As emerging technologies blur the line between cars and aircraft, several states are advancing legislation for flying cars to prepare for vehicles that can operate on both roads and in the sky. Often referred to as “roadable aircraft,” these hybrid vehicles are prompting lawmakers to establish new frameworks for registration, inspection, and operation that integrate both motor vehicle and aviation regulations. From New Hampshire’s pioneering law in 2020 to Pennsylvania’s proposal in 2025, states are positioning themselves for a future where flying cars could become part of daily transportation.

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Arizona: Funding the Future of Advanced Air Mobility

In 2025, Arizona lawmakers included $2 million in the state’s $17.6 billion budget to study the future of flying cars, marking one of the first state-funded efforts to explore “advanced air mobility.” The provision, supported by Sen. David Farnsworth (R), will fund research, testing, and infrastructure planning for vehicles capable of both road and air travel.

Farnsworth argued the measure reflects growing confidence in the technology, noting that multiple companies are racing to bring roadable aircraft to market within the next few years. He has already discussed potential “vertiports”—landing and charging sites—with Mesa city officials, suggesting that the rooftops of parking structures could be possible locations.

The effort builds on Arizona’s history of supporting transportation innovation, following a 2017 authorization of autonomous vehicle testing. A related bill would require the Arizona Department of Transportation to develop a statewide plan for electric charging stations to support future flying car operations, with a report due by September 2026.

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Illinois Flying Car Legislation

Illinois House Bill 3012, introduced by Rep. Joe Sosnowski, would establish a legal framework for roadable aircraft—vehicles capable of both highway driving and flight. The measure mirrors similar laws in New Hampshire and West Virginia. However, it has not yet advanced in the Illinois General Assembly.

The bill would define a roadable aircraft as any aircraft that can take off and land from a suitable airfield and is also designed to operate on public roadways. When driven on highways, it would be treated as a motor vehicle, subject to Illinois traffic laws. Takeoffs and landings would be restricted to designated airstrips, except in cases of emergency.

Under the proposal, the Secretary of State would issue motorcycle-sized plates tied to the vehicle’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) N-number. Owners could opt not to display the plate if the tail number markings remain visible. The bill would exempt roadable aircraft from state emissions and inspection requirements if they meet federal aviation standards, with fees consisting of an aeronautics charge and an administrative registration fee.

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Minnesota: The “Jetsons Law” Takes Flight

A 2024 Minnesota omnibus transportation bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz (D), established Minnesota as the second state—after New Hampshire—to enact provisions for roadable aircraft, often called flying cars, through what lawmakers dubbed the “Jetsons Law.”

The legislation defines a roadable aircraft as an aircraft capable of taking off and landing from an airfield that can also be driven on a public highway. These vehicles fall under existing definitions of “motor vehicle” and “passenger automobile,” requiring owners to comply with standard titling, registration, taxation, and insurance requirements when on roads while maintaining separate aircraft registration under aviation law.

Each vehicle’s federal tail number serves as its primary identifier and must be carried inside the aircraft during highway use. Roadable aircraft are treated as motor vehicles when operated on roads and as aircraft when at an airport or in flight. Takeoffs and landings on public highways are prohibited except during emergencies, aligning with similar laws in other states.

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New Hampshire: The First State to Legalize Flying Cars

On July 24, 2020, House Bill 1182 made New Hampshire the first state in the nation to officially recognize and regulate roadable aircraft. The bill defined a roadable aircraft as any aircraft that can take off and land from a suitable airfield and is also designed to be driven on public roads.

The law created a process for registration, inspection, and operation. Owners must register roadable aircraft with the New Hampshire Department of Safety, providing proof of valid aircraft registration and a recent inspection. Each registration corresponds to the vehicle’s federally assigned tail number, eliminating the need for an additional state license plate.

Municipalities may collect a $2,000 local permit fee in addition to state registration costs. Roadable aircraft are exempt from state vehicle inspection requirements if they meet aviation standards. When operated on roads, they are considered motor vehicles; when flown, they are governed by aviation laws. Takeoffs and landings are generally limited to designated airfields, except in emergencies.

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Pennsylvania Flying Car Legislation Introduced

In 2025, Senator Marty Flynn introduced Senate Bill 1077, which would establish a comprehensive framework for the operation and regulation of roadable aircraft within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The bill would define these vehicles as aircraft that can also function as motor vehicles and meet federal motorcycle safety standards.

The legislation would authorize the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to issue special registration plates displaying each aircraft’s FAA N-number. When driven on public roads, roadable aircraft would be required to follow all state motor vehicle laws; when flown, they would remain subject to federal aviation regulations.

Takeoffs and landings would be restricted to airports except in emergencies. The bill would exempt roadable aircraft from emissions inspections if they display an N-number plate and allow proof of federal inspection to satisfy state requirements. The measure would also exclude these vehicles from definitions of all-terrain vehicles and other off-road machines.

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West Virginia Flying Car Legislation Stalls

Senate Bill 298 was introduced in the West Virginia Legislature in 2025 to establish a regulatory framework for roadable aircraft, defined as vehicles capable of both flight and highway operation. Although the measure did not advance, it outlined how these dual-use vehicles would be classified, registered, and taxed under state law.

The proposal would have created a new Class E vehicle category specifically for roadable aircraft, treating them as motor vehicles when operated on public roads and as aircraft when in flight. It required owners to obtain special registration plates displaying each vehicle’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) N-number, with a $15 annual plate fee and a $60 annual registration fee.

Under the bill, roadable aircraft would have been required to follow all traffic regulations and prohibited from taking off or landing on highways, except in emergencies. Operators holding a standard driver’s license would have been exempt from motorcycle-specific testing and helmet laws when the aircraft was fully enclosed.

SB 298 also proposed exempting federally inspected roadable aircraft from state vehicle inspection requirements, allowing proof of compliance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations to satisfy inspection standards. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would have been authorized to issue inspection stickers and adopt rules for documentation and oversight.

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