In Illinois we have antique plates. There is no stated mileage limit
(used to be, but not any more), but you are not supposed to ever
commute in them, etc. The specific verbage is:
"Antique Vehicle License Plates are issued for a five year
registration period expiring Dec. 31, 2014. To qualify for Antique
Plates, motor vehicles, including motorcycles, must be more than 25
years old. Firefighting vehicles must be at least 20 years old.
Vehicles displaying these plates may only be driven to and from an
antique auto show or exhibition, service station or demonstration. The
mechanical and physical condition of the vehicle, including brakes,
lights, glass and appearance, must be the same or as safe as
originally equipped. An antique vehicle may be a "bona fide replica" -
an exact copy of the original in design, frame and mechanical
operation. "Facsimiles" - close, but not exact, reproductions of the
original - do not qualify for Antique Vehicle plates.
Historical License Plates, representing the model year, may be
displayed on an antique vehicle, provided the owner has valid, current
Antique Vehicle Plates. Plates and registration must be kept in the
vehicle at all times."
That said, many cops don't even know what the plates are. Most ignore
them unless they see someone driving them day after day during
commuting hours. Barney Gaylord uses them on his MGA which has
somewhere around 400,000 miles on it and the only hassle he has gotten
was from a cop who could not believe that it was possible to have a
valid sticker on your plate that did not expire within a year. If you
know Barney, you will understand that the cop was only too willing to
let him go after Barney had been cheerfully bending his ear for half
an hour or so...
David L
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