AB525 - Provides for the issuance of special license plates and registration certificates for certain antique kei vehicles. (BDR 43-1145)

REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE (§§ 2, 6) A.B. 525 - *AB525* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 525–COMMITTEE ON GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE MARCH 24, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Growth and Infrastructure SUMMARY—Provides for the issuance of special license plates and registration certificates for certain antique kei vehicles. (BDR 43-1145) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; providing for the issuance of special license plates and registration certificates for antique kei vehicles in certain circumstances; exempting certain antique kei vehicles from certain provisions relating to testing for exhaust emissions; imposing a fee for the issuance and renewal or replacement of special license plates for antique kei vehicles; authorizing the special license plates to be transferred to another vehicle under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law authorizes special license plates and registration certificates to be 1 issued to residents of Nevada for antique motor vehicles that qualify as “Old 2 Timer” vehicles, street rods, classic rods or classic vehicles. (NRS 482.381, 3 482.3812, 482.3814, 482.3816) Section 1 of this bill also authorizes the 4 Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates and registration 5 certificates to residents for antique kei vehicles, which are defined as imported 6 vehicles having an enclosed passenger cab that are: (1) at least 25 years old; (2) 7 powered by an internal combustion engine with a displacement of 660 cubic 8 centimeter or less; (3) 60 inches or less in width; (4) 135 inches or less in length; 9 and (5) designed to travel on four wheels. Section 1 prohibits the use of a vehicle 10 which has been issued special license plates and a registration certificate for antique 11 kei vehicles from being used for general transportation purposes but authorizes 12 such a vehicle to be used for club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades or similar 13 activities and for uses which are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the 14 vehicle. Section 1 authorizes a person wishing to obtain the special license plates to 15 – 2 – - *AB525* request that the plates be combined with personalized prestige plates if the person 16 pays the additional fees for the personalized prestige plates. 17 Existing law requires the State Environmental Commission, in cooperation with 18 the Department and any local air pollution control agency, to adopt regulations for 19 the control of emissions from motor vehicles in areas designated by the 20 Commission that are in any county whose population is 100,000 or more (currently 21 Clark and Washoe Counties). (NRS 445B.770) Existing law also authorizes the 22 Commission to prescribe emissions standards for certain vehicles but requires the 23 Commission to provide an exemption for certain classic vehicles that the owner 24 certifies were not driven more than 5,000 miles during the immediately preceding 25 year. (NRS 445B.760) Section 7 of this bill similarly exempts an antique kei 26 vehicle from such exhaust emissions standards if the owner of the antique kei 27 vehicle certifies to the Department that the antique kei vehicle was not driven more 28 than 5,000 miles during the immediately preceding year. Section 1 exempts an 29 antique kei vehicle from certain standards and requirements for the control of 30 emissions. Section 3 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing a special 31 license plate pursuant to section 1 if the motor vehicle is tested for exhaust 32 emissions and fails such an emissions test. 33 Section 2 of this bill prohibits a new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue 34 certificates of registration from accepting an application for the registration of an 35 antique kei vehicle if the applicant wishes to obtain special license plates. 36 Section 4 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing the special license 37 plate for a full trailer or semitrailer. 38 Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change to authorize the holder of the 39 original registration of any antique kei vehicle to transfer the registration and use of 40 the special license plates to another vehicle under certain circumstances. 41 Section 6 of this bill establishes a fee of $10 for any replacement of a special 42 license plate issued pursuant to section 1. 43 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 482 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto a new section to read as follows: 2 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the 3 Department may issue special license plates and registration 4 certificates to residents of Nevada for any antique kei vehicle if the 5 antique kei vehicle is covered by insurance that meets the 6 requirements of NRS 485.185 and that: 7 (a) Is designed or designated specifically for an antique 8 vehicle; or 9 (b) Includes an endorsement designed or designated 10 specifically for antique vehicles. 11 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any vehicle 12 issued special license plates and a registration certificate pursuant 13 to subsection 1 shall not be used for general transportation but 14 may be used for: 15 (a) Club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades or similar 16 activities; and 17 – 3 – - *AB525* (b) Such other uses as are necessary for the operation and 1 maintenance of the vehicle. 2 3. A vehicle that complies with subsection 2 is exempt from 3 the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 445B.815, inclusive. 4 4. If the owner of the vehicle elects to use the vehicle for 5 general transportation, he or she: 6 (a) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2655, shall not be 7 issued special license plates and a registration certificate pursuant 8 to subsection 1; and 9 (b) Shall comply with the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 10 445B.815, inclusive. 11 5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, license plates 12 issued pursuant to this section must be inscribed with the words 13 “Antique Kei Vehicle” and a number of characters, including 14 numbers and letters, as determined necessary by the Director 15 pursuant to NRS 482.367003. 16 6. A person may request personalized prestige license plates 17 issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to be combined with a special 18 license plate issued pursuant to subsection 5 if the person pays the 19 fees for the personalized prestige license plates in addition to the 20 fees required pursuant to this section. 21 7. If, during the registration period, the holder of special 22 license plates issued pursuant to this section disposes of the 23 vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder shall retain the 24 plates and: 25 (a) Affix them to another vehicle which meets the 26 requirements of this section and report the change to the 27 Department in accordance with the procedure set forth for other 28 transfers; or 29 (b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the vehicle, 30 return them to the Department. 31 8. The fee for the special license plates is $35, in addition to 32 all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental 33 services taxes. The fee for an annual renewal sticker is $10. 34 9. In addition to the fees required pursuant to subsection 8, 35 the Department shall charge and collect a fee for the first issuance 36 of the special license plates for those motor vehicles exempted 37 pursuant to subsection 3 from the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 38 445B.815, inclusive. The amount of the fee must be equal to the 39 amount of the fee for a form certifying emission control 40 compliance set forth in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of 41 NRS 445B.830. 42 10. Fees paid to the Department pursuant to subsection 9 43 must be accounted for in the Pollution Control Account created by 44 NRS 445B.830. 45 – 4 – - *AB525* 11. As used in this section: 1 (a) “Antique kei vehicle” means a motor vehicle that: 2 (1) Is powered by an internal combustion engine with a 3 displacement of 660 cubic centimeters or less; 4 (2) Is 60 inches or less in width; 5 (3) Is 135 inches or less in length; 6 (4) Is designed to travel with four wheels in contact with the 7 ground; 8 (5) Has an enclosed passenger cab; 9 (6) Was imported into the United States; and 10 (7) Is at least 25 years old. 11 (b) “General transportation” means a vehicle that is: 12 (1) Driven more than 5,000 miles in the immediately 13 preceding year; or 14 (2) Used in any capacity for commercial purposes. 15 Sec. 2. NRS 482.216 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16 482.216 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155, 17 upon the request of a new vehicle dealer, the Department may 18 authorize the new vehicle dealer to: 19 (a) Accept applications for the registration of the new motor 20 vehicles he or she sells and the related fees and taxes; 21 (b) Issue certificates of registration to applicants who satisfy the 22 requirements of this chapter; and 23 (c) Accept applications for the transfer of registration pursuant 24 to NRS 482.399 if the applicant purchased from the new vehicle 25 dealer a new vehicle to which the registration is to be transferred. 26 2. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 27 of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall: 28 (a) Transmit the applications received to the Department within 29 the period prescribed by the Department; 30 (b) Transmit the fees collected from the applicants and properly 31 account for them within the period prescribed by the Department; 32 (c) Comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 33 5; and 34 (d) Bear any cost of equipment which is necessary to issue 35 certificates of registration, including any computer hardware or 36 software. 37 3. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 38 of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall not: 39 (a) Charge any additional fee for the performance of those 40 services; 41 (b) Receive compensation from the Department for the 42 performance of those services; 43 (c) Accept applications for the renewal of registration of a motor 44 vehicle; or 45 – 5 – - *AB525* (d) Accept an application for the registration of a motor vehicle 1 if the applicant wishes to: 2 (1) Obtain special license plates pursuant to NRS 482.3667 3 to 482.3823, inclusive [;] , and section 1 of this act; or 4 (2) Claim the exemption from the governmental services tax 5 provided pursuant to NRS 361.1565 to veterans and their relations. 6 4. The provisions of this section do not apply to the registration 7 of a moped pursuant to NRS 482.2155. 8 5. The Director shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to 9 carry out the provisions of this section. The regulations adopted 10 pursuant to this subsection must provide for: 11 (a) The expedient and secure issuance of license plates and 12 decals by the Department; and 13 (b) The withdrawal of the authority granted to a new vehicle 14 dealer pursuant to subsection 1 if that dealer fails to comply with the 15 regulations adopted by the Department. 16 Sec. 3. NRS 482.2655 is hereby amended to read as follows: 17 482.2655 1. If, with respect to a motor vehicle that is 18 required to comply with the provisions of NRS 445B.700 to 19 445B.815, inclusive, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, 20 an authorized inspection station or authorized station tests the 21 emissions from the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle fails the 22 emissions test, the Department shall not issue a special license plate 23 for that vehicle pursuant to NRS 482.381, 482.3812, 482.3814 or 24 482.3816 or section 1 of this act for a period of 90 days after the 25 motor vehicle fails the emissions test. 26 2. As used in this section: 27 (a) “Authorized inspection station” has the meaning ascribed to 28 it in NRS 445B.710. 29 (b) “Authorized station” has the meaning ascribed to it in 30 NRS 445B.720. 31 (c) “Fails the emissions test” means that a motor vehicle does 32 not comply with the applicable provisions of NRS 445B.700 to 33 445B.815, inclusive, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. 34 Sec. 4. NRS 482.274 is hereby amended to read as follows: 35 482.274 1. The Director shall order the preparation of vehicle 36 license plates for trailers in the same manner provided for motor 37 vehicles in NRS 482.270, except that a vehicle license plate 38 prepared for a full trailer or semitrailer that is registered pursuant to 39 subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 is not required to have displayed upon 40 it the month and year the registration expires. 41 2. The Director shall order preparation of two sizes of vehicle 42 license plates for trailers. The smaller plates may be used for trailers 43 with a gross vehicle weight of less than 1,000 pounds. 44 – 6 – - *AB525* 3. The Director shall determine the registration numbers 1 assigned to trailers. 2 4. Any license plates issued for a trailer before July 1, 1975, 3 bearing a different designation from that provided for in this section, 4 are valid during the period for which such plates were issued. 5 5. The Department shall not issue for a full trailer or semitrailer 6 that is registered pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 a special 7 license plate available pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, 8 inclusive [.] , and section 1 of this act. 9 Sec. 5. NRS 482.399 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 482.399 1. Upon the transfer of the ownership of or interest 11 in any vehicle by any holder of a valid registration, or upon 12 destruction of the vehicle, the registration expires. 13 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155 and 14 subsection 3 of NRS 482.483, the holder of the original registration 15 may transfer the registration to another vehicle to be registered by 16 the holder and use the same regular license plate or plates or special 17 license plate or plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 18 482.3823, inclusive, and section 1 of this act, or 482.384, on the 19 vehicle from which the registration is be [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]