As of October 8, 2026, Maryland’s historic vehicle registration cutoff is model year 1999 or earlier. A new 25-year age standard has been enacted, but it does not take effect until July 1, 2027. The date matters: a 2000-or-newer vehicle does not qualify under the current historic model-year test simply because it is old enough.
Maryland’s current historic vehicle cutoff
Maryland Transportation Article § 13-936 currently defines an eligible vehicle as one that “Is a model year of 1999 or earlier.” The vehicle must also remain substantially consistent with its manufacturer’s original design and meet Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) criteria. The definition covers passenger vehicles, motorcycles and trucks. Maryland Transportation Article § 13-936
That means the age of a vehicle alone does not make it eligible today. For example, a 2000-model-year car remains outside the current historic cutoff, even if it is more than 20 years old. Eligibility also depends on the vehicle’s condition and intended use.
What changed in 2025—and what changes in 2027
Maryland previously used a rolling age test: a vehicle had to be at least 20 years old. House Bill 352, part of the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, replaced that test with the fixed cutoff of model year 1999 or earlier. The MVA says the fixed cutoff took effect July 1, 2025. Its implementation bulletin also explained that affected model-year-2000-and-newer vehicles registered as historic had to move to the corresponding ordinary class and weight registration. MVA 2025 registration bulletin 2025 fiscal note for House Bill 352
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A later law changes the test again. Senate Bill 284, Chapter 6 of the Acts of 2026, amends § 13-936 to require that a vehicle be at least 25 years old. That amendment is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027—not before. As of October 8, 2026, the 1999-or-earlier model-year cutoff remains the operative rule. Chapter 6 of the Acts of 2026
| Period | Historic vehicle age/model-year test | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Prior rule | At least 20 years old | Replaced July 1, 2025, according to the MVA bulletin |
| Current rule as of October 8, 2026 | Model year 1999 or earlier | July 1, 2025 |
| Enacted future rule | At least 25 years old | July 1, 2027 |
The enacted 25-year standard is a future rule, not the current application standard. For applications after its effective date, check the MVA’s current instructions and the statutory text then in force.
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Eligibility also depends on condition and use
Vehicle condition and type
Even a vehicle within the applicable age or model-year threshold must not be substantially altered from the manufacturer’s original design. The statute also excludes replicas remanufactured or reconstructed as replicas and requires the vehicle to meet MVA regulatory criteria. Confirm how those requirements apply to a modified vehicle with the MVA before applying. Maryland Transportation Article § 13-936
The MVA’s historic-plate guidance describes passenger vehicles, motorcycles and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. It also describes a separate age provision for heavier trucks, tractors and motor homes; owners of those vehicles should consult the current MVA guidance rather than assume the ordinary historic-plate description applies. MVA historic vehicle plates and registration
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Historic registration is not a daily-driver category
Applicants certify that the vehicle will be maintained for exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, occasional transportation and similar uses. The MVA says historic registration is not intended for general daily transportation or for primarily transporting passengers or property on highways. Whether a particular trip fits the permitted use depends on the circumstances; the plate is not a general-purpose substitute for ordinary registration. MVA historic vehicle plates and registration
How to apply, and what to check first
- Check the rule that applies on your filing date. As of October 8, 2026, use the 1999-or-earlier model-year cutoff. The 25-year test is scheduled to begin July 1, 2027.
- Confirm the vehicle meets the other criteria. Review the MVA’s requirements for vehicle type, original design, qualifying use and any applicable criteria for heavier vehicles.
- Complete the Historic or Street Rod Registration form, VR-096. The MVA directs applicants to submit this form with applicable fees. MVA form VR-096
- Verify the fee and filing instructions. The MVA fee schedule lists $55.50 for historic vehicles as of October 8, 2026. Treat that as a point-in-time listing and confirm the current amount and any applicable charges before filing. MVA registration fee schedule
Emissions inspections and ordinary registration
The MVA’s historic-plate guidance says historic vehicles are exempt from periodic emissions inspections. That statement concerns historic registration; if a vehicle moves to ordinary registration, check the MVA’s instructions for the applicable class and the vehicle’s circumstances rather than assuming the historic exemption carries over. MVA historic vehicle plates and registration
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“Classic,” “antique” and “historic” may be used informally in different ways, but this cutoff concerns Maryland’s statutory Class L historic registration. It does not establish an insurer’s definition or every use of those other labels.
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