Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

Street Rod Marketing Alliance (SRMA)

Model Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill

Vehicle Laws - Street Rods and Custom Vehicles

• (a) A "street rod" means a motor vehicle that:
  • (1) Is a 1948 or older vehicle; or the vehicle was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949; and
  • (2) Has been altered from the manufacturer's original design; or has a body constructed from non-original materials.
• (b)The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of a street rod vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle resembles.
• (c) For each street rod, there shall be a one-time registration fee of $ ______.
• (d)
  • (1) In applying for registration of a street rod under this section, the owner of the street rod shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is made:
    • (I) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses; and;
    • (II)Will not be used for general daily transportation.
  • (2) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, when applying for registration of a street rod, the new owner of the street rod shall provide proof acceptable to the Administration that the street rod passed a safety inspection that has been approved by the Administration in consultation with the street rod community in this State.
• (e) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the Administration shall issue a special street rod vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the Administration determines in consultation with the street rod community in this state.
• (f) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this State as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under this section.
• (g) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.

Applicable Definitions

• (a) A custom vehicle means any motor vehicle that:
  • (1) Is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle 25 or more years old and of a model year after 1948; and
  • (2) Has been altered from the manufacturers original design; or has a body constructed from non-original materials.
• (b) The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of a custom vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle resembles.
• (c) For each custom vehicle, there shall be a one-time registration fee of $_____.
• (d)
  • (1) In applying for registration of a custom vehicle under this section, the owner of the custom vehicle shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is made:
    • (I) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses; and;
    • (II) Will not be used for general daily transportation.
  • (2) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, when applying for registration of a custom vehicle, the new owner of the custom vehicle shall provide proof acceptable to the administration that the custom vehicle passed a safety inspection that has been approved by the Administration in consultation with the custom vehicle community in this state.
• (e) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the administration shall issue a special custom vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the administration determines in consultation with the custom vehicle community in this state.
• (f) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this State as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under this section.
• (g) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.

Tail Light Definitions

• (a) Signal lamps and devices – street rod vehicles and custom vehicles
  • (1) “Blue dot tail light” means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter.
  • (2) A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.