Legislation to regulate the importation of classic cars and their use on Bermuda’s roads was passed yesterday in the Senate.

The Motor Car (Classic Car) Amendment Bill 2023 creates a new classification of vehicle for classic cars for the purpose of licensing and determining duty rates.

The legislation now allows them to be driven on Saturdays — previously they were allowed to be driven only on Sundays and public holidays.

Upon application, anyone who owns a private motor car that is more than 25 years old can have their vehicle classified as a classic car, which would carry a licence plate that starts with the letters “CL”.

The legislation also includes a clause to allow owners of a classic car to own and use a second private motor car, but only one of the two vehicles may be operated at any given time.

There is a $5,000 fine attached to any violation of the rule.

The legislation limits the number of classic cars that can be operated in Bermuda to 200, but that figure can be increased by the minister responsible through the negative resolution procedure.

Dwayne Robinson, an Opposition senator, questioned if it made economic sense that classic cars were only subject to 40 per cent of the normal licensing fee.

The Reverend Emily Gail Dill, the Junior Minister of National Security and Transport, said the reduced fee reflected the fact that the cars could be driven on the public roads only on two days of the week and public holidays.

Leslie Robinson, a government senator and the Junior Minister of Economy and Labour and Public Works, said that the legislation presented a new tourism opportunity for the island.

She said it could attract vintage vehicle events and sends out a message that Bermuda is open for business.