An Act To Require the Correct Motor Vehicle Registration for Antique Autos and Custom Vehicles
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1306
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: KNIGHT, COLLINS, CEBRA
Amends: 29-A MRSA §101, 29-A MRSA §458-B

Legislative Document 
No. 1306 
H.P. 958 
House of Representatives, March 24, 2011 
An Act To Require the Correct Motor Vehicle Registration for 
Antique Autos and Custom Vehicles 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KNIGHT of Livermore Falls. 
Cosponsored by Senator COLLINS of York and 
Representative: CEBRA of Naples. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 1997, c. 653, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
C.    Substantially maintained in original or restored condition primarily for use in 
exhibitions, club activities, parades or other functions of public interest or for 
occasional use as a personal vehicle; 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§3, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 314, §3, is 
amended to read: 
F.    Not an altered vehicle, or a vehicle that has undergone a change in some of the 
component parts of the vehicle. 
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§19-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 321, §1 and 
affected by §6, is amended to read: 
19-A.  Custom vehicle. "Custom vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is at least 30 25 
years old and of a model year after 1948 or a motor vehicle that was manufactured to 
resemble a motor vehicle that is at least 30 25 years old and of a model year after 1948 
and that has been altered undergone a change in some of the component parts from the 
manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal material. 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §458-B, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 321, §4 and 
affected by §6, is repealed. 
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §458-B, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 321, §4 and 
affected by §6, is amended to read: 
7.  Inspection.  A custom vehicle is subject to the inspection requirements of section 
1751, except for the exemptions under rules adopted by the Chief of the State Police that 
pertain to custom vehicles and street rods. 
Sec. 6.  Stakeholder group.  The Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of 
Motor Vehicles shall convene a stakeholder group to review issues concerning the 
affidavit that must be filed with the bureau when registering an antique auto, custom 
vehicle, horseless carriage or street rod.  The bureau shall invite the participation of 
representatives from the American Truck Historical Society, the Antique Automobile 
Club of America, the Maine Custom Auto Association, the Maine Obsolete Auto League, 
the National Street Rod Association and other interested stakeholders.  The stakeholders 
shall examine the current affidavit and the problems that have arisen in adhering to the 
requirements of the affidavit, including, but not limited to, the parts of the affidavit that 
deal with antique autos and custom vehicles.  The stakeholder group shall develop 
recommendations to amend the affidavit. 
Sec. 7.  Report.  No later than December 7, 2011, the Department of the Secretary 
of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall report the results of the study under section 6 
along with any recommended legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Transportation.  The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may submit a bill 
related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the definition of "antique auto" to include that the vehicle may be 
used for occasional personal use and that it may not have undergone a change in some of 
the component parts of the vehicle.  It amends the definition of "custom vehicle" by 
changing the number of years of age that would constitute a custom vehicle from 30 years 
to 25 years.  It removes the weight limit of what constitutes a custom vehicle and 
indicates that the exemptions adopted by the Chief of the State Police apply to a custom 
vehicle.  The bill also directs the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor 
Vehicles to invite the participation of representatives of antique auto, street rod and 
custom vehicle organizations to review the affidavit that must be filed with the bureau 
when registering an antique auto, custom vehicle, horseless carriage or street rod and to 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature with its findings.