Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens
FIVA
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) was founded in 1966 and is the worldwide body which represents owners and collectors of all types of historic vehicles.
ID: 801754021924-61
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Elena Kountoura (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
5 Nov 2025 · Meeting with "FIVA" representatives
Response to Revision of the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
3 Sept 2025
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) urges and recommends EU decisionmakers to take the valued contribution of historic vehicles (HVs) to cultural heritage into consideration. To keep historic vehicles on the road, as a living example of our motoring heritage that is shared with the public, and especially the younger generations, it is indispensable that fuel is available to keep vehicles running. This fuel can exist in its traditional form or in the form of new, alternative fuels provided that these are available and accessible for consumers. Historic Vehicles have a marginal impact on the environment because of their low number and their significantly low annual mileage. These vehicles should only be measured up against the rules that applied when they were produced. In the case of fuels, this means that any limiting measures should not be retroactively applied to existing vehicles, but only to new vehicles to be manufactured. Given that we cannot exchange the vehicle powertrain of historic vehicles, FIVA as an organisation is of course also open to changes if these have a positive impact on our environment. We welcome solutions with alternative fuels where these can effectively work in historic vehicles and is available to historic vehicle owners. In conclusion, we want to ensure that historic vehicles in the future have fuel for their internal combustion engines available either in the traditional form or as alternative fuels (provided that these are available and accessible).
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Roadworthiness Package
4 Jun 2025
FIVA calls on the European Parliament and the Council to: Maintain the current approach to historic vehicles, including the freedom of Member States to define and manage their inspection regimes; Introduce a requirement for all Member States to protect vehicles of historical interest, in line with the EU definition; Confirm the principle that vehicles must be assessed against the technical and environmental requirements applicable at the time of their first registration or type-approval. A vehicle should not be deregistered or failed at inspection merely because it does not meet standards that did not exist when it was manufactured. Provide flexibility for Youngtimers1 and used vehicles, allowing national authorities to adjust inspection requirements based on actual use and condition; Ensure that anti-tampering provisions do not penalise legitimate repairs, tuning, or restorations, particularly where original parts are no longer available. The proposal should clarify that tampering refers to deliberate manipulations that defeat safety or environmental controls, not aesthetic or non-critical technical modifications. Reconsider the mandatory testing of motorcycles, favouring evidence-based and risk-adjusted approaches such as roadside inspections; Align the proposal more clearly with the objectives of the Circular Economy, especially regarding durability, repairability, and circularity.
Read full responseMeeting with Anna Banczyk (Head of Unit Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
13 May 2025 · Exchange of views on vocational education and training initiatives
Response to A Culture Compass for Europe
12 May 2025
The history of the motor vehicle is deeply intertwined with Europes (and the worlds) cultural and social evolution. Since the late 19th century, vehicles have shaped not only the way Europeans travel, but also how they express creativity, master technology, and experience modern life. The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), as the global representative body for historic vehicle culture, works since 1966 to ensure that this unique motoring heritage is preserved, celebrated, and passed on to future generations. Historic vehicles are more than mechanical artefacts. They are an important part of our Cultural heritage. They are witnesses to design ingenuity, social change, technological evolution, and artistic expression. They embody the craftsmanship, creativity, and mobility of Europe and the world across generations. They brought about a revolutionary change in the transport of people and goods. Recognising their role is essential to understanding how Europeans and people globally moved, worked, livedand dreamed. FIVA is a recognised NGO partner to UNESCO, member of Europa Nostra and partner to TICCIH (International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage) for our contribution to the safeguarding of cultural heritage through education, awareness, and international cooperation. These relationships have strengthened the recognition of motoring heritage as an important form of cultural heritage in its own right. This vision is also reflected in the values enshrined in FIVAs Turin Charter (Attached to this contribution), a heritage-based framework that outlines principles for preserving, maintaining, and transmitting historic vehicles and the knowledge surrounding them. The Charter promotes a holistic approach that values not only the vehicles themselves but also their contextroads, workshops, stories, and skillsas part of our shared cultural memory. These principles resonate strongly with the aspirations of the Cultural Compass: to foster identity, resilience, and heritage in all its forms. Despite growing awareness of the cultural value of historic vehicles, recognition at EU level remains limited. Regulatory approaches too often focus solely on environmental or technical parameters, overlooking the cultural, educational, social and historical dimensions that these vehicles represent. As the European Union develops its Cultural Compass, we respectfully propose the inclusion of the following: Recognition of motoring heritage as an integral and legitimate part of Europes cultural landscape. Acknowledgement of the societal, educational, and artistic value of historic vehicles and their ecosystemsincluding skilled crafts, archives, events and venues. Engagement with FIVA as a trusted interlocutor in the shaping of relevant heritage strategies and initiatives. Inclusion of motoring heritage in future cultural policy dialogues and frameworks under the EUs competence. Protecting our cultural heritage is not about nostalgiait is about continuity. Historic vehicles connect generations, tell who we are by explaining where we come from, and represent a Europe in motion. Let us ensure that they remain part of our shared future.
Read full responseMeeting with Luis Planas Herrera (Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall), Paulina Dejmek Hack (Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall)
21 Mar 2025 · Upcoming End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation, Circular Economy Act and REACH
Meeting with Jonas Sjöstedt (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
28 Jan 2025 · End of Life Vehicles
Response to Greenhouse gas emissions savings methodology for low-carbon fuels
18 Oct 2024
Alternative fuels for historic vehicles Given that we cannot exchange the vehicle powertrain in Historic Vehicles, FIVA as an organisation is of course also open to changes if these have a positive impact on our environment. We welcome and if possible support solutions with efuel where this can effectively work in historic vehicles and is available to historic vehicle owners. As an organisation we have already made a range of practical studies of efuel used in the historic engines as well as studies whether efuel could have a negative impact upon the components which the efuel will be in contact with when stored and used as fuel in historic vehicles. As a relative restricted movement and often ideally organized we are also willing to be part of a test scheme where efuel are practically tested under controlled conditions during run and events. With a test scheme being executed around historic vehicle events the efuel distribution infrastructure can be minimized without having a negative impact on the test phase. We want to ensure that historic vehicles also in the future have fuel for their internal combustion engines available either in traditional form or as efuels.
Read full responseMeeting with Johan Danielsson (Member of the European Parliament)
17 Oct 2024 · ELV-förordningen
Response to Revision of EU legislation on end-of-life vehicles
30 Nov 2023
FIVA is following with interest the proposal by the European Commission on End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) COM/2023/451 final. FIVA welcomes the introduction of the historic vehicle definition as provided by the Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU, as well as the exemption of historic vehicles from the ELV category. This should constitute a step forward in the regulatory protection of historic vehicles and their visibility vis-à-vis regulators and society. However, FIVA sees with concern several structural loopholes in the proposal that can leave the definition of historic vehicle and their consequent exemption from the ELV status without effect. This is why FIVA proposes to EU policymakers that: 1) EU Member States shall keep the right to adapt/complement the historic vehicle definition to their national circumstances and to adopt further measures for the protection of historic vehicles at national level. This can be better achieved through a Directive and not through a Regulation. 2) It is crucial to ensure the owner´s right to determine if a historic vehicle is an ELV. 3) It is essential to protect the restoration of used vehicles and the use of spare parts as an expression of circularity. 4) This also includes allowing the legitimate sale, export and import of historic vehicles and their parts.
Read full responseResponse to 2040 Climate Target Plan
22 Jun 2023
Cultural heritage, including motoring heritage, must be part of the policy mix in the design of the measures to achieve the climate target for 2040. Cultural heritage is an intrinsic and indispensable element to understand the past of Europe and shape our future. It is in the interest of European society to enhance the availability of fossil fuels for heritage purposes even if alternative fuels are being developed. This is justified because the environmental impact of Historic Vehicles is negligible, given their marginal use, and the fact that cultural heritage makes substantial changes much more complex on Historic Vehicles. Fuel and combustion engines are fundamental elements of motoring heritage. FIVA welcomed the news that the use of carbon-neutral e-fuels is now officially recognised in Europe as an important factor in tackling climate change. In recent years, FIVA member organisations have been actively studying the use of e-fuels and the results to date suggest these fuels may be a potential option to reduce CO2 emissions as long as e-fuels are available and accessible. This should be supported by EU regulators. In view of the Communication on the EU climate target for 2040, FIVA recommends: - Considering cultural heritage, including motoring heritage, as part of the policy mix in the design of the measures to achieve the climate target for 2040; - The contribution of EU regulators to the preservation of mobile heritage is essential; - The EU needs to take a balanced approach between the negligible environmental impact of Historic Vehicles and the legitimate objective of preserving this heritage; - It is in the interest of European society to enhance the availability of fossil fuels for heritage purposes while the EU supports the development and availability of alternative fuels.
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Directive on Driving Licences
30 May 2023
FIVA welcomes the revision of the Driving License Directive and shares the objective of improving road safety in the EU. FIVA believes that the new Driving License rules should reflect on the fact that Historic vehicles suffer significantly fewer accidents due to their marginal mileage, their use in good visibility and traffic conditions, and the special technical care that historic vehicles are subject to. An exemption for historic vehicles mirroring the EU Roadworthiness Directive is justified. FIVA advocates to avoid discriminatory measures against experienced historic vehicle drivers and to take into account their driving skills based on experience, precaution and behavioural capacities. FIVA recommends: Incorporating a reference to the definition of vehicles of historical interest as provided by the Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU to allow member states to adjust their legislation to the specificities of the historic vehicles category, mainly due to their negligible involvement in accidents; Avoiding introducing discriminatory and unjustified measures against more experienced historic vehicles drivers as they do not pose a risk to others' transport safety; Allowing historic motorbikes to be driven under a class A1 licence regardless of their theoretical engine capacity given their limited power.
Read full responseResponse to Cross-border enforcement of road traffic rules
8 May 2023
FIVA shares the objective of improving road safety in the EU. FIVA is especially interested in this proposal because many of its activities and events imply cross-border travelling. We are convinced that European motoring heritage deserves to be shown across the entire continent and this is why we need EU-wide rules to ensure the EU right to mobility. The specificities of driving a historic vehicle, in addition to a special commitment to road safety by the historic vehicle users, also need regulatory support in form of a legal recognition of the historic vehicle, like the definition provided in the EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive. In view of the review of the EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive, FIVA recommends: a) Incorporating a reference to the definition of vehicles of historical interest as provided by the Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU to ensure the legal protection of motoring heritage while proposing improved road safety regulations; b) EU-wide guidelines or rules to enhance cross-border mobility avoid the current fragmentation of the European transport area due to the proliferation of national and local rules like the ones regulating LEZs.
Read full responseMeeting with Elzbieta Lukaniuk (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)
27 Mar 2023 · Meeting on road.
Meeting with Ruud Kempener (Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri Simson) and European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways
3 Mar 2023 · Importance of protecting and supporting European and global industrial and mobile heritage
Response to Revision of EU Ambient Air Quality legislation
9 Jan 2023
The average Historic Vehicle is taken out about 15 times a year, with historic cars travelling around 1,400km and historic motorcycles less than 900km per year. Considering this marginal use, their impact on air quality is negligible. Historic Vehicles are not for daily use and are thus not a part of the general transport mix in the context of the policy discussions on improving urban mobility. Historic Vehicles contribute to the preservation of our cultural heritage. Historic Vehicles owners provide the public a free moving museum of motoring heritage by using their vehicles on public roads. Air Quality regulations, mainly Low Emission Zones (LEZs), must consider the unique character and contribution of Historic Vehicles and avoid a blanket ban that would expel them from the roads. In view of the review of the EU Air Quality Directives, vis-à-vis the upcoming regulatory framework, FIVA recommends: Historic Vehicles should be exempted from stricter air quality regulations, mainly in form of LEZs, because of the minimal use of Historic Vehicles combined with their strong contribution to the preservation of motoring heritage; The new Air Quality Directive could build on the definition of vehicles of historical interest as provided by the Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU to permit an ad hoc regime applicable to Historic Vehicles; EU-wide guidelines or rules on Low Emission Zones (LEZs) should be developed to avoid the current fragmentation of the European transport area and to enhance EU mobility.
Read full responseResponse to Promoting sustainability in consumer after-sales
5 Apr 2022
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens defines a historic vehicle as a mechanically propelled road vehicle which is at least 30 years old; which is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition; which is not used as a means of daily transport and which is therefore a part of our technical and cultural heritage. Historic vehicles are varied and include cars, motorcycles, trucks and busses, tractors, steam tractors and historic military vehicles. All historic vehicles are in use today because they have been maintained throughout their lives; moreover, the end of the life of the vehicle is not foreseen because the objective of the owner is to preserve the vehicle in perpetuity. So, each owner is implementing sustainable consumption. The preservation and occasional use of historic vehicles on roads provides a free museum of motoring heritage and it embodies the concept of repair and reuse.
Read full responseResponse to New EU urban mobility framework
24 May 2021
The Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) represents historic vehicle (HV) clubs and owners. FIVA defines a HV as: “a mechanically propelled road vehicle: which is at least 30 years old; which is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition; which is not used as a means of daily transport; and which is therefore a part of our technical and cultural heritage.” An EU definition is provided by the Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU. These definitions make clear the great difference between a HV which is a part of our motoring heritage and a vehicle which is old and only owned because it provides a cheap form of daily transport.
FIVA shares the concern that MS engagement at EU level on urban mobility has proved insufficient…and that the EU level framework lacks a basis for high level exchanges. But, FIVA is also concerned that measures to address the urban mobility problems will be piecemeal and [be implemented] in divergent ways at local, regional and national levels. FIVA therefore welcomes the recognition that …there is a need for a more coordinated approach…
These are concerns for FIVA as LEZs are increasingly used to improve urban mobility, but there is no common LEZ framework and no common approach to the treatment of HVs in LEZs. In some, HVs are exempted from provisions because of their low-use patterns, because they are well maintained and because HVs are our motoring heritage (for example in AT, BE, CZ, DE, DK, RO, SE). But in others, no distinction is made between an old and poorly maintained vehicle and an HV. If HVs are not exempted, they can be charged disproportionately high fees or be banned from the LEZ. This is unfair on HV businesses and owners living in LEZs and is unnecessary as the minimal use of HVs means their contribution to emissions is proportionately negligible.
FIVA notes the roadmap calls for transparent communication of Urban Vehicle Access Regulations, but FIVA urges greater ambition so that commonality can be achieved for LEZs as its absence causes driver confusion. FIVA urges the Commission to resume work on LEZ Guidance as this would present the best chance of future LEZs having similar provisions and so benefit driver understanding and compliance. FIVA hopes the guidance would follow the recommendation of the 2017 study on UVARs undertaken for the Commission that: local authorities exempt HVs from LEZs because of their minimal use in the regulated areas combined with their contribution to the preservation of motoring heritage.
HVs are our motoring heritage. HVs embody the changes to the living, working and leisure opportunities of the 20th century. Each HV has survived because an individual has chosen to preserve a part of this heritage and they have done so because of their passion for possessing, caring for and driving the HV. Because of FIVA activities in preserving motoring heritage and related culture, it is an official UNESCO partner with consultative status.
The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy noted that the transition to SSMS should “leave nobody behind”. It should also not leave motoring heritage behind, so we are also very concerned by the objective that the Roadmap can lead to initiatives which create an enabling framework for Member States, regions and cities to develop…zero-emission urban mobility…We hope the EU recognises that preserving heritage for future generations to enjoy does not need to be mutually exclusive to the objective to make urban mobility more sustainable and that providing dispensation to HVs may be necessary in some circumstances, and that in those circumstances they are appropriate.
FIVA is the worldwide body of HV owners. A 2019 survey found: average annual HV use is 1,282 km; HV owners spend €4,634 pa on their vehicles and HV activities; the value of business associated with HV’s is circa €5.1 billion pa
Read full responseResponse to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
28 Jul 2020
The road transport environment is evolving fast as technical innovation is being used to facilitate mobility, enhance vehicle safety and reduce vehicle emissions. A consequence is that modern vehicles are becoming very different to historic vehicles (HVs). FIVA defines an HV as: “a mechanically propelled road vehicle: which is at least 30 years old; which is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition; which is not used as a means of daily transport; and which is therefore a part of our technical and cultural heritage.” A legal definition is provided by Article 3(7) of the EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive 2014/45/EU.
These definitions make clear the difference between an HV which has been preserved by its owner because of a passion for owning, maintaining and using the vehicle, and an old vehicle which is being used simply because it is a cheap form of transport. HVs are our motoring heritage. Preserving the heritage is a significant social-economic activity: thousands of garages, parts’ manufacturers, insurers, journals and tourist organisations – commonly SMEs - provide services to owners; and millions of owners are members of thousands of clubs.
These definitions also provide regulators the possibility to treat HVs differently to other vehicles when developing and implementing sustainable and smart mobility policy. This may prove necessary as the Roadmap notes that the Communication will build on the 2011 Transport White Paper which has as some of its goals: to halve the use of ‘conventionally fuelled’ cars in urban transport by 2030 and to phase out their use entirely in cities by 2050; to move towards full application of “user pays” and “polluter pays” road pricing/taxing principles; and to move close to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050.
The implementation of these objectives could stop the use of HVs: a ban on the use of conventionally-fuelled vehicles in cities (via Urban Vehicle Access Regulations/Low Emission Zones) would prevent city-dwelling HV-owners from using their vehicles and prevent HVs from entering cities. The implementation of the “polluter pays” principle would deter HV use because owners would have to pay a disproportionately higher amount per km driven because HV emissions compare unfavourably to modern/electric cars. And the increased use of ITS for road safety may be dependent upon vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure-to-vehicle connectivity which might prevent the use of HVs because of compatibility issues. Moreover, mandatory retrofitting of ITS to HVs might be technically impossible for many vehicles and might impact on authenticity and hence also the correct preservation of motoring heritage; HVs do however have a very good safety record as evidenced by the low insurance premiums offered because HV owners maintain their vehicles to a high standard and drive them with great care.
The preservation of our motoring heritage for future generations to enjoy is dependent upon owners being able to use their vehicles on public roads. Without this freedom, motoring heritage will eventually be limited to a very small number of vehicles on display in museums. To avoid this outcome, HVs should, where necessary, be treated as distinct from all other vehicles to allow for exemptions from use-restrictions and/or polluter-pays road charging so that city-dwelling HV owners do not have to sell/dispose of the heritage they have chosen to preserve and so HV use does not become prohibitively expensive. At the same time, HVs must be able to continue to use public roads, and do so safely, when vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure-to-vehicle connectivity are commonplace for road safety and traffic management purposes.
The roadmap notes the objective that the transition [to sustainable and smart mobility] “leaves nobody behind”. FIVA agrees and welcomes continued dialogue to ensure that HVs can continue to be used and our motoring heritage be preserved in this changing mobility environment.
Read full responseMeeting with Jocelyn Fajardo (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)
9 Sept 2016 · Road safety