Vehicle Laws - Historic Motor Vehicles - Minimum Age

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0452*

SENATE BILL 452
R4 6lr3066
SB 782/15 – JPR CF HB 125
By: Senator Jennings
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Vehicle Laws – Historic Motor 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 vehicl e; and generally 4
relating to historic motor vehicles. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Transportation 7
Section 13–936 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 25 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

2 SENATE BILL 452

(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, for 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 n ot required for the operation of a vehicle registered 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
SENATE BILL 452 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

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 5
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 6
application to any historic motor vehicle registered before the effective date of this Act. 7

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2026. 9