It just gets even more confusing! Yet another Delegate in Maryland has introduced a bill that varies from the two others! Read our current position here.
The MCAA has drafted up a response to Delegates Hornberger, Buckel, S. Johnson, Miller, and M. Morgan, stating we do not support this and it directly conflicts with 2 other bills.
But the big difference: Maryland Street Rod Tags!
HB 0773 would change Maryland law for historic motor vehicles and street rods by raising the minimum age a vehicle must be to qualify for special registration categories:
- Historic Motor Vehicles:
Current law defines these based on a model year cutoff (e.g., pre-1999). HB 0773 would change that to require the vehicle be at least 30 years old to qualify - Street Rod Vehicles:
Current law allows street rod registration for vehicles 25 years old or older that have been modified. HB 0773 would raise that minimum age to at least 40 years old - The bill keeps all other historic/street rod requirements in place (usage restrictions, fees, inspection exemptions, etc.) and would only apply to new registrations after July 1, 2026
In short: HB 0773 would tighten eligibility rules for historic and street rod vehicle registration, pushing both categories farther into the past.
🧠 Bottom Line
HB 0773 tightens eligibility for historic and street rod vehicle registrations in Maryland by raising the age thresholds. While the intent may be to narrow what qualifies as “historic,” this change unnecessarily penalizes owners of younger classic vehicles, hurts participation in the hobby, and delays the benefits of special registration for thousands of enthusiasts. That is exactly why the MCAA and similar classic car organizations generally oppose the bill.
Main Reasons for Opposition
- Conflicts With Other Pending Bills
Other legislation this session, specifically HB0004 and HB0125, already address concerns around historic tag eligibility and restore the widely accepted 25-year threshold. HB0773 would undermine that effort. - Maryland Would Become an Outlier
Most U.S. states use 25 years as the standard for Historic, Classic, or Antique vehicle registration.
This includes neighboring states, which matters because many hobbyists purchase vehicles out of state before registering them in Maryland.
Moving to a 30- or 40-year threshold would put Maryland outside the national norm. - Federal Law Uses 25 Years
Federal vehicle import laws allow cars not originally sold in the U.S. to be legally imported once they reach 25 years old.
Aligning state law with federal standards maintains consistency. Raising Maryland’s threshold creates unnecessary misalignment. - Hurts Younger Enthusiasts
Increasing the age requirement to 30 or 40 years:- Raises the cost of entry into the hobby
- Limits access to more affordable, newer classics
- Discourages younger participants from entering the collector car community
What can you do?
Let your voice be heard about house bill 773! Learn how here.
The opposition reasons is exactly what they are trying to achieve the lawmakers that are involved in these bills are totally against the car hobby for whatever reason when you are trying to override the federal government norms there’s more to the reasons that we’re being told about, is it coming from the Governor or is it personal to the lawmakers themselves. I could be wrong and it’s all about $$ as most things are the agenda of this administration
I tend to agree, it’s all about the money. However, I do feel, as members of the MCAA stand up and folks are made aware of this, that might subside. Lots of this is being done back channel without much awareness from the car community. The MCAA intends to change that. Thanks for being part!
I’m afraid these “Takeover” events are helping to drive this. That, the environmentalists and just plain, greed.
No doubt, they are bad. But, how many of those cars are running historic plates? Honestly, not many. But, it’s a bad image, no doubt.