The DMV announced new plates for classic cars and motorcycles.
The Department of Motor Vehicles will soon replace its “Early American” license plate with the more stylish “Classic Vehicle” for those cars, trucks and motorcycles that are at least 20 years old.
The new plate’s white background with dark blue lettering and words “Classic Vehicle” centered at bottom accents the special character of these older vehicles. The more modern approach accounts for the variety of vehicles on the road today.
“This is a very distinctive design that these vehicle owners can be proud to display. As with their cars, it will stand out as special,” DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey said. “The new look also allows for up to seven characters for a vanity plate and opens up a wide range of ways to personalize a vehicle.”
The new car and motorcycle plates will say “Classic Vehicle” instead of “Early American.”
Residents can apply now for a vanity plate in this new series and beginning April 1 can obtain a standard-issue one in DMV branch offices around the state. To qualify, a vehicle must already be registered in Connecticut and be at least 20 years old. Additional details and application information can be found at ct.gov/dmv/classicplate.
Commissioner Currey recently joined members of the state legislature and car enthusiasts at the State Legislative Office Building to unveil the newly designed license plate also available for motorcycles. The new design will replace the “Early American” license plate that featured black lettering on a white background with an antique vehicle logo on the left side.
The fee is $27 to replace the Early American plate with the Classic Vehicle plate. Fees vary for replacing other plates with a new Classic Vehicle plate based on the expiration of the current registration. Applicants can request through the mail only a vanity plate with special letters and numbers for a $96 fee.
Motorcycle plates also feature the same dark blue lettering on a white background with an old-style motorcycle logo on the left and the words “Classic Motorcycle.” Classic Motorcycle plates are limited to five characters for vanity plate requests.
All Early American design plates in use will remain registered until an owner cancels them.
The new style plate came from discussions with car club members who approached state legislators and DMV to modernize the plate. Commissioner Currey convened several meetings with car enthusiasts to develop a new design.
“It was important to get feedback for a new design from people who care so deeply about their automobiles,” Commissioner Currey said.
“We appreciate the openness and willingness of the Department of Motor Vehicles to solicit input from Connecticut antique auto hobbyists on the design of the new ‘Classic Vehicle’ antique auto license plate,” said Dave Bajumpaa, a member of Connecticut Council of Car Clubs who served with the group at DMV to determine the new design. “This new ‘Classic Vehicle’ license plate better reflects the changes to and increased diversity of the antique auto hobby that has evolved over the last 60 years.”