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Ordering historical and authentic license plates

Ordering historical and authentic license plates

How do I order a historical or authentic license plate?

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Online

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By mail

Historical and authentic plates may be ordered by mail.

Michigan Department of State
7064 Crowner Dr.
Lansing, Michigan 48918-1530

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Self-service station

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Office visit

Schedule an office visit to order a historical plate

Schedule an office visit

An introduction to historic vehicles in Michigan

Michigan's proud legacy as the automobile capital of the world is evident in the many car enthusiasts who collect, restore, and exhibit historic vehicles. Since 1956, Michigan has offered a special inexpensive vehicle registration specifically for owners of antique vehicles.

Owners of historic cars, motorcycles, and trucks have the option of registering their antique vehicle with either a Michigan historical license plate or an authentic Michigan license plate.

Definition and use of a historic vehicle

To qualify for a historical or authentic license plate, the vehicle must be:

  • At least 26 years old. (Age is calculated by subtracting the vehicle model year from the current calendar year.)
  • Owned solely as a collector's item.
  • Used only for events such as historic club activities, parades, and car shows. Historic vehicles cannot be used for routine transportation.

Note: The restriction on the use of a historic vehicle is suspended during the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day, allowing these vehicles to be driven at any time (MCL 257.20a).

Historical license plates (Choose tab)

Michigan historical license plates are white with six blue numbers (four numbers on motorcycle plates) and are manufactured using the same technology and materials currently used in all of Michigan’s license plate types.

Historical plates may be ordered by mail. When ordering your historical plate, please include the following documents:

  • The completed Application for the Michigan Historical License Plate (BDVR-96).
  • Proof of ownership, preferably a copy of the Michigan title. If you do not have the title, present a previous registration as proof of ownership.
  • Proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance.

Historical plates cost $30. Make your check or money order payable to the State of Michigan and mail it with the rest of the required documents to the:

Michigan Department of State
7064 Crowner Dr.
Lansing, Michigan 48918-1530

Your historical plate registration will be mailed in about 30 days.

Application for the Historical Michigan License Plate

To apply for a historical license plate at a Secretary of State office, you will need to present:

  • The completed Application for the Michigan Historical License Plate (BDVR-96).
  • Proof of ownership, preferably a copy of the title. If you do not have the title, present a previous registration as proof of ownership.
  • Proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance (out-of-state policies will not be accepted).

Historical plates cost $30. Secretary of State offices accept:

  • Cash, checks, money orders. (Checks and money orders should be made payable to the State of Michigan.)
  • American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa debit/credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. A service fee is charged if using a debit/credit card.

Your historical plate will be mailed in about 30 days.

Application for the Michigan Historical License Plate

Schedule an office visit

Authentic license plates (Choose tab)

An authentic plate may be used to register an antique vehicle. The authentic plate must be a same year, general use Michigan license plate and display the correct colors for the plate year. Reproduction or remanufactured plates are not allowed.

Personalized, government, law enforcement, manufacturer, dealer, in-transit repair, disability, and special purpose license plates cannot be used as authentic license plates. If you are in doubt as to whether a plate qualifies as an authentic plate for the purposes of registration, please check with the department before submitting your request for an authentic plate registration.

Blue plates with white letters were issued in Michigan from 1984-2006. These plates may be registered as an authentic plate if the plate displays an authentic Michigan tab corresponding to the antique vehicle's model year. The only exception is for the 1984 blue plate because tabs were not issued until 1985.

Michigan blue-and-white legacy plate

Michigan will also be issuing a blue-and-white legacy plate in late 2024 that is a replica of the original 1984-2006 blue plate. The legacy plate is manufactured using current technology and materials. It cannot be used as an authentic plate registration for an antique vehicle.

Applications for authentic license plates may only be submitted by mail. Secretary of State offices cannot process authentic plate orders. When submitting your order by mail, please include the following documents:

  • The completed Application for the Historic Michigan License Plate (BDVR-96).
  • A color photograph, color scan, or color photocopy of the license plate (passenger, trailer, commercial, or motorcycle). Do not mail the original plate. 
  • Proof of ownership, preferably a copy of the Michigan title. If you do not have the title, present a previous registration as proof of ownership.
  • Proof of Michigan No-Fault insurance.

Authentic plates cost $35. Make your check or money order payable to the State of Michigan and mail it with the rest of the required documents to the: 

Michigan Department of State
7064 Crowner Dr.
Lansing, Michigan 48918-1530

Your authentic plate registration will be mailed in about 30 days.

Application for the Historic Michigan License Plate