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1999 SESSION


CHAPTER 292
An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-730 of the Code of Virginia, relating to registration of antique motor vehicles.
[S 1193]
Approved March 22, 1999

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-730 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-730. License plates for antique motor vehicles; fee.

A. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner shall issue appropriately designed license plates to owners of antique motor vehicles. These license plates shall be valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and license plates of any of these vehicles shall be five ten dollars.

B. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner may authorize the for use on an antique motor vehicle vehicles Virginia license plates manufactured prior to 1973 and designed for use without decals, if such license plates are embossed with or are of the same year of issue as the model year of the antique motor vehicle on which they are to be displayed. Original metal year tabs issued in place of license plates for years 1943 and 1953 and used with license plates issued in 1942 and 1952, respectively, also may be authorized by the Commissioner for use on antique motor vehicles that are of the same model year as the year the metal tab was originally issued. These license plates and metal tabs shall remain valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and permission to use the license plates and metal tabs on any of these vehicles shall be five ten dollars.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-711 and 46.2-715, antique motor vehicles may display single license plates if the original manufacturer’s design of the antique motor vehicles allows for the use of only single license plates or if the license plate was originally issued in one of the following years and is displayed in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of this section: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1945, or 1946.

B. D. Except as otherwise provided in this section, Antique motor vehicles may registered with license plates issued under this section shall not be used for general transportation purposes, including, but not limited to, daily travel to and from the owner’s place of employment, but may shall only be used:

1. For participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar events; and

2. On the highways of the Commonwealth for the purpose of testing their operation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, and transportation to and from events as described in subdivision 1 of this subsection, and for occasional pleasure driving not exceeding 250 miles from the residence of the owner.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of this section, antique motor vehicles displaying Virginia license plates of the same year of issue as the model year of the antique vehicle, as authorized in subsection A of this section, may be used for general transportation purposes if the following conditions are met:

1. The license plate's physical condition has been inspected and approved by the Department;

2. The license plate is registered to the specific vehicle by the Department;

3. The owner of the vehicle annually registers the vehicle and pays an annual registration fee for the vehicle equal to that charged to obtain regular state license plates;

4. The vehicle passes a periodic safety inspection as provided in Article 21 (§ 46.2-1157 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title; and

5. The vehicle displays a sticker attached to the license plate, issued by the Department, indicating that the vehicle may be used for general transportation.

If more than one request is made for use, as provided in this subsection, of license plates having the same number, the Department shall accept only the first such application. Only vehicles titled to the persons seeking to use license plates as provided in this subsection shall be eligible to use license plates as provided for in this subsection.

The Commissioner may promulgate regulations necessary or convenient for the carrying out of the provisions of this subsection.