Registering an out of state Model A in TN.

[Herb Concord Ca]

Hi all who live in Tennesse. Can you describe the process to license and title an out of state (CA) Model A in Tennesse. The Model A has a current CA title and registration.
Thank you.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I am sure it depends on the county, but based on my experiences locally, if all looks good on the California title then it moves along pretty quickly.

[51504bat]

Don't know the exact process in TN but does the ID number on the CA pink slip match the engine number or has the engine been changed over the years? If that's the case and TN wants to verify the number on the title with the number on the frame you've got a problem. Or maybe your A has a CA DMV assigned vin attached which would make the engine number issue moot.

[GPierce]

Took me 10 minutes to register my A in Shelby County with a Texas title. Never question the serial number. I just had to fill out a form indicating what I paid for it and handed the clerk the Texas title. She told me the cost and I wrote a check.
It was a project in pieces. I had pictures of it if they questioned what I paid for it. They didn’t.
They just wanted the sales tax and title cost.

[ronn]

plenty of photos on the internet...........


rusty to restored

[fried okra]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Tennessee DMV staff are very helpful and easy to work with.

I can't say that about most other states I've lived in though

[CarlG]

I just transferred title and registration on a SC car to Alaska. Car was still in SC at the time. No problem -- I had all the proper paperwork, all they wanted was $$.

[ModelA29]

Looks like they don't require a VIN inspection



https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/revenu...a-vehicle.html

[hotrodart]

Originally Posted by GPierce

Took me 10 minutes to register my A in Shelby County with a Texas title. Never question the serial number. I just had to fill out a form indicating what I paid for it and handed the clerk the Texas title. She told me the cost and I wrote a check.
It was a project in pieces. I had pictures of it if they questioned what I paid for it. They didn’t.
They just wanted the sales tax and title cost.

I am in the process of finding a place near Knoxville......does TN require state safety or emissions test on antique cars? How about any annual taxes.....personal property, etc.?

[GPierce]

Originally Posted by hotrodart

I am in the process of finding a place near Knoxville......does TN require state safety or emissions test on antique cars? How about any annual taxes.....personal property, etc.?

Antique tag good for ever. No personal property tax in Tennessee, no income tax for most of us. No emission test, no safety test. You pay one time when you register your car and that’s it.
We have several recent immigrants from California in our neighborhood.

[Oldbluoval]

I don’t have rolling stock these days but when I did…….
I placed Yom plates on the car but carried the forever plates in the car.
Never stopped or challenged….don’t know what would have happened. Likely illegal.

[SHEC]

Easy peasy transfer as a friend of mine from Alaska just went through this process. Not much accounting and sometimes a bit “ lackadaisical “ as he put it.
When are you heading East?

[TerryO]

[QUOTEI placed Yom plates on the car but carried the forever plates in the car.
Never stopped or challenged….don’t know what would have happened. Likely illegal.][/QUOTE]




Not Tennessee, but in GA, I have been doing the same for 3 or 4 years and never stopped (yet)...The car is registered with a" Historic Auto" plate that was discontinued many years ago. Mine was issued to the previous owner in the early 70's and I was able to get it transferred to me but I don't dare mess with it since I have never seen another one.


TOB

[Oldbluoval]

Not a “for sale” but could be!
I have several matched sets of TN 1931 plates.
[email protected]

[Herb Concord Ca]

Thanks to all who replied, except hotrodart.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Herb, are you moving to 10-uh-C in the future? If so, what area are you looking at??

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Just so you are clear, you will need to purchase the Antique Auto Plate first before you can register Tennessee YoM plates to your vehicle. Two difficult things about Tennessee vintage tags is;

...


2) Finding a YoM plate with a number you can use is sometimes difficult. DMV may have used a number for a 1924 tag, and when that tag number was no longer registered, they would re-issue that same number on a new tag. Therefore in a hypothetical world, you could have the same number on a 1924 tag, a 1931 tag, 1937, 1945, 1961, 1967 etc. Whomever is first to register that number for their vehicle gets to use it. To all the others with tags of the same number, they basically have 'wall art'. Other states may operate similarly however just wanted you to be aware.

That's the case in California. The pattern for 1930 was number-letter-number-number-number-number, and that's been the pattern for motorcycle plates at least as far back as the 1970's. The good news is that the motorcycles got into double digits (10 and above) for the first space around 2010, so if the 1930 YOM plate first place is a single digit (which I believe all of them are) then it will only possibly match an older motorcycle (or another YOM plate). I have a set of 1930 YOM plates that I haven't had a use for yet as my 1930 TS is not currently running, and I figure the longer I wait to check, the better chance that number will be available.


JayJay

[TerryH]

About 15 years ago I purchased YOM plates for my 1930 Town Sedan. I found them from a gentleman in N. California, who restored them. He sold the pair & told me to verify them with the DMV within 30 days, and if the number was not acceptable, he would supply 2 new plates. No problem, I took them in to local DMV, they measured and confirmed the color, then the numbers, and blessed them

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by TerryH

About 15 years ago I purchased YOM plates for my 1930 Town Sedan. I found them from a gentleman in N. California, who restored them. He sold the pair & told me to verify them with the DMV within 30 days, and if the number was not acceptable, he would supply 2 new plates. No problem, I took them in to local DMV, they measured and confirmed the color, then the numbers, and blessed them

That's a good, honorable way to do business.

I have my '30 on "non-operational" status right now to avoid paying registration fees on it. Once I get it back running and registered I'll explore the YOM issue. I got the plates with a previous vehicle that I didn't intend keeping so I didn't register them to it.

JayJay

[Herb Concord Ca]

Brent, I posted this topic for a friend. Not sure of her time frame on a move.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Is she the one that has the 180A??

[BTERRY29]

I hope to be out there in 10 years or less. I will be bringing both my A's. hoping for smooth registrations. The Tudor is registered to the engine in it, and the truck to the frame that has a different engine number. Both are currently registered here in CA with no issue. hopefully its just a little money and a few min at the DMV. nothing else.....

[Herb Concord Ca]

Hi Brent, no she has an original 160B that runs very well. The doors are the easiest closing door I have ever seen!

[fried okra]

I personally like the Knoxville, Tennessee DMV office on Chapman Highway.

Never had any wait at all and they are pleasurable to interact with.

[GPierce]

Originally Posted by fried okra

I personally like the Knoxville, Tennessee DMV office on Chapman Highway.

Never had any wait at all and they are pleasurable to interact with.

You are fortunate. Wait times in Memphis this year have been hours.