§463.8. Antique license plates and license plates for antique motor vehicles and motorcycles

A.(1) The secretary shall establish and issue special license plates for antique motor vehicles, including both pickup trucks and trucks with a gross weight in excess of six thousand pounds, and motorcycles, which are twenty-five years old or older, and shall establish and issue symbols for antique license plates. To obtain such plates and symbols, an applicant shall provide to the secretary a notarized affidavit that the vehicle or motorcycle has not been and will not be materially altered or modified from the original manufacturer's specifications. In addition, such vehicle or motorcycle shall be used primarily for special occasions such as exhibitions, club activities, parades, or other functions of the public interest, or for necessary testing, maintenance, and storage purposes. The plates shall be available upon application through the applicant's local licensing bureau.

(2) These license plates for antique motor vehicles shall be used in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration license plates and shall be issued for the life of the vehicle. Such plates may be issued as antique personalized prestige plates for motor vehicles only in the style for personalized prestige plates authorized by R.S. 47:463.2, and such plates shall be used in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration license plates and shall be issued for the life of the vehicle. The plates shall become permanent to the vehicle on which the plates are issued and shall be transferred with the vehicle if it is sold upon payment of established transfer fees. Alternatively, the secretary may allow antique license plates to be used on an antique motor vehicle if the owner of the vehicle presents the antique license plates to the secretary for approval and the antique license plates were issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the motor vehicle. The license plates issued for antique motorcycles shall be used in lieu of the regular registration license plates and shall be issued for the life of the motorcycle.

B.(1)(a) Prior to August 15, 1999, the fee for issuing the license plates provided for in this Section shall be a one-time fee of fifty dollars for each plate for the special plates for antique motor vehicles or motorcycles, and a one-time fee of fifty dollars for the personalized prestige plates for antique motor vehicles.

(b) After August 15, 1999, the fee for issuing such special plates for antique motor vehicles or motorcycles shall be a one-time fee of twenty-five dollars and a one-time fee of fifty dollars for the personalized prestige plates.

(2) The fee for issuing the license plates provided for in this Section to trucks with a gross vehicle weight in excess of six thousand pounds shall be the same as for other antique motor vehicles.

(3) The fee for transferring a special license plate for an antique motor vehicle or an antique license plate to a subsequent owner of the vehicle shall be three dollars.

(4) Vehicles shall be registered as antique, classic, or vintage, upon application for registration and payment of the one-time fee. When the applicant provides a notarized statement that the vehicle being registered has not been used on a public highway during a period of non-registration, fees and penalties for that period shall not be assessed.

C.(1) In addition to the plates issued as provided in Subsections A and B of this Section, the secretary shall establish and issue collector plates for special interest vehicles. The vehicles shall be used primarily for special occasions such as exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest, or for necessary testing, maintenance, and storage purposes.

(2) As used in this Subsection, "special interest vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is twenty-five years old or older, has not been materially modified or altered from the original manufacturer's specifications, and is being preserved by hobbyists because of its historic interest.

(3) The secretary shall determine the color and design of the plates in conjunction with the Louisiana Region Antique Auto Club of America.

(4) The fee for issuing such collector plates shall be five dollars a year, and such plates are to be renewed every five years.

D. Beginning July 1, 2001, all license plates issued for antique motor vehicles shall be issued upon payment of a one-time fee. No additional payment of the regular motor vehicle registration license fee shall be necessary for any owner to permanently retain such plate after that date.

E. The secretary shall provide by rules and regulations for the implementation of this Section. Oversight review of the rules and regulations shall be conducted by the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 168, §2. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 271, §1; Acts 1984, No. 684, §1; Acts 1987, No. 179, §1; Acts 1989, No. 674, §2; Acts 1995, No. 728, §1; Acts 1997, No. 681, §1; Acts 1997, No. 971, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1131, §2, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 632, §1; Acts 2001, No. 497, §1, eff. July 1, 2001.