It’s one thing to change a law, it’s another to have it successfully implemented. Here is a writeup Tom and I prepared to give OWNERS information about the new changes. This has not been reviewed and approved by DMV at this point, however the information is taken from current and the new statutes.

NOTE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF MARCH 1, 2014

Wisconsin Lifetime-Registration Options
Effective Date Mar. 1, 2014
In addition to the various annual-renewal license plates available (such as Auto, Truck, Farm, etc.), Wisconsin offers several lifetime-registration options. These are available for a variety of motor vehicles, with certain requirements for each category. Some vehicles will be eligible for more than one type of registration. This is meant to give you an overview of each registration option, and help you decide which you might qualify for. Lifetime-registration license plates stay with the original applicant and can be transferred to a different vehicle (with a fee), but cannot be transferred to a different individual.
Regardless of the type of registration you choose, virtually all vehicles must comply with Wis. Statute Ch. 347 and Wis. Administrative Code Trans305 Equipment Standards. Also, commercial vehicles and trucks in excess of 26,000# gvw must comply with US DOT requirements.
Lifetime-Registration options, Plates, Statutes, Requirements and Restrictions.
Antique Motor Vehicle (Antique)
Special Interest (Collector)
Reconstructed / Replica / Street Modified / Homemade Vehicles (Hobbyist)
Historic Military Vehicle (HMV)

Antique Motor Vehicle (Antique)
Wis. Stat. 341.265
Registration: Lifetime of Original Applicant
License Plate Cost: $5.00
Requirements: Must be model year 1945 or earlier, totally original condition.
Restrictions: Operation to & from display, parade, testing, maintenance and storage only.

Special Interest (Collector)
Wis. Stat. 341.266
Registration: Lifetime of Original Applicant
License Plate Cost: Twice regular annual fee for the vehicle, plus $50.
Requirements: Owner must also register a “daily driver” with annual registration. Vehicle must be 20 yrs. old or older. Vehicle may be modified, but body must appear stock, and is being preserved by a Collector.
Restrictions: The vehicle cannot be operated in January (unless a special permit is purchased), and trucks cannot exceed 500# payload.
Exemptions: Four specific Former Military Vehicles can be registered as Collector, and yet are exempted from the originality requirement and from the payload restriction (Pinzgauer, Kaiser Jeep M-715, Humvee, and DUKW “Duck”).

Reconstructed / Replica / Street Modified / Homemade Vehicles (Hobbyist)
Wis. Stat. 341.268
Registration: Lifetime of Original Applicant
License Plate Cost: Twice regular annual fee for the vehicle, plus $50.
Requirements: Owner must also register a “daily driver” with annual registration. Reconstructed and Street Modified vehicles must be based on a vehicle 20 yrs. old or older. Replica vehicles must resemble a vehicle 20 yrs. old or older. Vehicle may be modified, including body.
Restrictions: The vehicle cannot be operated in January (unless a special permit is purchased), and trucks cannot exceed 500# payload. A vehicle which “no longer resembles the original manufactured vehicle” may be considered a Reconstructed vehicle and may have more stringent requirements. May require a State Patrol inspection for compliance with Wis. Ch. 347 & Trans305 Equipment Standards.

Historic Military Vehicles (HMV)
Wis. Stat. 341.269
Registration: Lifetime of Original Applicant
License Plate Cost: $30
Requirements: Vehicle must have rubber tires (no tracked vehicles), and be in original military design and markings. Import vehicles must be older than 25-yrs. U.S. vehicles may be of any age. May be a trailer.
Restrictions: The vehicle may be used year-round for special purposes such as display, parades, and for occasional personal use (not regular use) with no payload restriction.
Does My Vehicle Qualify?
Obviously these choices of Lifetime Registration options have certain requirements which must be met. But you’ve probably got some choices. Here’s an overview of which vehicles likely may meet those requirements.

If you have a domestic or import (not ex-military or govt. surplus) vehicle:
Of any age may qualify for annual renewal choices.
Older than 20 years, with a stock-appearing body may qualify for Hobbyist or Collector.
Older than 20 years, with a modified body may qualify for a Hobbyist.
Model-year 1945 or older may qualify for an Antique.

If you have an ex-military (or govt. surplus) vehicle:
U.S. of any age may qualify for annual renewal choices or HMV
U.S. or imported older than 20 years may also qualify for Collector or Hobbyist.
Import older than 25 years may qualify for annual renewal choices, Collector, Hobbyist, or HMV.
U.S. or import older than model-year 1945 may qualify for Antique.

If you have a Pinzgauer, Kaiser M-715, Humvee, and DUKW “Duck”, you hit gold:
Of any age, may qualify for annual renewal choices, Hobbyist, or HMV (Pinzgauer must be 25-yrs. old for HMV).
Older than 25 years may qualify for Collector (with special exemptions).

Prepared by Paul Underwood undy@mhtc.net and Tom Zat cosmo4info@gmail.com