ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.
Trooper Steve on Tuesday was asked by Philip, ““I have a 1999 Chevrolet S10 Blazer. Can I get an antique license plate for it (in Florida)?”
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The short answer is yes, but not yet. Let’s look at the details.
“We’ll start with antique plates themselves,” Trooper Steve said. “You might have seen them on older vehicles — they’re sky-blue in color and have FLORIDA stamped across the top and ANTIQUE stamped across the bottom.”
To get an antique plate for your car, you have to submit an application to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles by filling out Form 83045.
But here’s the caveat: in order to qualify for that antique plate, the vehicle must be at least 30 years old (sorry Philip, your S10 won’t be eligible for another five years).
Years ago, it used to be 20 years or older, but now it’s 30 in Florida.
There are a couple of other things to know, too. Besides getting the cool blue and white plate, vehicles that are at least 30 years old also qualify for a registration fee discount. The logic behind the price reduction is that most people won’t drive their antique vehicle as much as they do a newer car. You can follow this link for a fee schedule for registering your antique vehicle.
And finally, Florida license plates expire after 10 years, but antique plates never expire as long as you own the vehicle. Remember, though, you do have to renew the registration every year.
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