From Ohio Administrative Code:

OAC 4501:1-7-14 Collector's vehicles

(A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue a validation sticker and collector's plates or a validation sticker alone to the owner of a collector's vehicle in accordance with this rule.

(B) The registrar, in order to determine whether a motor vehicle is owned, operated, collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or used essentially as a collector's item, leisure pursuit or investment, shall pursue the following steps:

(1) The registrar shall consult the national automobile dealers association classic, collectible and special interest car appraisal guide or any other published source previously approved by the registrar to determine whether the motor vehicle is listed therein.

(2) If the vehicle is not listed in that publication, the registrar may consult one or more similar publications that he deems similarly authoritative.

(3) If the motor vehicle is not listed in one of those publications, the registrar shall review original correspondence and related documentation, if any, from the manufacturer submitted by the applicant demonstrating that the motor vehicle was in limited production or is at the time of application a make or model of significant value to collectors.

(4) The applicant may demonstrate to the registrar's satisfaction that the vehicle was in limited production or is at the time of application a make or model of significant value to collectors. If the applicant does not demonstrate that the vehicle qualifies under this paragraph, the registrar may refuse registration as a collector's vehicle.

(C) The registrar may refuse registration as a collector's vehicle if the vehicle is a reproduction of a make or model previously manufactured, or if the vehicle has not been maintained in or restored to a condition that is substantially in conformity with the manufacturer's specifications and appearance.

(D) The registrar may refuse an application to register a collector's vehicle unless the applicant can sufficiently demonstrate that the vehicle is not used as primary transportation.

(E) A registration as a collector's vehicle that was issued in error is automatically canceled, after notice, on the day before its normal expiration unless the registrar has previously canceled it or unless the registrar issues an extension either before, on, or after the date of cancellation. After such a cancellation the vehicle owner, if otherwise eligible, may within one year apply for regular license plates without payment of the fee for replacement plates. If the vehicle owner comes into compliance with the Revised Code, this rule, and other applicable laws within one year after the original date of cancellation, he may apply for registration as a collector's vehicle without payment of the fee for replacement plates.

(F) In accordance with rule 3745-26-12 of the Administrative Code, a vehicle that qualifies as a collector's vehicle under paragraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this rule is permanently exempt from the emissions inspection required in the designated program area.

OAC 4501:1-11-01 Process for a replacement vehicle identification number (VIN) plate

(A) Any person who is the owner of a motor vehicle, or any owner's insurer, may apply for a replacement vehicle identification number (VIN) plate or replacement vehicle parts derivative VIN plates or stickers in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (B) and (C) of this rule.

(B) Before a person applies for a replacement vehicle identification number (VIN) plate or replacement vehicle parts derivative VIN plates or stickers, an inspection of the vehicle must be conducted by the state highway patrol in accordance with provisions of division (E) of section 4505.11 of the Revised Code. The inspection shall include the following:

(1) The federal safety decal number;

(2) The engine and transmission numbers;

(3) Any manufacturer's applied number that can be traced by available record to the original VIN;

(4) Any owner's applied number that can be traced to the original owner or VIN;

(5) Any other number determined by the registrar or the state highway patrol to be relevant to the inspection.

(C) The applicant shall obtain an "Application for Replacement Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to a Motor Vehicle," form "BMV 3713," (December, 2014), available on the bureau of motor vehicles' website at http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/bmv_forms.stm and hereinafter referred to as the "application." The application shall be submitted to the registrar of motor vehicles with the following documents:

(1) The evidence of an inspection by state highway patrol;

(2) The valid Ohio certificate of title or certificate of title or other lawful evidence of title issued in another state.

(D) If the registrar determines that the applicant has complied with the requirements of paragraphs (B) and (C) of this rule, the registrar shall authorize the issuance of the original VIN or shall assign a new VIN. If a replacement VIN plate is required, the following procedures apply:

(1) The dies, plates, stickers, or other suitable devices, materials, or equipment required to replace a VIN or derivative VIN on any vehicle part shall be obtained and produced by the bureau of motor vehicles or the state highway patrol;

(2) The applicant may be required to pay the bureau of motor vehicles the actual cost incurred by the bureau of motor vehicles or state highway patrol in obtaining or producing the replacement VIN plates or replacement vehicle parts derivative VIN plates or stickers for the vehicle;

(3) The registrar shall send, a copy of all documentation pertaining to the replacement VIN plate or replacement vehicle parts derivative VIN plates or stickers to the state highway patrol;

(4) The registrar shall send the Ohio certificate of title or other lawful evidence of ownership to the appropriate clerk of courts.

OAC 4501:1-11-02 Installation of a replacement vehicle identification number (VIN) plate

(A) Upon receipt of all documentation pertaining to the replacement VIN plate or replacement vehicle parts derivative VIN plates or stickers, the state highway patrol inspection station shall set a date and time for the inspection and installation of the replacement VIN plates and other devices. The state highway patrol inspection station shall attempt to schedule a date and time that is mutually agreeable to both the owner and the state highway patrol.

(B) Upon proper identification of the motor vehicle by the state highway patrol officer, the officer shall supervise the installation of the replacement VIN plate.

(C) If it is practical to do so, the replacement original or Ohio replacement VIN plate shall be installed in the manufacturer's original location. If it is not practical to do so, the replacement original or Ohio replacement VIN plate shall be installed in the following manners:

(1) In passenger cars, affix replacement VIN plate to a clean surface located on a portion of the left front door pillar post. If this is not practical because of the construction of the vehicle, alternate locations should be used in the following order of preference: first, in an engine compartment on the body of the driver's side of cowl; second, any portion of the left front vehicle main frame that is visible and yet protected from possible damage or destruction. A windshield decal shall be placed on the inside left lower corner of the windshield, near the original VIN plate location, stating that the vehicle is equipped with an Ohio replacement VIN plate. The registrar shall prescribe the design and specifications of the windshield decal;

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(D) The replacement VIN or derivative replacement VIN plate shall be riveted securely to the body or on any other vehicle part by, or under the direct supervision of, a state highway patrol officer.

(E) The installation of any replacement derivative replacement VIN shall be done by, or under the direct supervision of, a state highway patrol officer. The applicant shall bear the cost of any professional, mechanical, or labor costs incurred in the installation of any VIN plate, replacement derivative VIN, or decal.

(F) The state highway patrol inspection station shall give written notification to the applicant of the results of the inspection as soon after the completion of the inspection as is practical.

From Ohio Revised Code:

R.C. § 4505.111 Restored motor vehicles; inspection

(A) Every motor vehicle, other than a manufactured home, a mobile home, or a motor vehicle as provided in divisions (C), (D), and (E) of section 4505.11 of the Revised Code, that is assembled from component parts by a person other than the manufacturer, shall be inspected by the state highway patrol prior to issuance of title to the motor vehicle. The inspection shall include establishing proof of ownership and an inspection of the motor number and vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle, and any items of equipment the director of public safety considers advisable and requires to be inspected by rule. A fee of fifty dollars shall be assessed by the state highway patrol for each inspection made pursuant to this section, and shall be deposited in the public safety--highway purposes fund established by section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

R.C. § 4503.45 Collector's vehicles

An owner of a collector's vehicle, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and upon payment of the regular license fee as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code and any tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, and the payment of an additional fee of five dollars, which shall be for the purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of such licenses, shall be issued validation stickers and license plates, or validation stickers alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code, upon which, in addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, shall be inscribed the words "collector's vehicle."

R.C. § 4503.181 Historical motor vehicle license plates

(A) As used in this section, "historical motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is more than twenty-five years old and that is owned solely as a collector's item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses. A historical motor vehicle shall not be used for general transportation, but may be operated on the public roads and highways to and from a location where maintenance is performed on the vehicle.

(B) In lieu of the annual license tax levied in sections 4503.02 and 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a license fee of ten dollars is levied on the operation of a historical motor vehicle.

(C) A person who owns a historical motor vehicle and applies for a historical license plate under this section shall execute an affidavit that the vehicle for which the plate is requested is owned and operated solely for the purposes enumerated in division (A) of this section. The affidavit also shall set forth that the vehicle has been inspected and found safe to operate on the public roads and highways in the state. A person who owns a historical motor vehicle and desires to display a model year license plate on the vehicle as permitted by this section shall execute at the time of registration an affidavit setting forth that the model year license plate the person desires to display on the person's historical motor vehicle is a legible and serviceable license plate that originally was issued by this state. No registration issued pursuant to this section need specify the weight of the vehicle.

(D) A vehicle registered under this section may display either a historical vehicle license plate issued by the registrar of motor vehicles or a model year license plate procured by the applicant. A historical vehicle license plate shall not bear a date, but shall bear the inscription "Historical Vehicle--Ohio" and the registration number, which shall be shown thereon. A model year license plate shall be a legible and serviceable license plate issued by this state and inscribed with the date of the year corresponding to the model year when the vehicle was manufactured. Two model year license plates, duplicates of each other, may be displayed on the historical motor vehicle at any time, one plate on the front and one plate on the rear of the vehicle. The registration certificate and the historical vehicle license plate issued by the registrar shall be kept in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is operated on the public roads and highways in this state.

Notwithstanding section 4503.21 of the Revised Code, the owner of a historical motor vehicle that was manufactured for military purposes and that is registered under this section may display the assigned registration number of the vehicle by painting the number on the front and rear of the vehicle. The number shall be painted, in accordance with the size and style specifications established for numerals and letters shown on license plates in section 4503.22 of the Revised Code, in a color that contrasts clearly with the color of the vehicle, and shall be legible and visible at all times. Upon application for registration under this section and payment of the license fee prescribed in division (B) of this section, the owner of such a historical motor vehicle shall be issued a historical vehicle license plate. The registration certificate and the license plate shall be kept in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is operated on the public roads and highways in this state. If ownership of such a vehicle is transferred, the transferor shall surrender the historical vehicle license plate or transfer it to another historical motor vehicle the transferor owns, and remove or obliterate the registration numbers painted on the vehicle.

(E) Historical vehicle and model year license plates are valid without renewal as long as the vehicle for which they were issued or procured is in existence. A historical vehicle plate is issued for the owner's use only for such vehicle unless later transferred to another historical motor vehicle owned by that person. In order to effect such a transfer, the owner of the historical motor vehicle that originally displayed the historical vehicle plate shall comply with division (C) of this section. In the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the historical vehicle license plate or transfer it to another historical motor vehicle owned by the transferor, but a model year license plate or plates may be retained by the transferor. The registrar may revoke license plates issued under this section, for cause shown and after hearing, for failure of the applicant to comply with this section. Upon revocation, a historical vehicle license plate shall be surrendered; a model year license plate or plates may be retained, but the plate or plates are no longer valid for display on the vehicle.

(F) The owner of a historical motor vehicle bearing a historical vehicle license plate may replace it with a model year license plate by surrendering the historical vehicle license plate and motor vehicle certificate of registration to the registrar. The owner, at the time of registration, shall execute an affidavit setting forth that the model year plate is a legible and serviceable license plate that originally was issued by this state. Such an owner is required to pay the license fee prescribed by division (B) of this section, but the owner is not required to have the historical motor vehicle reinspected under division (C) of this section.

A person who owns a historical motor vehicle bearing a model year license plate may replace it with a historical vehicle license plate by surrendering the motor vehicle certificate of registration and applying for issuance of a historical vehicle license plate. Such a person is required to pay the license fee prescribed by division (B) of this section, but the person is not required to have the historical motor vehicle reinspected under division (C) of this section.