In an effort to rid Virginia highways and byways of clunker vehicles registered as antiques, the state Legislature has amended Code 46.2-730 dealing with the licensing and registration of antique motor vehicles.

Under the new law, antique vehicle owners must show evidence that they own and regularly use another passenger car, truck or motorcycle when applying for antique license plates. Additionally, antique motor vehicle, trailer and motorcycle owners must submit a notarized certification to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) indicating that their vehicle meets safety equipment requirements for the model year in which it was manufactured and can be driven safely on the highways of Virginia.

Vehicles that are 25 years old and older are considered antique.

The law went into effect on July 1, 2007. Registration and antique license plate fees changed from $10 per year to a one-time fee of $50.

According to the Virginia State Police, if a vehicle is registered as an antique through the Department of Motor Vehicles, it is exempt from state inspection.

New restrictions for antique vehicles are:

• Antique motor vehicles shall not be used for general transportation purposes including daily travel to and from the owner’s place of employment.
• Such vehicles may be operated on the highway for participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades and similar events or for the purpose of testing their operation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, transportation to and from events earlier described, and for occasional pleasure drives, not to exceed 250 miles from the residence of the owner.

Certification forms (VSA 10 B) are available online at the Virginia DMV Web site, www.dmvnow.com, under Vehicle Registration, Antique Motor Vehicles and Trailers. Click on VSA 10 B to print the form.

Customers who bring you the safety requirement certification for notarization must provide proof of the vehicle title number, vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, and license plate number.  The certification form also has a section in which the vehicle owner must provide proof of at least one other properly registered vehicle or motorcycle available for daily commutes.

After administering an oath or affirmation to the vehicle owner on the truthfulness of his or her statements, the owner (and co-owner, if any) of the vehicle must sign the certification in your presence before you can complete the jurat. Sign your name in ink and place your stamp near your signature.

If an antique vehicle owner is convicted of operating an antique vehicle determined unsafe or not properly equipped, the DMV will suspend the owner’s registration of that vehicle for five years.

The DMV reported that there were approximately 109,000 active antique license plate registrations in the Commonwealth as of July 1, 2006. Sergeant Robert L. Evans, of the Virginia Department of State Police, Safety Division Headquarters, said the DMV sent letters to individuals announcing the new requirements.

The owners of antique motor vehicles with registered antique license plates issued prior to July 1, 2007 will be required to submit a completed VSA 10 B to the DMV before Jan. 1, 2008. The DMV will cancel the antique vehicle registration if the certification is not sent in by the deadline.