Historic Vehicle Plates: Pros/Cons in Ontario, Canada

[Robin Craig]

Got the PM Greg

[Mike Gray]

Well, I have been associated with many friends who own and operate vintage and classic cars. Most have historic vehicle plates on their vehicles, but not all.
They rally at local Tim's or A&W and go out for a 'toot' and a tour.
However, for us MV owners that is not really something we do just on a regular basis, going out for an organized 'toot'. Parades and events are mostly what we do I believe. Historic vehicle plates have lowered my overhead, yes, but then again we don't go swanning off with one of our MV's for a leisurely drive through the countryside on a beautiful September Sunday morning either.

[david moore]

My two cents worth on the original question of HV plate or not.........my understanding is that a regular plate in Ontario requires seat belts and flashing indicators to name but two requirements. Neither are fitted to a '42 jeep so no choice? Anyway, if you only drive about 100 miles a year, $100 insurance versus $500 seems to make sense.

[Jack Innes]

David,

A motor vehicle in Ontario needs to have the lights & equipment that it was built with to pass the safety inspection needed to obtain plates.

If something safety related is added it needs to be in working condition.

[david moore]

Yes, but you need to pass the safety anyway even to get historic plates - I was talking about getting regular plates.

[Jack Innes]

David,

I was talking about any plates as well.

Here is a quote from the MOT site regarding seat belts;

"No seatbelts needed

Seatbelts are not required in the following vehicles:
•buses (including school buses)
•other large commercial vehicles (over 4,536 kg) that don't require seatbelts to be installed in rear seating positions at the time of manufacture
•vehicles that were manufactured in or imported into Canada before January 1, 1974
•vehicles manufactured without seatbelt assemblies for each seating position"

Turn signals, air bags, 5 mph bumpers, etc. are treated similarly with regard to plating a vehicle in general.

The Ontario Safety Standards Certificate - (form 5) makes no mention of what class of plate that can be issued for the vehicle.

[Robin Craig]

David,

the words "not fitted at time of manufacture" is all that needs to be satisfied.

I agree with Jack's post and infact have gone through the circus when a testing mechanic does not know the rules.

There are times when I have been wrong, once was when I had to fit a windshield and wipers and wash bottle to pass a safety. Remember there is no requirement to operate with that windshield only to have it at the time of the safety.

It is a bit of a jungle out there.

A number of the Land Rovers I register have no reversing light fitted at time of manufacture.