Changes to Historic Vehicle Rules 2023

In 2023, the DGT is expected to officially approve a new regulation for historic vehicles. This new regulation will replace the first Historic Vehicle Regulation, Reglamento de Vehículos Históricos, created in 1995, almost 28 years ago. With this new announcement, the DGT will introduce very important new features for this type of model.

Prepared by the DGT, together with the Ministry of Industry and the Autonomous Communities, and with the help and approval of the Spanish Federation of Antique Vehicles, this new regulation will establish in 2023 “the special rules that allow the circulation of historic vehicles and encourage the conservation and restoration of those that make up the historical automobile heritage”.

Thanks to all this, once approved, the procedures to obtain the catalogue will decrease and the owners of this type of vehicle will be able to drive with them for a management cost of only around €20.

But what are the requirements that will regulate the classification of historic vehicles going to be from now on? In principle, the rule will establish that any vehicle that is more than 30 years old since its registration or manufacture, that is in original condition, registered in the General Inventory of Movable Property of Historical Heritage, and that has participated in historical events, belonged to personalities or collectibles due to their uniqueness and scarcity, you can obtain this qualification.

There are currently two types of historic vehicles classified: those in Group A, which are those that are more than 30 years old, have a Spanish number plate and have a valid ITV; and those of Group B, which are the rest, those from abroad or which do not have an active circulation permit.

According to DGT data, there are currently approximately 47,000 historic vehicles registered in Spain, which will also have important innovations and benefits from 2023 with the approval of the new regulation. Perhaps the most important will be that those vehicles already manufactured or registered before 1950, as well as mopeds classified as historic or agricultural transport, will be exempt from passing the ITV next year. The rest of those considered historical that do not belong to this group, will have to do it every 2 or 4 years, without the need to review mechanical and safety elements that are not factory-fitted, as well as being omitted from the pollutant emission tests.

In addition to all this, historic vehicles should be able to circulate next year through all the mandatory Low Emission Zones that will come into force in more than 150 cities in Spain, although ultimately it will be the City Councils that regulate in each town which cars can or cannot circulate. The DGT does recommend that all municipal councils allow them to circulate as they are vehicles of special protection.