Hysterical tags?

[Jim Blackwood]

Has anybody considered running historic tags on their bus? Pros/cons? Could be a useful fall-back alternative to MH tags.

Jim

[richard5933]

The historical tags are different state by state. In some states you can only drive the vehicle so many miles, or during certain months, or only to collector events, etc. Wisconsin has both historic tags and collector tags, each with its own set of rules (which change from time to time).

I checked into it for our bus, but at only $120/yr for full tags decided that it wasn't worth worrying about potential restrictions that exist/could exist.

Another option which is available in some states for historic vehicles is to find tags from the year of the vehicle and register those old tags for use on the roads. Looks very cool to see a '32 Ford wearing tags from 1932.

[Boomer]

I bought original 1947 Washington plates for my Silverside.  Restored them and registered.  The cost was 107.00 for lifetime registration, never pay again.

[pd4501-771]

I run multiply state 1956 plates (including my home-state of Illinois). Here you register as antique, and receive modern looking antique plates for $37 (with a 5 year sticker). Then you can run old Illinois plates (year of manufacture), as long as you carry your registered antique plates with you. You do not register the old plates, so I push my luck and run multiple states like the good old days of buses/trucks. Never been stopped yet, but have received some long stares by passing police. Illinois does have restrictions on antique use. To and from shows/repairs, etc. Not a problem, and seldom enforced unless one is DUI, and crashes at 4am, or you drive antique daily to work! As little as I drive mine, I have no issue complying.

[dtcerrato]

We run Florida antique plate.

[Geoff]

I asked about Historical Plates (vehicle over 25 years old) and you have to pay for them like they are personalized plates which is way more than the paltry fees I'm paying now.  I also checked into getting cheaper insurance, and I was told you had to drive the vehicle less than so many miles a year and belong to a car club.

[windtrader]

gonna be a lot harder to convince a park manager the bus is less than ten years old! 

[gumpy]

I run collector plates on mine. Significant savings over the years.

[gg04]

In MS antique plates are required for anything over 25years old..$25. Good for 100 year's no mileage restrictions.. mine have been on since we bought in 1999 expires in 2099!!!

[muldoonman]

Don't know about the antique plates here in Texas on a bus but Paid an extra $40 bucks for personalized plates when I bought it many moons ago. . Heck after spending $500 bucks a year to drive it (plates by weight here)  $40 was nothing to add. Folks have said they have never seen these personalized plates on something so big.

[Dave5Cs]

Our personalized plate for the bus are 54.00 a year and go down each year to a point and then are the same each year.

[Jim Blackwood]

Seems to me a hysterical tag is almost ideal for a bus conversion. Almost everywhere you go it is to meet other busnuts and promote the madness so any long trip could be justified as being in connection with a meet somewhere, helping organize (unofficially) or local trips to get fuel and such. Even one without a set destination can be described as a scouting trip, which anyone who is active on this board should be able to justify.

Is the insurance as a rule significantly cheaper?

I'm just thinking that since my bus hits 25 in 2 years and it won't be ready to go before that, I should consider this carefully. KY doesn't seem to have a fixed method for changing the title from commercial to MH so it could be the best way to avoid all the red tape.

Jim

[pd4501-771]

Mine are insured with Condon & Skelly and Hagerty. I do not think outfits like that would insure a motor home. Maybe some other non-specialty companies like State Farm or others that offer "classic vehicle" policies may.  In fact Condon & Skelly stopped offering new antique bus policies a few years back. My current policies were grandfathered, but I had to go with Hagerty for my Silversides. 

[Jim Blackwood]

Thanks. I suppose if I retain the original outside appearance Hagerty might be receptive. (I currently use them for my MG) Any rough estimates as to what they would charge? I know on the car it's an agreed-value policy.

Jim

[pd4501-771]

That's first question they asked was is it original with seats? My bus policy with them is agreed value same as any old car. $22K was about $225 per year