Last summer we found out that the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, the Autonomous Communities and the Spanish Federation of Antique Vehicles (FEVA)I was writing a new Historic Vehicle Regulations to replace the current standard approved in 1995.
The new regulations intend to respond to the different traffic conditions that are currently experienced, especially with regard to traffic on the Low Emission Zones (ZBE), which will be mandatory in all cities with more than 50.000 inhabitants. With the new Regulation, vehicles classified as historic will be allowed to circulate through these Low Emission Zones without restrictions.
NEW ABBREVIATED PROCEDURE
In addition, the new Historic Vehicle Regulations will respond to one of the historical demands of our group, such as the simplification and lower cost of the procedure for cataloging a vehicle as historic, which will stop to standardize what other European countries are already doing. In addition to, of course, maintain the originality of the model. If there are modifications, they must be those of their time.
El new abbreviated procedure eliminates paperwork, such as the cataloging carried out by the Autonomous Communities, the amount of which exceeded 100 euros per vehicle; or the need for a laboratory report, which could easily double that figure. Thus, the duration and the total cost of the process are reduced, which currently stands between 500 and 900 euros. In the case of some motorcycles, this figure exceeded the total value of the vehicle.
From now on, to obtain the historical classification of his vehicle, the owner must present a responsible declaration that they meet the established requirements and have the ITV and insurance in force. It remains, yes, the age of 30 years as threshold to apply for listing as historic.
NEW EFFECTIVE DATE
As we already anticipated in the lead, the entry into force of the new Historic Vehicle Regulations was scheduled for this January, but ultimately it has not been possible. The reason is the high number of allegations received by the DGT since the period to send them opened in August 2022.
Many of these claims come from cataloging laboratories, who lose a substantial part of their business, but also that of other professionals, individuals and even the Autonomous Communities themselves. The General Directorate of Traffic is analyzing and answering all these allegations in a process that is taking longer than expected.
Thus, the approval of the new regulation is expected to take place in the summer of 2023. In this way, it would almost certainly take effect in the fall. In any case, what will not change will be the philosophy of the standard, although it is being used to polish and improve it.
Soon we will analyze in depth the novelties of the new Historic Vehicle Regulation and all the changes it introduces with respect to the 1995 one.
Photographs: SEAT