it. No one had ever got fined for it althought its possible and its something you can readily see ,an overloaded truck with the bumper dragging. I was against it because it can be dangerous to yourself and others and can also damage the truck. Even if i got pulled over i highly doubt i would get fined for some camping gear. On the slightest chance i would get a fine for having "cargo" in the truck (which i highly doubt) one year of not having to pay a registration fee would probably cover it so im not worried. And there is NO way my insurance co would not cover an accident for a technicality over the type of license plate ,i call BS on that one!
 
We had this same discussion on another thread about all the guys overloading their half ton trucks with pellets and wood. Didnt change anyones mind about it ,everyone doing it planned to continue overloading it. No one had ever got fined for it althought its possible and its something you can readily see ,an overloaded truck with the bumper dragging. I was against it because it can be dangerous to yourself and others and can also damage the truck. Even if i got pulled over i highly doubt i would get fined for some camping gear. On the slightest chance i would get a fine for having "cargo" in the truck (which i highly doubt) one year of not having to pay a registration fee would probably cover it so im not worried. And there is NO way my insurance co would not cover an accident for a technicality over the type of license plate ,i call BS on that one!

It's not a technicality. They're selling a much cheaper policy that only covers the same activities allowed by historical plates, and they're up front about it.

Interestingly, the DMV's website does not match the actual NY vehicular code. The DMV says, "Historical license plates are new plates that DMV issues to a vehicle that was manufactured more than 25 years before the current calendar year and that is used only as a collector’s item or exhibition piece. The vehicle must not be used for daily transportation."

The actual law says, "For each motor vehicle which is owned and operated as an exhibition piece or collectors item, and is used for participation in club activities, exhibit, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar uses, but not used for general daily transportation..."

Note the "occasional transportation" in the middle!

I guess it's more profitable to enforce their version than the actual law? Dunno.
 
In PA "Classic" is different then "Antique" and have different designations. Classic Veh. need only be 15 yrs old. A 2002 vehicle could get a classic tag . Classic must be inspected yearly cuz they are used more and expected to log more miles . Antique 25 yrs old. Antique can not drive at night. My insurance company has different policies depending on use. Some of the categories are Work, Family, Occasional use ect. Im sure car insurance is different from state to state . And certaily lic plates and their Req. are different
 
Interestingly, the DMV's website does not match the actual NY vehicular code. The DMV says, "Historical license plates are new plates that DMV issues to a vehicle that was manufactured more than 25 years before the current calendar year and that is used only as a collector’s item or exhibition piece. The vehicle must not be used for daily transportation."

The actual law says, "For each motor vehicle which is owned and operated as an exhibition piece or collectors item, and is used for participation in club activities, exhibit, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar uses, but not used for general daily transportation..."

Note the "occasional transportation" in the middle!

I guess it's more profitable to enforce their version than the actual law? Dunno.

I don't see any discrepancy between the administrative interpretation and the actual statute. The administrative interpretation is not as specific (doesn't go into the level of detail of what is allowed) but they both agree that daily transportation is not allowed. The administrative interpretation does not disallow "occasional transportation", it just doesn't mention it.
 
Antique 25 yrs old. Antique can not drive at night.

Say you're driving your "antique" 1991 Corvette 200 miles home after showing at a neighboring Vette club car show. If it gets dark on the way home you have to pull over and get a motel?
 
We had this same discussion on another thread about all the guys overloading their half ton trucks with pellets and wood. Didnt change anyones mind about it ,everyone doing it planned to continue overloading it. No one had ever got fined for it althought its possible and its something you can readily see ,an overloaded truck with the bumper dragging. I was against it because it can be dangerous to yourself and others and can also damage the truck. Even if i got pulled over i highly doubt i would get fined for some camping gear. On the slightest chance i would get a fine for having "cargo" in the truck (which i highly doubt) one year of not having to pay a registration fee would probably cover it so im not worried. And there is NO way my insurance co would not cover an accident for a technicality over the type of license plate ,i call BS on that one!
You obviously have not been involved in many insurance claims if you think they would not deny a claim for a "technicality" which is actually a clear violation of the law.
 
You obviously have not been involved in many insurance claims if you think they would not deny a claim for a "technicality" which is actually a clear violation of the law.

I agree, but the denial of coverage would be because the vehicle was being used for purposes that fall outside the insured uses. If it was just a fender-bender they might look the other way but, if you had the misfortune of causing someone death they would all of a sudden become very serious about enforcing the terms of the policy.
 
I agree, but the denial of coverage would be because the vehicle was being used for purposes that fall outside the insured uses. If it was just a fender-bender they might look the other way but, if you had the misfortune of causing someone death they would all of a sudden become very serious about enforcing the terms of the policy.
Yes but many classic policies also have clauses in about adhering to regulations. But you are right a simple fender bender would probably not get challenged. But total someone's new BMW they might.
 
I don't license or insure my vehicles. Only one of them. The one my wife drives. And mostly cause the other 4 only see dirt roads and never make it into town!
 
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