New Historical Model Year License Plates

The owner of an historical vehicle who desires to display model year license plates on the vehicle, is permitted by this section, shall execute at the time of registration an affidavit (BMV Form) setting forth that the model year license plates desired to be displayed on the historical vehicle are legible and serviceable license plates that were originally issued by this state.

A vehicle registered under this section may display historical vehicle license plates issued by the registrar of motor vehicles or model year license plates procured by the applicant.

Model year license plates shall be legible and serviceable license plates issued by this state and inscribed with the date of the year corresponding to the model year when the vehicle was manufactured.

Section 4503.21 of the Ohio Revised Code, states that only one model year license plate is required to be displayed on the rear of the historical vehicle at all times. The registration certificate shall be kept in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is operated on the highways and roads of this state.

The owner of an historical motor vehicle that was manufactured for military purposes and that is registered under this section, may display the assigned registration number of the vehicle by painting the number on the front and rear of the vehicle. The number shall be painted, in accordance with the size and style specifications established for numerals and letters shown in license plates in section 4503.22 of the Ohio Revised Code, in a color that contrast clearly with the color of the vehicle, and shall be legible and visible at all times.

Upon application for registration under this section and payment of the license tax prescribed in division (B) of this section, the owner of such a historical motor vehicle shall be issued historical vehicle license plates. The registration certificate and at least one of the license plates shall be kept in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is operated on the highways and roads of the state.

Historical vehicle and model year license plates shall be valid without renewal as long as the vehicle is in existence. These plates are issued for the applicant's use only for such vehicle.