I ran into this same problem a few years ago when I tried to renew my Collector Registration for my Choptop Beetle. I had gone to the Barrington Office and was simply renewing the very same registration that I had done so for years, heck they even sent me a renewal in the mail which I had in hand in person. The lady took my paperwork and handed me my registration and took my money. As I walked away I looked though my new registration paperwork and didn't see the slip for the Collector inspection, but saw that I was charged the extra fee. When I went back to inquire where my Collector inspection was I was told. Oh-oooo you can't have that any longer. I replied then why did you renew my collector registration and charge me for it but not give me the inspection form? She replied your have to use the standard registration and have your car inspected like all others, we don't give out Collector registrations any longer. I stood my ground and tried to explain that I had collector tags and was told that they were grandfathered. She said no longer. Then she replied that if I wanted to I could apply for QQ tags since my car was over 25 years old, and wanted to charge me again! I asked to speak with the manager which turned out to be another nightmare. Freaken workers all stick up for each other. So I went home and contacted my congressman, provided my info and received a call back from DMV and was given a case number to take into the local DMV. Never did get the collector tags renewed, but did get a refund, along with a bunch of long sour faces. clap2-*
Apparently to many people were claiming that they had a collector car and driving it unlimitedly when the registration states that it was for limited usage much like the QQ registrations. So the state clamped down on the abuse.