M35 Mayhem,
First let me WELCOME you to the
green affliction!
This topic has been discussed several times on this website, but to simplify it a little, I'll say this:
Texas DMV has created a license plate especially for former military vehicles. The license plate falls under the "Antique Automobile" series of license plates and is called ................... drum roll ......................
"FORMER MILITARY VEHICLE" license plate. This license plate is an AWESOME option for us. The first benefit is that it only costs $10 a year ($50 for 5 years) to register the vehicle. The second benefit is that the vehicle is exempt from being inspected. The third benefit is that you can choose to run "BUMPER NUMBERS" on your vehicle instead of a license plate, which means you stencil - paint the number on the back of your vehicle instead of bolting an ugly metal license plate on the truck. There are a few drawbacks to the FMV license plate. The state says when you are allowed to drive your vehicle, such as to club sponsered events, or for parades, displays, etc. I'll let you google the exact law and read it for yourself and we can discuss it in private.
I recently purchased a 5-Ton (M923) in late September. I went to the DMV and registered it as a Former Military Vehicle. March 2013 is the end of the cycle for the Former Military Vehicle registration, so I only had to pay $5 for the registration (plus taxes for the purchase). In March 2013, I'll have to pay $50 and my registration will last 5 years. I chose to run bumper numbers on my truck, as I'm restoring it to what it looked like when it was used in service. The DMV had me use the last 6 digits on my VIN as my license plate number. Some of the members of this website will tell you that the state can't make you use any certain number and that you are supposed to be able to choose you're own numbers, but I was shown a Texas DMV form with instruction that said the state requires the last 6 digits of the VIN to be used as the license plate number for FMV Bumper Numbers. Anyways, thats another argument for another time....... I was happy to get my truck registered for so cheap, and with the ability to run bumper numbers, so there was no complaint from me.
I've attached a pic of my truck with the stenciled bumper number, I used tan color so it would stand out better for law enforcement.
This website is full of AWESOME and SMART people. I'm amazed at the knowledge and info that is shared here on a daily basis. You've found a great place for resources and information.
Jim Wallew is the president of the Military Vehicle Collector Club and I'm sure he'll send you a message when he reads this. I'm honored to be a member of the club and we take part in a lot of events so PLEASE don't hesitate to join up with us and show off that new hunk of green steel. We have been invited to Alliance Cinemark Theatre to display our trucks at the premier of the new movie "Red Dawn". It's late notice, but the event is Wednesday evening (11/21/12) and the movie starts at 7:00. We're gonna get there a little early and the management has us park the trucks out front, you won't be able to miss us. Feel free to show up and meet the guys. It's the Alliance Cinemark at I-35 and North Tarrant in Fort Worth.
Keith