[chris vickery]

Bruce, regular plate, regular insurance.
Historic plates, vintage insurance
Simple as that.
I asked my provider about usage of historic vehicles and according to him, as long as it was being used periodically, even for a country drive, this falls into the "exhibition/display/parade" category of useage.
I have never heard of any case of someone being charged under the HTA for operating a licensed and insured historic vehicle in a safe manner.
Maybe it has happened but one must remember the "spirit" of any law and the intentions behind it when it was written.
Most guys I know who operate antique vehicles belong to some sort of club or organization to promote their old vehicle. While not a lawyer, I think this would cover the "automobile club" stipulation.
When a guy has a whole shop full of restored vehicles it gets awfully expensive to plate and isure all of them using regular plates.
Also, I have seen trucks over 4500kgs wearing historic plates. Go to any large truck show and check it out.