Understanding the Implications: DGT Announces New Regulations for Historic Cars

The DGT continues to work on the new regulation for historic cars, which already has an arrival date. At least that's how Pere Navarro confirmed it in his recent meeting with the International Federation of Historic Vehicles (FIVA) and the Spanish Federation of Antique Vehicles (FEVA).

His objective is to simplify the process of registering a vehicle as historic and to make it more economical. With this update, the DGT expects the number of historic vehicles registered in Spain to be multiplied by four.

In six months it could be ready, although it will depend on the new government

The meeting held between Navarro, Tiddo Bresters, president of FIVA, and Raúl Aranda, president of FEVA, leaves new details on the new and expected regulation that will replace the 1995 and currently in force.

By the end of the year or the beginning of 2024, be optimistic. The main thing, is expected to be ready at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2025, according to the Director of Traffic. From the DGT we are told that the text has already passed the period of allegations and that it is in the hands of the Interior. Although the entire parliamentary process remains for its final approval and subsequent entry into force. What will not happen before the formation of the new government, after the elections.

That is to say, that "right now it is stopped" and not being an urgent regulation, it could arrive later than indicated by Navarro. In short, it is more than likely that it will be ready by 2024.

In addition, and in parallel, FIVA is working to give a homogeneous and unique definition to the historic vehicle in Europe and to harmonize technical inspections. It is understood that this will also be included later in the Spanish regulation.

From almost 50,000 to 200,000 historical. According to data from the DGT, in Spain, there are currently some 48,000 historic vehicles. We are very far from the 400,000 in France, the 500,000 in the United Kingdom, or the 600,000 in Germany.

But Traffic is optimistic about the new regulations that, they estimate, will make us reach 200,000 historic cars registered in our country.

Although FEVA demands more involvement from the Spanish administrations to promote this type of vehicle, which is part of our heritage. For example, a museum of the old vehicle, since in Spain they are merely in private collections unlike France or the United Kingdom.

What changes are expected?

The requirements to consider a historic car do not vary in the draft: it must be at least 30 years old (either since it was manufactured or registered).

Also that its specific type is not manufactured, that it remains in its original state (or restored and/or modified without substantial changes), that it is well maintained and preserved, or that it has a historical value or cultural interest, or that it is a collector's vehicle.

However, several changes are proposed:

Abbreviated registration procedure. The draft distinguishes between two classifications: Group A (ordinary registration in Spain, more than 30 years old and with the ITV in force) and Group B (that do not meet the above requirements).

Group A will eliminate the prior official laboratory inspection to obtain the historical registration (catalog phase) and the specific inspection. They will only be required to have the ITV in order, a responsible declaration, and the approval of the DGT.

For Group B, a favorable technical report issued by a Historical Vehicle Technical Service and a specific inspection will be required, but also without undergoing the cataloging phase. This is intended to facilitate the registration process and make it cheaper.

The oldest is exempt from passing the ITV. The other big change, and that it takes from the British model, is that it will not force the technical inspection to pass the technical inspection to those manufactured and registered before 1950. It opens the hand more than in the United Kingdom, which is not required for those registered before 1960. For the rest, the same forks are maintained:

• Up to 40 years: every two years.
• From 40 to 45 years: every three years.
• Over 45 years: every four years.

They will be able to circulate through the LEZs. Finally, the third most important modification is that they will not have the restrictions of the LEZs despite not having an environmental label. This is already applied in some cities, such as Madrid, but the intention is that it be imposed at the national level through this general regulation and that the municipalities must comply with it.