Nevada Bill to Amend Hobby Vehicle Registration Dies
We were heard, Nevada! SAN-opposed legislation (AB 446) that would have significantly impacted the owners of Old Timers, Classic Rods, Street Rods, and Classic Vehicles died when it failed to advance before a critical legislative deadline. If passed, vehicles would have been forced to pass a smog check upon initial registration and subject to in-person odometer checks at registration and subsequent renewals.
Special thanks and congratulations to those who opposed this anti-hobby bill!
Background: As enthusiasts in Nevada are well aware, the legislature has made multiple anti-hobby attempts to close the so-called “classic car loophole.” In 2015, the legislature passed a bill that would have removed a rolling age requirement for registration, preventing vehicles newer than 1996 from ever receiving special status. This bill required a last-minute veto from the Governor to prevent it from becoming law. Similar efforts were made in 2017 to impose in-person odometer checks to enforce mileage restrictions.
Nevada is not alone in attempting to limit a variety of collector vehicle registration classifications. Why? Put simply, the designations have been abused by non-enthusiasts. As vehicles become more reliable, the population of older cars on the road has grown in recent years. This situation has resulted in motorists using these special designations on vehicles that have no business receiving them. This problem has created a blackeye for true enthusiasts, equates to lost revenue for each state, and provides a loophole for abusers to avoid emissions checks.