California Y.O.M. license plates

[joe plumber]

Charlie ,you can Google antique license plates for the state you live in on E-bay .There are tons of plates on E-Bay for sale .You could check out the going asking prices there .Some are reasonable ,some are outrageous ,just my opinion..

[CarlG]

I got this set on eBay for under $100:

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by Fordors

California, like Illinois, does not allow repainting of plates so I would be certain that they have not been redone before handing over any cash. That is another factor that will drive up the price; Ross/Kzoo said it best, supply and demand. How many sets of 1931 plates, factory painted, in nice shape, with a valid number are out there?

Feel free to restore the plates after they have been registered.

[TerryH]

Here is a photograph of the restored plates I bought about 6 years ago from a vendor in N. California.
Terry

[400A-64]

!930 California plates were over produced because of the depression. More plates less cars. 1931 California plates had a reduced production...still lower automobile production. That means that '31 plates are very hard to find. California law requires that a particular number be only used once. If for instance if a 1936 plate is registered with "F7866" that number cannot be used again. Some smaller number combinations were used on Motorcycles..further limiting finding a clear number. I know of fellas that have tracked down a motorcycle number and purchased the plate and had it re-registered to the plates he had with the same number. Of course he paid the motorcycle guy for his new registration. It is a lot of detective work, but maybe worth it if you had a very nice set of plates that you bought cheap!!
GOOD HUNTING!!!
Bruce Davis

[Terry, NJ]

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Hey! Just out of curiosity, What is my 1919 Cal. plate worth? (1) white Porcelin with black letters and a red seal(?) I aquired it it about ten years ago pretty cheep!
Terry

[Brother Hesekiel]

Not anything, really. I have a set of very nice 1920 plates, DMV clear, and can't even get $50 for them. Again, the year matters, then it matters that it's a matching set, then the condition matters, and finally it matters that they are DMV clear. The most expensive California plates are 1932 because any hot rodder wants them and then of course, 1919 and down, but only matching, DMV clear pairs in good condition. To restore a porcelain plate would cost more than the plate would be worth afterward.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Dog here,
Iffin' Ol' Bill sold our restored '29 Kalif. plates, we culd buy ICECREAM fur a YEAR!!!!!! & he wuld get SO FAT thet he culdn't even skoot under Vermin Buster T.

[Mitch//pa]

can someone post the link to check for clear ca tags...
i have a set i want to ck out

[SDJason]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

can someone post the link to check for clear ca tags...
i have a set i want to ck out

Well - I just tried using the personalized plates registration page (entered my current license plate # - it's not a personalized plate, but is a standard dmv-issued #), and got an instant automated response letting me know that it was not available.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by SDJason

Well - I just tried using the personalized plates registration page (entered my current license plate # - it's not a personalized plate, but is a standard dmv-issued #), and got an instant automated response letting me know that it was not available.

thanks for the link i have a pair of 63 plates i needed to ck and it seems they are clear....

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

Hey! Just out of curiosity, What is my 1919 Cal. plate worth? (1) white Porcelin with black letters and a red seal(?) I aquired it it about ten years ago pretty cheep!
Terry

A single plate isn't worth much.

[DougVieyra]

He said $350 - you said '$325. So we are talking about $25 here. How much will you agonize over this. How much time and effort will you put into finding another set that will match your '$325 ? For a mere, $25 you can end your anquish over having white license plates and smile while you drive and park with your Y.O.M. 1931 California license plates. The extra $25 will be money $$$$ well spent.

[Brother Hesekiel]

Doug,
I started with $300, he was asking $375. But you are absolutely correct. Even if I eventually find an equal (number combination & condition) set for $50 less on some swap meet or on eBay, it's not worth wasting several months on it when I could be moving on to more important things.

[63tango]

I got a nice set of 34 plates off ebay about 7 or 8 years ago for $75. They cleared DMV
and are on my truck. I guess I got lucky. They were still in the original DMV envelope too.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by 63tango

I got a nice set of 34 plates off ebay about 7 or 8 years ago for $75. They cleared DMV
and are on my truck. I guess I got lucky. They were still in the original DMV envelope too.

I am curious (I have a '31 pickup). Did they say "PC" (for pneumatic commercial) and was the DMV interested in whether or not they said "PC".

Charlie Stephens

[63tango]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

I am curious (I have a '31 pickup). Did they say "PC" (for pneumatic commercial) and was the DMV interested in whether or not they said "PC".

Charlie Stephens

No they don't its a number a letter and 4 numbers. They do charge me a weight
fee. I don't think DMV cared about that because its assign as a personalized plate.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by 63tango

No they don't its a number a letter and 4 numbers. They do charge me a weight
fee. I don't think DMV cared about that because its assign as a personalized plate.

They shouldn't be charging you a weight fee. Buried deep in the regulations is an exemption for pre 1936 commercial vehicles.

Charlie Stephens

[Bob C]

Weight fee exemption Commercial-type motor vehicles manufactured in 1936 or prior. (CVC §9401[a])

Here's a link to the page http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk/ch3/ch3_13.htm

Bob

[63tango]

Wow!! Thanks. They charged me an $8 weight fee.