Vehicle Laws - Drivers' Schools and Driver Education Programs - Age of Instruction Vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Fisher

Md: Allows driving schools and approved programs to use vehicles up to 10 model years old for instruction, aligning regulations with a higher age limit starting Oct 1, 2025.

Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.

Summary — HB 1183 (Vehicle Laws: Drivers’ Schools & Driver Education Programs — Age of Instruction Vehicles)

Status / Jurisdiction
- State: Maryland (Introduced by Delegate Fisher)
- Introduced: February 6, 2025
- Hearing: Scheduled 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
- Effective date (as drafted): October 1, 2025

Purpose
- To change the maximum allowable model-year age for motor vehicles used for behind‑the‑wheel instruction in licensed drivers’ schools and State‑approved driver education programs from the current practice (7 model years per MVA regulation) to 10 model years, and to require the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to adopt regulations reflecting that change.

Key provisions
- Amends the Transportation Article to add a statutory prohibition: a vehicle older than 10 model years may not be used for instruction in a drivers’ school.
- Adds a parallel requirement for driver education programs approved by MVA/State Department of Education: vehicles used for instruction in those programs may not be older than 10 model years.
- Continues existing language that licensees must maintain instructor vehicles in condition required by MVA.
- Directs the MVA to adopt and enforce any implementing regulations necessary to effectuate the statutory change.
- Effective date set for October 1, 2025.

Who is affected
- Drivers’ schools (private businesses licensed by MVA).
- Driver education programs conducted or certified under State standards (e.g., school programs approved in consultation with the State Department of Education).
- MVA (regulatory implementation and enforcement).
- Small businesses operating driving schools — particularly those that must buy and maintain instruction vehicles.
- Indirectly: students participating in behind‑the‑wheel instruction and broader public safety stakeholders.

Fiscal and economic impact
- MVA: No material fiscal impact; MVA can update regulations with existing resources (per fiscal note).
- Transportation Trust Fund: Not materially affected.
- Local governments: No direct fiscal effect noted.
- Small businesses (driving schools): Meaningful impact — potential cost savings because schools may replace vehicles less frequently (purchase new vehicles less often), but older vehicles may require more maintenance and repairs which could offset savings depending on fleet condition and usage.
- Public benefits: Potentially encourages retention of older training vehicles; safety trade‑offs are not addressed in the bill text or fiscal note.

Procedural / Timing notes
- Bill requires MVA regulatory changes to align with the statute; enforcement would follow the effective date.
- As drafted, the prohibition applies to vehicles used for instruction on or after the effective date (Oct 1, 2025).

Considerations
- The bill codifies an increase in allowable vehicle age (from the MVA’s 7‑model‑year practice to 10 model years). Stakeholders may weigh cost savings for small schools against any concerns about vehicle reliability and safety when operating older instruction vehicles.