Summary of Maryland House Bill 4 (2026 Session)
House Bill 4 updates Maryland’s definition of a historic motor vehicle by restoring a rolling age requirement. Under the bill, a vehicle qualifies for historic registration once it reaches 25 years of age, replacing the fixed model-year cutoff that was enacted previously.
The bill directs the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to automatically reinstate historic registrations for vehicles that lost their historic status due to the prior law change. Vehicle owners would not be required to reapply or take additional action for reinstatement.
All existing restrictions tied to historic registration remain in place, including limits on daily transportation, commuting, and commercial use.
The bill also clarifies that vehicles registered as historic before the effective date are protected under the updated definition.
If enacted, the changes would take effect on July 1, 2026.
