C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Question for PA owners

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 06:26 PM
  #1  
M Pete's Avatar
M Pete
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 18
From: Bucks County, PA
Default Question for PA owners

I found out that we are moving to PA this summer and have a question about the sate vehicle inspections. I put on the Allen's dual exhaust on my 1980 and am wondering if the C3 get a visual inspection for the catalytic converter. Is there an exemption for "classic" cars? If I must I'll end up putting in high flow cats when my FL registration expires I guess. Thanks!
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 06:55 PM
  #2  
4corvettes's Avatar
4corvettes
Advanced
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 16
From: Lancaster, Pa
Default

I live in Lancaster, PA. The emissions is just a visual check for cars as old as yours. I register anything over 25 yrs as antique. Pay a one time registration fee and never have to get it inspected again!
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 06:56 PM
  #3  
elmo771's Avatar
elmo771
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 77
Likes: 23
From: Pgh Pa
Default

If you apply for a antique plate there are no yearly inspections a one time fee of 75.00 and the plate is good forever.
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 07:24 PM
  #4  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,073
Likes: 9,398
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by 4corvettes
I live in Lancaster, PA. The emissions is just a visual check for cars as old as yours. I register anything over 25 yrs as antique. Pay a one time registration fee and never have to get it inspected again!
that varies by county. his best bet is to get antique plates
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 07:48 PM
  #5  
M Pete's Avatar
M Pete
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 18
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

Thanks! We will be in Bucks County.

Are the inspectors likely to notice that the cat is not there on an C3? At a minimum I guess just put some on one time to get the antique plate. I'll look around for a "test pipe" just to be sure.
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 07:52 PM
  #6  
elmo771's Avatar
elmo771
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 77
Likes: 23
From: Pgh Pa
Default

When I registered my 78 Theydidn't look at the car. I am 25 miles from Pittsburgh
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2019 | 09:17 PM
  #7  
Tiger Joe's Avatar
Tiger Joe
Drifting
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 577
From: Pittsburgh PA
Default

There is no inspection for the antique plate. All you have to do is apply. That’s your best bet.

Any type of regular plate that requires inspection/emission you would need a visual inspection so the cat would have to be there
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2019 | 10:25 AM
  #8  
shenango's Avatar
shenango
Racer
Veteran: Air Force
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 414
Likes: 407
From: Meadville Pennsylvania
Default

Welcome to PA. I am 40 miles south of Erie and as others have said, there is no inspection with antique plates and the registration fee is a 1 time deal without yearly renewals. There are restrictions with the antique plate including yearly mileage, when and for what purpose you are allowed to drive your car and some police may ticket you for driving after dark. With all this garbage attached to the antique plates I have never had a problem getting ticketed for any of the restrictions including driving at night. I also don't know anyone that has had a problem. My 75 has headers, 2 1/2 inch true dual exhaust without cats and dual chambered mufflers. She barks pretty loud when under throttle but I use some restraint when in residential areas or around police.
Jerry
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old Apr 27, 2019 | 11:19 AM
  #9  
3X2's Avatar
3X2
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 523
From: home
Default

I think that a antique/classic can not be a daily driver and that you need proof of other transportation. Pa requires four corner pictures. Make sure it at least looks stockish. Maybe that has changed in the decades since I got my classic tags.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2019 | 02:44 PM
  #10  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,073
Likes: 9,398
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by 3X2
I think that a antique/classic can not be a daily driver and that you need proof of other transportation. Pa requires four corner pictures. Make sure it at least looks stockish. Maybe that has changed in the decades since I got my classic tags.
PA has done away with pictures. around here there is a lot of abuse on antique tags on rusted out POS cars and trucks you know would never pass inspection that people use as daily transportation. So I would not worry about the police bothering you unless you provoke them by doing something dumb in front of them
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2019 | 03:39 PM
  #11  
hamck's Avatar
hamck
Instructor
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 185
Likes: 10
From: S W pa. pa
Default

here ya go


Reply
Old Apr 27, 2019 | 06:34 PM
  #12  
M Pete's Avatar
M Pete
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 18
From: Bucks County, PA
Default

Originally Posted by hamck
here ya go.
Thanks much for the doc. This is pretty awesome as I also have a 2003 BMW M3 which I can register as a Classic too! I never would hav thought to look in to registering that one as a "Classic". Another sign that I'm getting older I guess.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Question for PA owners





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:41 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE