Maryland2026Active
HB0004
HB0004: New Age Rule for Historic Vehicle Registration
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law changes the rule so a car must be at least 25 years old to register as historic and requires officials to restore registration status lost due to previous year's rules.
What it does
- Changes the definition of 'historic motor vehicle' to require it is at least 25 years old instead of being from model year 1999 or earlier.
- Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to automatically restore historic registration for vehicles that lost their status due to rule changes in 2025.
- Sets a one-time fee of $50.00 for registering cars made at least 60 years ago, which cannot be transferred to new owners.
Who it affects
- Owners of passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and trucks seeking historic motor vehicle registration
- The Motor Vehicle Administration responsible for issuing plates and managing records
Limits and unknowns
- The law only applies to new registrations after July 1, 2026, and does not change rules for cars already registered before that date.
- Vehicles used for daily driving, work trips, or commercial purposes cannot be registered as historic.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Historic motor vehicle
- A car that is at least 25 years old, has not been changed much from its original design, and meets rules set by the state.
- Reinstate
- To put something back into effect or restore a status that was lost.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Requiring that a motor vehicle be at least 25 years old in order to be eligible for registration as a historic motor vehicle; and requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to reinstate, under certain circumstances, the historic motor vehicle registration of a motor vehicle that had its historic vehicle registration suspended or revoked as a result of the change to the definition of "historic motor vehicle" in Chapter 604 of 2025.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the House - Hearing 2/27 at 1:30 p.m.