HB 1194
In CommitteeHouse
Collector vehicle licenses
Creating additional requirements for collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates to improve compliance and public safety.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill tightens rules for collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates by requiring proof of insurance and a second-vehicle registration for collector vehicles, while maintaining the lifetime validity of horseless carriage plates. It also strengthens enforcement and penalties for noncompliance.
- Requires proof of insurance for collector vehicles (vehicles at least 30 years old) starting January 15, 2026, with liability limits matching state minimums ($25,000/$50,000/$10,000).
- Adds new requirements for collector vehicle registration: proof of ownership, a valid registration for a second vehicle used for daily driving, and a dedicated collector vehicle insurance policy.
- Clarifies that horseless carriage plates (for vehicles built before January 1, 1916) remain valid for the life of the vehicle, are not renewable, and are not transferable.
- Limits use of collector vehicles to club events, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional pleasure driving — not daily commuting or business use.
- Allows transfer of collector vehicle license plates between qualifying vehicles, but prohibits use of fake or facsimile plates — violations carry fines equal to those for standard license plate fraud.
Who is affected
- Owners of collector vehicles (vehicles at least 30 years old) — Must provide proof of insurance for collector vehicles and meet new insurance and registration requirements starting January 15, 2026.
- Owners of horseless carriages (vehicles built before 1916) — Must meet stricter insurance and registration rules for horseless carriages (vehicles built before 1916), though these plates remain valid for life and do not require renewal.
- Law enforcement officers — Must verify ownership and insurance for collector vehicles and may face fines or plate surrender if requirements are not met.
- Department of Licensing and county auditors — Will collect fees and enforce new insurance and registration rules for collector and horseless carriage plates.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Requires proof of insurance for collector vehicles, reducing the risk of uninsured drivers operating high-value vintage vehicles — protecting victims of accidents involving collector cars and aligning collector vehicles with standard insurance requirements.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(6) and Sec. 4(1)Limits collector vehicle use to occasional, non-commuting purposes, reducing the risk of wear-and-tear, mechanical failure, or unsafe operation from daily use — enhancing safety for drivers and others on the road.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(4)Prohibits fake or facsimile plates and mandates plate surrender for noncompliance, reducing fraudulent use of collector plates and improving enforcement consistency — benefiting law enforcement and honest registrants.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(7) and Sec. 4(9)Allows DOL to exempt owners who demonstrate alternative transportation means — potentially helping low-income or rural residents who cannot afford a second vehicle but still qualify for collector status through other means.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(10)Maintains lifetime validity and non-renewal for horseless carriage plates, reducing administrative burden for DOL and county auditors for this niche category — though the change is largely procedural and has minimal fiscal impact.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 3(2)(a)-(c)
Potential Concerns (5)
Requires collector vehicle owners to purchase a dedicated collector vehicle insurance policy with state-minimum liability limits ($25k/$50k/$10k), which may increase insurance costs for owners who previously used standard policies or had lower coverage needs — especially impactful for low- or fixed-income owners of vintage vehicles used only occasionally.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(b) (after Jan. 15, 2026)Mandates a second vehicle registration for daily use, imposing additional registration fees and potential insurance costs on owners who may rely solely on the collector vehicle for transportation — disproportionately affecting rural, elderly, or low-income owners with limited vehicle access.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1)(a) (after Jan. 15, 2026)Restricts collector vehicle use to occasional pleasure driving and club events, potentially forcing owners to drive non-collector vehicles more frequently — increasing overall vehicle miles traveled and associated crash risk — though the bill aims to reduce misuse of collector plates for daily commuting.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(4) and Sec. 4(9)Grants the Department of Licensing broad discretion to exempt owners from the second-vehicle requirement, but lacks clear statutory guidance — creating uncertainty and potential arbitrary enforcement that could disproportionately affect rural or low-income owners with limited transportation alternatives.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(10)Adds enforcement burden on law enforcement to verify collector vehicle insurance compliance, but the bill does not allocate new funding for training or verification systems — potentially diverting resources from higher-priority public safety functions.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(6) and Sec. 4(7)
Who Is Most Affected
Most affected group — must now meet insurance and second-vehicle requirements, increasing costs and reducing flexibility. Low-income or rural owners may be unable to comply, potentially losing collector plate benefits.
Horseless carriage owners retain lifetime plates without renewal, but must still meet insurance and registration requirements. The exemption from renewal is a net benefit, but the insurance mandate still imposes costs.
Law enforcement gains clearer authority to verify insurance compliance but faces added burden of enforcing new rules. No new funding is allocated for training or verification infrastructure.
DOL and county auditors gain authority to collect fees and enforce new rules, but must implement insurance verification systems and rulemaking — incurring modest administrative costs despite the bill’s fiscal neutrality claim.
Insurance companies may see increased demand for specialized collector vehicle policies, but the $25k/$50k/$10k liability cap is standard and not above minimum — limiting revenue upside.