Lighthouse License Plates

I got this idea that I would look at ebay to buy license plates with lighthouses on them to hang in my basement. Several states have issued them.

I've looked into license plates (non-lighthouse variety) before, figuring I'd buy them at flea markets cheap and sell them on ebay and make a few bucks. But I didn't see a market at the time.

I was looking at the wrong plates!!!

New York !!!!! ($101 with 3 1/2 days left!)

Connecticut

Virginia

WOW

Although it does look like New Jersey can be had for under $10.00!

I sold one last year on E-bay. I thought that I would only get a few bucks for it. When the auction ended it brought $68.00 plus shipping. I was amazed. Ron

Goes to show you, there is a market for everything!

Unless they changed the rules, when Virginia introduced their lighthouse plate, you could purchase a sample one with your own text on it.

Yes you can order the Virginia Lighthouse plate for $10.00 or personalize it for $20.00.
https://www.dmv.state.va.us/dmvnet/souvenir_plate/select_plate.asp?PLT=&PLTNO=

I have one of the VA souvenir plates 'AWACKO'

Bought it last year, keep it with my other Lighthouse items.

That's simply amazing to me!!! I had no idea that people sold such things (although, with ebay, you can find pretty much anything that you're looking for).

I have a quick question...what would prevent someone from buying a license plate from ebay and putting on their own car??? I know, it's a strange thing to consider...but, I remember going to a junkyard once with my older brother and seeing a huge collection of old license plates on the wall of the office...a bunch hanging up (similar to an old garage) but also about 150-200 hanging on wire hooks. I asked the guy why they had so many in the office and he told me that they were taken away from people trying to buy (or take) them out of the junkyard. He said that it was 'illegal' for him to allow people to buy/take license plates from his yard...

Now, I wonder if that's true...or if he was lying to me...?

Yes, I have one coming. I have also started a topical collection of plates to go with my Harbour Lights.

My Virginia plates aren't souvenirs yet, and I have to renew them every year...but I sure do enjoy them and the comments I get...particularly in parking lots. :rolleyes:

They're attached to my car..."KTF"

I have another set that I've held onto that came before these..."143LT"...a reference to the "I Love You Light", Minots Ledge.

The Lighthouse plates are quite popular in Virginia...but what's amazed me is the very few plates that reference lighthouses. Most folks have personalized with their own initials, or just elected to take the next number combination that comes up.

But it's like a kind of club...when you see another driver with the lighthouse plates...you wave to each other

Judy

We definitely need a photo of that one attached to your car (just for the photo, of course)!!

Here\'s one for all of the photographers

I know it's not spelled right, but it's close!

I was running a contest for work, and I wanted to make license plates for checkpoints on our goal oriented journey to Vegas...

I was shocked as anyone on the market and the number of sites dealing in this... Lucinda may think I'm nuts for collecting HL, but at $100 a plate she would think I'm Wacko...

www.acme.com/licensemaker/

Try your hand at making your own...

Gee....I have a couple of Virginia LH plates in the trunk of my car that I need to do something with. 'Never thought about ebay....

I have quite a few license plates from wheeling & dealing on eBay in the past. A couple of times eBay pulled an auction of a particular license plate because that version of that particular plate was still in use.

I don't know about other states, but in Massachusetts you have to display the plates you are issued. This means a matching front and rear plate. The only exception is our old green and white plates that were being phased out in the mid-80's. Yes, there are a few still out there being used today.

Looking at the situation from a police officers standpoint, if I observe a front plate that doesn't match the inspection sticker on a vehicle, I'm going to pull that party over to make sure he or she is properly registered. If that person has removed a legal plate to display an illegal plate, even though the other legal plate is properly attached to the rear of the vehicle, a citation can be issued for improper display of plate.

A word to the wise: Keep your license plate collection off your car and display it in your home or whatever. If you purchase a plate there is a chance that someone esle may have purchased a matching plate (Souvenir plates i.e. Las Vegas "HI ROLLER" "CRAPS" etc. stamped to look just like official Nevada plates). If a crime is committed and John Q. Public states he saw such and such plate on the getaway car, you may be in for a very bad experience if you are pulled over by the police.

Bob

Hey Brent,

I could use one of those plates! I'm starting a topical collection to go with my Harbour lights collection. If you are serious, let me know what you want for one and we can try to make a deal

Looks like you can now point to your posts on these Forums and prove you are WACKO!

Congrats Larry R! Welcome to WACKO-dom.

Pick out an Avatar or make your own. Don't forget to send out the Krispie Kremes to all the other 'brothers' in the Lodge.

Cool website, Larry!! It is alot of fun!

And Sisters!
Congrats on your Wacko status Larry

I' think I can take a couple dozen on the plane with me, we can celebrate at Long Island

It took a while to get here, but I sure am glad I made it..