| Q: | Where can I get a license plate from __________ of the
year
______? (Fill in the state and year of your choice)
|
| A: | Your best options are:
Join ALPCA and read the classified ads in our bi-monthly PLATES magazine, or go to a swap meet.
Go to a car show where they have a lot of dealers selling car parts, every big one has at least a few vendors dealing in
license plates for use on antique cars.
Look at the online auctions on eBay. There are always several thousand plates up for bids.
|
| Q: |
I have a plate from the year ______ from the state/province/country of _____. How much is it worth?
|
| A: |
The value of a plate depends on its condition. Using a grading guide, such as the grading guide
endorsed by ALPCA, should
enable you to determine its condition. Once the condition is known, one of the easiest things to do is look through some ads
to see what value others have placed on a plate. There are many classified ads in each issue of PLATES magazine, and some
collectors may have online lists of plates with prices on their websites (see our links page). Also, there are a couple of
different price guides available with complete plate values. These guides may be available through your local book store. If
none are in stock, they may be able to order one for you. Price guides are also avilable through the classifieds in PLATES.
And if all else fails, ask a collector for an opinion.
|
| Q: |
How do I join ALPCA?
|
| A: |
To become a member and receive our PLATES magazine, which is published six times a
year, print out and complete the membership application
and send it and proper payment
to the address appearing on the application. Half year rates are in effect between
August 1 and December 31. If you join after August 1, send in 1/2 the regular yearly
rate. Membership privileges include attendance at ALPCA sanctioned events, and access
to the ALPCA Archives.
|
| Q: |
How can I find the name and address of the owner of a car given the license plate number?
|
| A: |
Current plates: In most states, this kind of information is highly confidential. It is the sort of thing an
employee at
the department of motor vehicles would be likely be fired over if they looked up a number for other than job
related reasons.
Generally, the only way to obtain this information is to have a valid legal reason; then your local
law-enforcement agency can
assist you.
Old plates, e.g. 1920s: Records of older plates are incomplete at best, and you may not find what you're
looking for. The
best place to go is the department of motor vehicles for the state in question. Or, if you know of a serious
collector who
specializes in the state in question, they may have come across a listing of names during their years in the
hobby. Either
choice is a long shot, so good luck!
|
| Q: |
Are license plates expensive? How much will I spend to develop a good collection?
|
| A: |
It all depends on personal taste. Some license plates are very commonly found and therefore quite cheap. Others might be
more expensive because of an unusual or desirable design, for
example, N.W.T. bear-shaped plates, or Tennessee state-shaped plates.
Some
plates are valuable because of their scarcity, or their age. Plates from areas of low population tend to be expensive. Older
plates tend to be valued higher, as do plates which have just been newly-issued. Some plates can be very expensive, but others
are only a dollar or two in nice condition. There are plates out there for all budgets, whether you're a millionaire or a
student working part-time.
|
| Q: |
What happens at a license plate meet?
|
| A: |
License plate meets are generally held either outside or in a hall, such as a convention center or a school cafeteria.
Collectors
usually pay a small fee to set up a table from which they can display and trade/sell plates. In order to set up a table at a
meet, you usually need to be a member of the club which is holding the meet, call the host of the meet to find out. Some
meets are open to the public, so if you're curious about plates, or just want to buy some, go to a license plate meet and
check out the
action.
Click here for a list of all the meets scheduled for your area.
|
| Q: |
Is ALPCA involved in collectible items other than license plates?
|
| A: |
ALPCA is a club for license plate collectors and it only deals with either plates themselves, or
authentic
plate-related items such as DAV keychain tags or tin platelets found in cereal boxes. Many ALPCAns also collect
items such as
road signs, highway maps or bus rolls, but these items are collected outside of ALPCA. Some collectors bring a
few of these
items to the license plate meets, however.
|
| Q: |
I sent in my application and payment for membership. How long until I receive a reply?
|
| A: |
You should hear back from the ALPCA Secretary within 3 weeks. Your membership packet
was mailed via media mail and USPS handling varies. ALPCA's Secretary
handles all items involving new memberships, membership renewal, and address changes
and generally responds immediately to your requests. If you have any questions,
please contact the Secretary at secretary@alpca.org.
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