Featured You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet?

Tideland Prius · Oct 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the US launch of the first-gen Toyota Prius — a car that, arguably, has done more to more to shift the market away from fossil fuels than any other single vehicle (more on that in a minute). That means that, in many states, you can now get “antique” or “historic” plates for a modern hybrid.

If that sounds appealing to you, here’s what it might cost to keep that OG Prius on the road for many more years to come.

“When the Prius burst into the US market, it was nothing short of a revolution,” reads the breathless Toyota PR copy. “A true trailblazer in the world of hybrid vehicles, (Prius) set the stage for the electrification movement, captivating environmentally conscious drivers with its innovative spirit.”

I think that’s true. And, as for that claim in the header that the Prius did more to shift the US auto market away from fossil fuels than any other single vehicle, ask yourself this: would there even be a Tesla Roadster (much less an “affordable” Model Y) without the Toyota Prius bringing the conversation about electric cars into the mainstream zeitgeist fully eight years earlier?

I spent enough time behind the wheel of a seriously quick and capable US Electricar Consulier to tell you this much: no, there wouldn’t.
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You can get antique plates for a first-gen Toyota Prius now

bwilson4web · Oct 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM

My 2003 Prius was terrific and well worth the years I owned it can later gave to my girlfriend. About 270,000 miles before the unrepairable, brake booster failure. It was why I am still here at PriusChat.

Bob Wilson

Featured You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet?

Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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Featured You can get antique plates for a first-gen Prius now — feeling old, yet?

Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Staff Member

bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
Staff Member