EU Parliament Re-defines Historic Vehicles

Published: 22/07/2013

22nd July 2013. EU Parliament Re-defines Historic Vehicles

The EU Parliament has issued its latest iteration in its deliberations regarding roadworthiness. As many will know there has been much debate surrounding the draft directive’s crucial definition of what a historic vehicle constitutes.  Following the plenary session of the EU Parliament on 2nd July, amongst other amendments, this definition has changed in the draft text :-

FROM
‘vehicle of historic interest’ means any vehicle which fulfils all the following conditions :
-    It was manufactured at least 30 years ago,
-    It is maintained by use of replacement parts which reproduce the historic components of the vehicle;
-    It has not sustained any change in the technical characteristics of its main components such as engine, brakes, steering or suspension and
-    It has not been changed in its appearance

TO
‘vehicle of historic interest’ means any vehicle which is considered to be historic by the Member State of registration or one of its appointed authorising bodies and which fulfils all the following conditions:
–    It was manufactured or registered for the first time at least 30 years ago;
–    Its specific type, as defined by the relevant legal acts of the Union on type approval, is no longer in production;
–    It is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition, and therefore has not undergone major changes in its technical characteristics.

Federation Deputy Legislation Director, Bob Owen is ploughing through the 92 page doc at this moment and we will issue a digest as soon as possible to keep you abreast of this potentially significant piece of European legislation. Federation Director of Legislation, David Hurley has commented that he has little doubt that this new version of the definition will change several times as this process grinds through.