Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates was vetoed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The Governor cited a conflict with current law as the reason for not approving the bill. Amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA in consultation with state hobbyist groups totally exempted from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure remained exempted from the tax.

Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amended H.B. 878, the exemption for all cars, regardless of age that are undergoing restoration (for as long a time period as the restoration work requires) represented a new benefit to car owners and demonstrated a real effort by legislators and hobbyists to enact reasonable and fair compromise legislation. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates was vetoed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The Governor cited a conflict with current law as the reason for not approving the bill. Amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA in consultation with state hobbyist groups totally exempted from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure remained exempted from the tax.

Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amended H.B. 878, the exemption for all cars, regardless of age that are undergoing restoration (for as long a time period as the restoration work requires) represented a new benefit to car owners and demonstrated a real effort by legislators and hobbyists to enact reasonable and fair compromise legislation. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

In 2010, Massachusetts enacted into law a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, custom vehicles, replicas and specially constructed vehicles. The law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Replica vehicles are defined as being assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that replicate an earlier year, make and model vehicle. Specially constructed vehicles are those reconstructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that have an exterior that does not replicate or resemble any other manufactured vehicle. The bill allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing both the year in which the vehicle was built and the make, model and year of the vehicle intended to be replicated.    
 
The law also provides that specially constructed and replica vehicles, which are registered on or before April 30, 2012, are completely exempt from emissions inspection requirements. However, specially constructed and replica vehicles registered after April 30, 2012, are subject to emissions control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed, whether the engine is an OEM’s production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine.

These concessions were necessary to receive the approval of the state regulators charged with overseeing the program. Under the law, if the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic (OBD) system, the vehicle would be subject to an OBD system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

In 2010, Massachusetts enacted into law a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, custom vehicles, replicas and specially constructed vehicles. The law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Replica vehicles are defined as being assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that replicate an earlier year, make and model vehicle. Specially constructed vehicles are those reconstructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that have an exterior that does not replicate or resemble any other manufactured vehicle. The bill allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing both the year in which the vehicle was built and the make, model and year of the vehicle intended to be replicated.    
 
The law also provides that specially constructed and replica vehicles, which are registered on or before April 30, 2012, are completely exempt from emissions inspection requirements. However, specially constructed and replica vehicles registered after April 30, 2012, are subject to emissions control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed, whether the engine is an OEM’s production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine.

These concessions were necessary to receive the approval of the state regulators charged with overseeing the program. Under the law, if the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic (OBD) system, the vehicle would be subject to an OBD system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	The 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report—which includes sales for specialty-equipment segments and niches, consumer purchase patterns, vehicle sales trends and more—is available free of charge to SEMA members.

The 2012 Annual Market Report, outlining the overall specialty-equipment market, is now available on the research page of SEMA’s website. 

For the second straight year, the specialty-equipment market showed improvement. Overall 2011 sales grew 5% from 2010 to put the industry back into the $30 billion range.  

The report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

The Annual Market Report has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.

Download the 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report online. It is available free of charge for SEMA members, while non-SEMA members can purchase a copy for $250.

For questions regarding the report, contact research@sema.org.

	The 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report—which includes sales for specialty-equipment segments and niches, consumer purchase patterns, vehicle sales trends and more—is available free of charge to SEMA members.

The 2012 Annual Market Report, outlining the overall specialty-equipment market, is now available on the research page of SEMA’s website. 

For the second straight year, the specialty-equipment market showed improvement. Overall 2011 sales grew 5% from 2010 to put the industry back into the $30 billion range.  

The report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

The Annual Market Report has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.

Download the 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report online. It is available free of charge for SEMA members, while non-SEMA members can purchase a copy for $250.

For questions regarding the report, contact research@sema.org.

	The 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report—which includes sales for specialty-equipment segments and niches, consumer purchase patterns, vehicle sales trends and more—is available free of charge to SEMA members.

The 2012 Annual Market Report, outlining the overall specialty-equipment market, is now available on the research page of SEMA’s website. 

For the second straight year, the specialty-equipment market showed improvement. Overall 2011 sales grew 5% from 2010 to put the industry back into the $30 billion range.  

The report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

The Annual Market Report has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.

Download the 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report online. It is available free of charge for SEMA members, while non-SEMA members can purchase a copy for $250.

For questions regarding the report, contact research@sema.org.

	The 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report—which includes sales for specialty-equipment segments and niches, consumer purchase patterns, vehicle sales trends and more—is available free of charge to SEMA members.

The 2012 Annual Market Report, outlining the overall specialty-equipment market, is now available on the research page of SEMA’s website. 

For the second straight year, the specialty-equipment market showed improvement. Overall 2011 sales grew 5% from 2010 to put the industry back into the $30 billion range.  

The report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

The Annual Market Report has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.

Download the 2012 SEMA Annual Market Report online. It is available free of charge for SEMA members, while non-SEMA members can purchase a copy for $250.

For questions regarding the report, contact research@sema.org.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued its policies and procedures for issuance of titles and specialty license plates to vehicle owners seeking registration as street rods or custom vehicles. The policy also provides for a basic safety equipment inspection to be performed by an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) master technician. These procedures were drafted pursuant to the 2011 enactment into law of SEMA-model legislation. 

Originally slated to go into effect September 1, 2011, the new law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The law also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the law only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, due to a flawed interpretation of the law by the DMV, all vehicles seeking registration as street rods and custom vehicles must carry a title with a “Replica” brand—even those vehicles altered from original steel bodies. According to the DMV, any changes to that policy must be provided to the agency through amendments to the law. SEMA is currently in the process of contacting members of the Texas Legislature to seek additional legislation to correct this flaw. The Texas legislature does not meet for a regular 2012 session, requiring legislation to be introduced in 2013. In the meantime, the new polices should accommodate owners of replica street rods and custom vehicles.

The DMV’s Policy and Procedure bulletin, in addition to frequently asked questions (FAQs) document and license plate application form, is available on the Texas DMV's website. The application and FAQs are listed as "attachments" below the subject line.  

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued its policies and procedures for issuance of titles and specialty license plates to vehicle owners seeking registration as street rods or custom vehicles. The policy also provides for a basic safety equipment inspection to be performed by an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) master technician. These procedures were drafted pursuant to the 2011 enactment into law of SEMA-model legislation. 

Originally slated to go into effect September 1, 2011, the new law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The law also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the law only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, due to a flawed interpretation of the law by the DMV, all vehicles seeking registration as street rods and custom vehicles must carry a title with a “Replica” brand—even those vehicles altered from original steel bodies. According to the DMV, any changes to that policy must be provided to the agency through amendments to the law. SEMA is currently in the process of contacting members of the Texas Legislature to seek additional legislation to correct this flaw. The Texas legislature does not meet for a regular 2012 session, requiring legislation to be introduced in 2013. In the meantime, the new polices should accommodate owners of replica street rods and custom vehicles.

The DMV’s Policy and Procedure bulletin, in addition to frequently asked questions (FAQs) document and license plate application form, is available on the Texas DMV's website. The application and FAQs are listed as "attachments" below the subject line.  

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.