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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0773*
HOUSE BILL 773
R4 6lr1990
By: Delegates Hornberger, Buckel, S. Johnson, Miller, and M. Morgan
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Historic Motor Vehicles and Street Rod Vehicles – Minimum Age 2
FOR the purpose of requiring that a motor vehicle be at least a certain number of years old 3
in order to be eligible for registration as a historic motor vehicle or a street rod motor 4
vehicle; and generally relating to historic motor vehicles and street rod vehicles. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Transportation 7
Section 13–936 and 13–937.1 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Transportation 13
13–936. 14
(a) In this section, “historic motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle, including a 15
passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or truck that: 16
(1) Is [a model year of 1999 or earlier] AT LEAST 30 YEARS OLD; 17
(2) Has not been substantially altered from the manufacturer’s original 18
design; and 19
(3) Meets criteria contained in regulations adopted by the Administration. 20
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(b) In this section, “historic motor vehicle” does not include a vehicle that has been 1
remanufactured or reconstructed as a replica of an original vehicle. 2
(c) If registered with the Administration under this section, every historic motor 3
vehicle is a Class L (historic) vehicle. 4
(d) Except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, fo r each Class L (historic) 5
vehicle, the annual registration fee is: 6
(1) On or after July 1, 2024, but before July 1, 2025, $45.50; and 7
(2) On or after July 1, 2025, $55.50. 8
(e) In applying for registration of a historic motor vehicle under this section, the 9
owner of the vehicle shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for 10
which the application is made: 11
(1) Will be maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, 12
and occasional transportation; and 13
(2) Will not be used: 14
(i) For general daily transportation; 15
(ii) Primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on 16
highways; 17
(iii) For employment; 18
(iv) For transportation to and from employment or school; or 19
(v) For commercial purposes. 20
(f) Except as provided in § 13 –936.1 of this subtitle, on registration of a vehicle 21
under this section, the Administration shall issue a special, historic motor vehicle 22
registration plate of the size and design that the Administration determines. 23
(g) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of 24
this State as a condition of sale when the vehicle was manufactured, the presence of any 25
specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registere d under this 26
section. 27
(h) (1) A vehicle with a model year of 1985 or earlier registered under this 28
section is exempt from any statute that requires vehicle inspections. 29
(2) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that 30
requires the use and inspection of emission controls. 31
HOUSE BILL 773 3
(i) (1) For a motor vehicle manufactured at least 60 years prior to the current 1
model year, there is a onetime registration fee of $50.00. 2
(2) Registration of a motor vehicle manufactured under this subsection is 3
not transferable to a subsequent owner. 4
13–937.1. 5
(a) In this section, “street rod” means a motor vehicle that: 6
(1) Is [25 years old or older] AT LEAST 40 YEARS OLD; and 7
(2) Has been substantially altered from the manufacturer’s original design. 8
(b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, if registered with the 9
Administration under this section, every street rod is a Class N (street rod) vehicle. 10
(c) For each Class N (street rod) vehicle, the annual registration fee is: 11
(1) On or after July 1, 2024, but before July 1, 2025, $45.00; and 12
(2) On or after July 1, 2025, $55.00. 13
(d) In applying for registration of a street rod under this section, the owner of the 14
street rod shall submit with the application a certif ication that the vehicle for which the 15
application is made: 16
(1) Will be maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, 17
occasional transportation, and similar uses; and 18
(2) Will not be used: 19
(i) For general daily transportation; or 20
(ii) Primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on 21
highways. 22
(e) (1) The registration of a street rod registered before July 1, 1987, as a Class 23
L (historic) vehicle shall remain valid until midnight on the date ind icated on the 24
registration card issued by the Administration. 25
(2) On expiration of a street rod’s registration as a Class L (historic) 26
vehicle, a street rod registered with the Administration shall be registered as a Class N 27
(street rod) vehicle as required by this section. 28
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(f) Except as provided in § 13 –936.1 of this subtitle, on registration of a vehicle 1
under this section, the Administration shall issue a special street rod vehicle registration 2
plate of the size and design that the Administration determines. 3
(g) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of 4
this State as a condition of sale when the vehicle was manufactured, the presence of any 5
specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle regist ered under this 6
section. 7
(h) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that 8
requires periodic vehicle inspections or that requires the use and inspection of emission 9
controls. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 11
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 12
application to any historic motor vehicle or street rod registered before the effective date of 13
this Act. 14
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 15
1, 2026. 16