OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 239* Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 239’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Reported by House Transportation
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Fowler Arthur and Dean
Effective Date:
Larry Gunter, Jr., Research Analyst
SUMMARY
Authorizes a person to register a replica motor vehicle (which is a vehicle that intends to
replicate another motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old), for limited operation on
public roads and highways.
Authorizes the owner of a replica motor vehicle to request that the certificate of title
indicate that the vehicle is a replica vehicle, and establishes procedures for issuance of
the certificate of title.
Exempts replica motor vehicles from certain requirements (e.g., emissions, noise
control, and fuel usage) that were not in effect in the year of manufacture that the
vehicle replicates.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Replica motor vehicles
The bill establishes requirements for registration, title, and use of replica motor
vehicles. A “replica motor vehicle” is a motor vehicle that is constructed, assembled, or
modified to replicate the make, model, and model year of a motor vehicle that is at least
25 years old.1 The bill authorizes specific exemptions related to motor vehicle registration and
equipment requirements for replica motor vehicles. However, to take advantage of these
exemptions, the replica motor vehicle must be titled as a replica motor vehicle and may not be
used for general transportation. Replica motor vehicles that are not titled pursuant to the bill’s
*This analysis was prepared before the report of the House Transportation Committee appeared in the
House Journal. Note that the legislative history may be incomplete.
1 R.C. 4501.01(III).
June 25, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
procedures are subject to general motor vehicle registration, titling, and equipment
requirements.2
Replica motor vehicle registration
To register the replica motor vehicle, the owner must execute an affidavit that the
replica motor vehicle will be used only for the following purposes:
1. Club activities, exhibitions, tour, parades, and similar uses; and
2. Travel to and from a location where maintenance is performed on the replica motor
vehicle.3
Additionally, the affidavit must declare that the State Highway Patrol inspected the
replica motor vehicle and found it safe to operate on public roads and highways. In lieu of the
regular registration taxes and fees, the owner must pay a one-time, $10 license fee to the
Registrar or deputy registrar for the registration of the replica vehicle, similar to the fee for
historical vehicles. Proceeds of the fee must be deposited in the Public Safety – Highway
Purposes Fund created under current law.4
The owner of a replica motor vehicle must display a replica motor vehicle license plate
in plain view on the rear of the vehicle. A replica motor vehicle license plate must display the
inscription “Replica Vehicle – Ohio” and the registration number assigned to the replica vehicle.
Unlike a historical vehicle, no vehicle date of manufacture is to be listed on a replica vehicle
license plate. While a replica motor vehicle does not require annual registration, if the owner
transfers the replica motor vehicle to a new owner, the new owner must re-register the replica
motor vehicle through the same procedures.5
Replica motor vehicle designation on certificate of title
Under the bill, a person who wants the certificate of title to indicate that a motor
vehicle is a replica motor vehicle must do the following:
1. Have the State Highway Patrol inspect the vehicle;
2. Obtain an inspection report from the Patrol;
3. Obtain a signed written statement from a person or nonprofit corporation with
expertise in historical motor vehicles that the motor vehicle reasonably replicates the
motor vehicle that the owner intends to replicate; and
4. Sign and notarize the written statement.6
2 R.C. 4505.072(E).
3 R.C. 4503.183(A) and (C).
4 R.C. 4503.183(B) and (C).
5 R.C. 4503.183.
6 R.C. 4505.072(A).
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As Reported by House Transportation
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
If these conditions are met, and a motor vehicle owner requests that the certificate of
title indicate that the motor vehicle is a replica motor vehicle, the common pleas court clerk
must issue to the owner the requested certificate of title. If a motor vehicle is titled as replica
motor vehicle, any future owner of the motor vehicle must title it as a replica motor vehicle.
The Registrar must ensure that this certificate of title:
1. Is in the same form as the original certificate of title;
2. Displays the word “REPLICA” in black boldface letters;
3. Includes the make, model, and model year of the motor vehicle the owner intends to
replicate; and
4. Includes the year the replica motor vehicle was constructed, assembled, or modified.7
The Registrar must develop an automated procedure within the automated title
processing system for this process.8 The owner of a replica motor vehicle that is titled pursuant
to these procedures must obtain replica motor vehicle license plates and comply with the
general registration and operation limitations of a replica motor vehicle.9
Equipment exemptions for replica motor vehicles
The bill exempts replica motor vehicles, that are titled as such, from the following:
1. The general provision that motor vehicles must have stop lights (only if the replica
motor vehicle replicates a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured with stop
lights);
2. Emissions, noise control, and fuel usage provisions that were enacted or adopted after
the year of manufacture that the vehicle replicates.10
Additionally, the bill specifies that a person cannot be prohibited from owning or
operating a replica motor vehicle that is equipped with an item that did not violate a motor
equipment law that was in effect in the calendar year it replicates. Similarly, the person cannot
be prohibited from owning or operating a replica motor vehicle that fails to comply with an
equipment requirement that was adopted in a year subsequent to the year of manufacture of
the vehicle that the replica motor vehicle replicates. For example, if a replica motor vehicle
replicates a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, the owner of the replica motor vehicle does not need to
comply with equipment requirements adopted after 1955.11
7 R.C. 4505.072(D) and 4505.08.
8 R.C. 4505.072(B), (C), and (D).
9 R.C. 4505.072(E).
10 R.C. 4513.071 and 4513.41.
11 R.C. 4513.38.
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As Reported by House Transportation
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Effective date
The bill has a delayed effective date. The bill’s changes take effect 180 days after the bill
is enacted.12
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 07-11-23
Reported, H. Transportation ---
ANHB0239RH-135
12 Section 3.
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As Reported by House Transportation
Statutes affected: As Introduced: 4501.01, 4505.08, 4513.071, 4513.38, 4513.41
As Reported By House Committee: 4501.01, 4505.08, 4513.071, 4513.38, 4513.41