Easier registration for collector vehicles being restored

If you love beautiful collector or vintage vehicles, and you want to restore one from out of province for on-road operation, you are in luck.

Government, ICBC and the Specialty Vehicle Association of B.C. (which serves car clubs and enthusiasts) have been working together to improve the process for registering an unfinished collector vehicle imported from outside the province.

Starting April 9, 2015, the new registration process will come into effect. This will allow vehicle owners to register their collector or vintage vehicles purchased from out of province before completing the restorations to their vehicle. Prior to these changes, vehicle owners ran the risk of not being able to register a vehicle they had invested time, money and effort into restoring.

Vehicle owners will have peace of mind that they have met all of the paperwork requirements to register vehicles in their names. Also, when the owner completes restoration of the vehicle and it passes a safety inspection, it will be simpler to license the vehicle for on-road use because it will already be registered. 

To be eligible for registration before completing the restorations to a vehicle, the vehicle must be at least 25 years old (based on its model year) and be substantially intact, with over half the vehicle in an assembled state.

For safety reasons, the vehicle will be flagged in ICBC's system to prevent on-road operation without a passed roadworthiness inspection. To be licensed to operate on B.C. roads, the vehicle must pass a provincial inspection and the owner must also provide the final details of the restored/completed vehicle to ICBC.

Quick Facts:

* Approximately 25,000 collector vehicles and 9,000 antique vehicles are registered in B.C.
* If you have a collector or limited-edition collector vehicle that you just drive occasionally, you may be interested in applying for collector licence plates. Collector plates may be used on cars, light trucks and motorcycles.

Vehicles do not need to be licensed in the Collector or Vintage program to be eligible to take advantage of registration without the initial roadworthiness inspection. For more information go to: www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/collector-mods/Pages/Collector-vehicles.aspx

If you have a vintage vehicle (30 years old or older) you may be interested in applying for vintage licence plates. This will allow you to show your antique vehicle at special events and parades. For more information go to: www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/collector-mods/Pages/Vintage-vehicles.aspx

If you have a cool collector or vintage vehicle that you want to showcase to the world, submit it to be featured in ICBC's classic
cars calendar: www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/collector-mods/Pages/Autoplan-calendars.aspx