Try to avoid the license plate on a personal vehicle if you can. But it isn't absolutely necessary.
For vehicle shots I recommend a 6x7cm format or bigger. With 4x5" being pretty close to ideal. Also, avoid high contrast film such as Velvia go with Astia. I have found that works best.
"Publication of Photographs: Is A Release Required?
GUIDELINES WHEN PUBLISHING PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDIVIDUALS
If you decide to use a photograph without a release make certain it was obtained without trespassing on private property, that it does not violate an individual's right of privacy or publicity or that it is protected by a First Amendment use.
Releases are generally not required from people who are identifiable in a photograph of a street or public place, provided that the photograph is reasonably related to the subject matter and the identifiable people are not the focus of the photograph. An example of a permitted use would be a photograph of the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink that was used to illustrate a book about Rockefeller Center or about New York City attractions, even though many people may be identifiable.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PROPERTY
Although property does not enjoy a right to privacy or publicity that there are other bodies of the law that might prohibit or restrict the unauthorized use of a photograph containing property. These bodies of law may include among others contract, trademark, unfair competition, copyright and trespass law.
The guiding principle, that of course is muddled with exceptions, is that as long as a photograph of private property is taken while the photographer is on public property or on property that is open to the public then it is permissible to publish that photograph without permission from the owner of the property."
I hope this clears the matter up!
Due to recieving an annonymus telephone call, from a caller who was ringing on behalf of someone else !!! here are some facts.
The lady said , why am I selling pictures of cars without permission it is illegal?
Ok... in the mid 80s I started supplying picture agencies for stock, my work on transport, and to this day I have work with agencies such as fotolia, dreamstime,photographers Direct,istock and the one that many artists use to sell their pictures of cars, Red Bubble. NONE of these agencies will except pictures of any sort that have interlectual copyright laws, such as Buckingham Palace, the Sydney Opera house. I started supplying film and transparencies over 25 years ago, obtaining permission and arranging to take pictures of peoples cars and bikes if i needed a specific picture. as for the other shots, for example the Kustom Kulture shots, because I have been involved with the whole rock n roll scene for over 30 years this is a passion of mine also, and if people think im selling millions of dollars worth of pictures , think again, the only 2 shots i sold there this year, was of the Yellow dodge and the Green 57 chevy, and who to? the actual owners, who saw them from the previous year loved them and just had to have them, and as with anyone who i have shot pictures of their cars, they paid cost price..
Most of my shots are pain stakingly manipulated to transform into art pictures, of which I could quite easily take any part of the bodywork, Like a Fin from an old car. and no one would ever know ..
so as for the legal side of things , here is what I have found to confirm it:
