Antique Registration Process in NC

j54mitsu

New Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Location
Durham, NC and Charlottesville, VA
What's the antique registration process like in NC, is it sketchy or fairly smooth?

I'll probably be moving to the Durham area in the Fall. I have a 1976 rig (Mitsubishi Jeep J54, basically a diesel CJ-3B). I called the DMV and they said any vehicle older than 35 years has to go through the antique registration process. That it could take 2 months and an inspector has to come take pictures and otherwise document things. I'm particularly curious how they'll manage to appraise a vehicle that is so oddly rare.
 
Hmmm, I dunno. I know over 35 years, annual inspection is no longer required.

Don't know about requiring you to have the antique registration. From what I know (maybe the way it *used* to be), the 'antique' tags have too many restrictions...can only drive to and from shop, club rides, parades, etc. I'd get standard plates/registration.
 
I have a standard registration on our '57 CJ. We can run year of manufacture tags if we keep the registered tag in the vehicle with us. As stated earlier, no safety inspections, so the only yearly cost is tag$26 property tax and insurance
 
Don't know about requiring you to have the antique registration. From what I know (maybe the way it *used* to be), the 'antique' tags have too many restrictions...can only drive to and from shop, club rides, parades, etc. I'd get standard plates/registration.
Click to expand...

What the DMV is telling him does not pertain to trying to get it registered as an "antique" for specialized plates as it is NC trying to get tax money. Since its the first time the vehicle has been registered in NC, they want a cut of its value. New vehicle owners have to do the same thing by providing a certificate of origin. Once appraised and registered, its registered as a normal motor vehicle (unless its a low speed vehicle). You are then eligible to find horseless carriage or date stamped tags to put in place of your normal registration plates.


Here is some information I pulled from the statute
(b) Classification. – Antique automobiles are designated a special class of property under Article V, Sec. 2(2) of the North Carolina Constitution and must be assessed for taxation in accordance with this section. An antique automobile must be assessed at the lower of its true value or five hundred dollars ($500.00). (1995, c 512, s 2; 2009‑445, s. 24(a).)


(b) Value. – An assessor must appraise a classified motor vehicle at its true value in money as prescribed by G.S. 105‑283. The sales price of a classified motor vehicle purchased from a dealer, including all accessories attached to the vehicle when it is delivered to the purchaser, is considered the true value of the vehicle, and the assessor must appraise the vehicle at this value. The sales price excludes the tax imposed under Article 5A of this Chapter. The Property Tax Division of the Department of Revenue must annually adopt a schedule of values, standards, and rules to be used in the valuation of all other classified motor vehicles to ensure equitable statewide valuations, taking into account local market conditions and allowing adjustments for mileage and the condition of the vehicles.
(b1) Appeal. – The owner of a classified motor vehicle may appeal the appraised value or taxability of the vehicle by filing a request for appeal with the assessor within 30 days of the date taxes are due on the vehicle under G.S. 105‑330.4. An owner who appeals the appraised value or taxability of a classified motor vehicle must pay the tax on the vehicle when due, subject to a full or partial refund if the appeal is decided in the owner's favor.
 
Thanks for the statutes. Do I understand this right:
-All vehicles 35 or older (coming from out of state) must go through this process, at which point they are classified as antiques but issued normal tags.
-There are no odd restrictions for antiques (in VA there are distance and driving purpose restrictions).

It sounds like the pictures and other documentation that the inspector takes are there for valuation purposes (and verifying that it's stock enough to qualify as antique). And not so much safety issues? Like would they they try to look for factory safety features, not required by NC statute for a vehicle its age (like clearance lamps), that were removed? Or if I have 3 point seatbelts installed will I be unable to revert to 2 points in the future?

I called about the valuation process and they said that bc it's not in nada/kbb (it's a grey market import from the Japanese domestic market) it'll need two appraisals. I'm glad to read that statute that says the property tax will be assessed at no more than $500 value.
 
All vehicles 35 or older (coming from out of state) must go through this process, at which point they are classified as antiques but issued normal tags.
Click to expand...
As far as I understand it, that is correct. My LJ is 40 and runs normal tags. I have the option to find a 72 tag and put it on there as long as I retain the original and registration somewhere in the vehicle.

-There are no odd restrictions for antiques (in VA there are distance and driving purpose restrictions).
Click to expand...
There are some restrictions:
Low-speed vehicles may be operated only on streets and highways where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. It may cross a road or street at an intersection with a posted speed higher than 35 mph. The low-speed vehicle must be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, windshield wipers, speedometer, seat belts and a vehicle indentification number. It must be insured and registered.​
​
As far as I know the photographs are both for value and for safety. The License and Theft Inspectors will put together a report at that time making sure its safe to be on the road.

I would say if you put in 3 point belts, you should be ok to revert back to 2 or none in the future. No one will have the ability to look back to see what you did or didn't do. The statute says any cars < '68 and light trucks/vans <'72 are exempt.
 
Thanks for all your all's help. It's nice knowing what I'm going to get into. Looking forward to meeting people in my new wheeling neighborhood a few months.
 
a friend of mine is going through this right now and it is my understanding it is to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy b/c it does not require an inspection, his car is a basket case MGB from GA we are trying to get going my suggestion to him was just get the title transfered to NC without getting tags and then after you get the title go put tags on it that way it is already registered in NC and therefor will not require the inspection from the inspector for an out of state antique he is going to try it so who knows?
 
I purchased a 1957 Austin healey 100-6 ( also a nonrunning basket case ) from Ga. a little over a year ago . Ga. does not have titles for older cars , just a bill of sale . The inspector came out two times , 1st time to look over the car for numbers and to see if it was running . 2nd time to put assigned number on the door jam and fire wall . I had to get bond on the car and keep it for 3 years for 1 and 1/2 times the value ( not what you paid for the car unless you paid 1 and 1/2 times the value ) . Then a few weeks later I get a non-operational NC title in the mail . Now when I get the car ready for the road , the inspector will come back and reinspect the car and I will be issued a normal operational NC title .
 
My Deuce is a 72, when I tagged it, it went as follows:
Took Title to tag office.
Paid my money for a tag, walked out with a metal tag.
They said Antique Tag will come in a few days, it did.
Put Antique Tag on back of truck, they said I could put a 72 tag on it but didn't.
Owned and driven truck for over 4 years now in NC.

Plus, it might depend on the tag office, some are easy, some are nit picky.

Then,
Stupid LEO pulls me one day, says tag is incorrect, says it's a trailer tag. I pointed out that it say's "Antique Auto" on tag, he ask me for the tag that the Tag Office originally issued, I had it in the glove box. He waste my time for 45 minutes then drives off without even a "sorry I wasted your time". As I a precaution I now have the first metal tag bolted to the inside of my drivers door and the antique tag still on the back.

The odd restrictions on antiques is who/how your insurance policy is with. If the insurance company is that restrictive - change. They aren't gon'na stop you/me from having fun with our antiques, if so, what's the point of owning it?
 
Back
Top