A reader said they have recently seen a few historic, restored vehicles with historical or authentic license plates that were painted to match the vehicle paint. The reader wanted to know if this was legal and what the requirements are to legally use a historic or an authentic license plate. Another reader asked the question of what the fine for driving with historic plates if they are not attending an event or show?

There are special provisions in MCL 257.803a and 257.803p which allows a historical vehicle owner to use an authentic Michigan license plate as long as it is from the same year the historical vehicle was manufactured. Reproduction and remanufactured plates as well as authentic dealer and manufacturer plates are not allowed. The plate must display the correct colors for the year of issuance. Therefore you cannot paint or recolor a plate to match your vehicle.

Michigan Secretary of State also issues new, historical license plates for historical vehicles.

To qualify for either type of license plate, the vehicle must be:

∫ 26 or more years old

∫ Owned solely as a collector’s item

∫ A vehicle registered with a regular historical plate or authentic historic plate cannot be used for general transportation. The vehicle can only be used for participating in historical club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, car shows, swap meets, and similar uses.

Under MCL 257.803a, Section (2,) “The owner of an historic vehicle applying for an historic vehicle registration plate or a registration tab under this section shall pay a fee of $30.00, shall certify that the vehicle for which the registration is requested is owned and operated solely as an historic vehicle…”

Section (3) talks about the length of registration. “A registration issued under this section shall expire on April 15 in the tenth year following the date of issuance of the registration.”

Section (4) answers the question in regards to the fine for operating the vehicle outside of the specified historic vehicle plate uses. “The secretary of state may revoke a registration issued under this section, for cause shown and after a hearing, for failure of the applicant to comply with this section, for use of the vehicle for which the registration was issued for purposes other than those enumerated in section 20a, or because the vehicle is not safe to operate on the highways of this state.”

For further information about historical and authentic license plates, you can contact Michigan Secretary of State or go to its website.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police – Alpena Post, 3283 W. Washington Ave, Alpena, MI 49707.