Public Act 662 of 2002, effective July 1, 2003, requires the assessment for historic vehicles to be 20% of the premium assessment charged for a car. As defined in Public Act 662, a historic vehicle means a vehicle that is a registered historic vehicle under Section 800a or 803p of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.803a and 257.803p.

Under Section 257.20a of the Michigan Vehicle Code, “Historic Vehicle” is defined as a vehicle which is over 25 years old, and which is owned solely as a collector’s item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, including mechanical testing, but is not used for general transportation.

Section 803a provides the Secretary of State may issue to the owner of a historic vehicle a historic vehicle registration plate, which shall bear the inscription “historic vehicle - Michigan” and the registration number.

Section 803p provides that the owner of a historic vehicle may use an authentic Michigan registration plate of the same year as the model year in which the vehicle was manufactured instead of a historic vehicle registration plate issued under Section 803a by presenting the authentic plate number and year to the Secretary of State at the time of registration.

In summary, in order for a vehicle to be assessed at the historic vehicle assessment rate, the vehicle must meet the definition of a historic vehicle as defined in Section 257.20a and must either have a historic vehicle registration plate or authentic Michigan registration plate.

Click here to view the historic vehicle assessment rate

Public Act 662 of 2002, effective July 1, 2003, requires the assessment for historic vehicles to be 20% of the premium assessment charged for a car. As defined in Public Act 662, a historic vehicle means a vehicle that is a registered historic vehicle under Section 800a or 803p of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.803a and 257.803p.

Under Section 257.20a of the Michigan Vehicle Code, “Historic Vehicle” is defined as a vehicle which is over 25 years old, and which is owned solely as a collector’s item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, including mechanical testing, but is not used for general transportation.

Section 803a provides the Secretary of State may issue to the owner of a historic vehicle a historic vehicle registration plate, which shall bear the inscription “historic vehicle - Michigan” and the registration number.

Section 803p provides that the owner of a historic vehicle may use an authentic Michigan registration plate of the same year as the model year in which the vehicle was manufactured instead of a historic vehicle registration plate issued under Section 803a by presenting the authentic plate number and year to the Secretary of State at the time of registration.

In summary, in order for a vehicle to be assessed at the historic vehicle assessment rate, the vehicle must meet the definition of a historic vehicle as defined in Section 257.20a and must either have a historic vehicle registration plate or authentic Michigan registration plate.

Click here to view the historic vehicle assessment rate