September 2026

by Robin Astle.

From a FBHVC News Flash 12 Aug 2026

DVLA announces final tranche of revisions to historic vehicle registration policy

Further to its statement on 20 August last year, the DVLA has today (3 August) announced the next stage in its programme of vehicle registration policy revisions following the Call for Evidence issued in 2024.

The Federation would like to repeat its thanks to DVLA staff for the obvious thought and effort that has gone into these revisions.

Today’s announcement concerns the ‘reconstructed classic’ group with particular reference to the acceptance of ‘period typical’ newly-constructed bodies on vehicles with a chassis.

Additionally, DVLA will now accept the date of despatch from the ‘mother factory’ as the date of manufacture for vehicles originally supplied in CKD form.

The Federation believes that with this latest announcement DVLA have now addressed all of the major concerns of the historic vehicle community and continue to be encouraged by the sympathetic and pragmatic approach being shown to the registration difficulties sometimes faced with older vehicles.

Says FBHVC Technical Director Ian Edmunds: “We will, of course, continue to pursue the few minor matters that remain and any new ones which may appear.”

• The INF318 leaflet can be downloaded here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a6c7ab5cceb23e867897787/inf318-making-changes-to-a-vehicle.pdf
• The text can of INF318 can be viewed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-changes-to-a-vehicle-and-registering-kit-built-kit-converted-and-reconstructed-classic-vehicles-inf318/making-changes-to-a-vehicle-and-registering-kit-built-kit-converted-and-reconstructed-classic-vehicles-inf318
• The entire DVLA guide can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/print
• The Federation's guide to DVLA and the '40-year rule' is here: https://fbhvc.co.uk/mot-exemption-information

FBHVC examining two consultations

Two consultations issued by the Department for Transport are currently being examined by the Federation's Legislation Committee, which will consider its response.

The consultation on "Regulating environmental impact of in-use emissions of road vehicles" seeks views on proposals to strengthen the law around emissions from road vehicles. It aims to ensure that vehicles "continue to meet the same legal emissions requirements that applied when they were built and first registered for use on the roads."

While it does not affect historic vehicles, there have been concerns that it might affect those who modify vehicles that could one day become historic. The DfT says: "We are not seeking to prohibit all vehicle modifications. Our view is that vehicle alteration is a legitimate practice that has been embraced by car tuners, repairers and enthusiasts worldwide.

"Additionally, we are not seeking to stop owners or businesses from installing parts that are generic rather than manufacturer-specific original equipment manufacturer (OEM), although we would advise that anyone installing parts to vehicles does check that they are legally approved for use. It is already illegal to fit or supply unsuitable or illegal vehicle parts and can be punished in the courts with an unlimited fine."

However, it makes clear that removing catalysts and DPFs can never be legal and there are many businesses advertising this service. To clarify, the consultation is about putting Euro 5 and later vehicles (from 2011 onwards) on the same regulatory footing as earlier Euro standards and tightening up the law and, possibly including other vehicle classes like motorbikes for the first time. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/in-use-emissions-of-road-vehicles-regulating-environmental-impacts/regulating-environmental-impact-of-in-use-emissions-of-road-vehicles

The second consultation "Automated vehicles: statement of safety principles" follows a previous consultation last summer (to which the Federation responded see https://fbhvc.co.uk/consultations) about setting the 'safety principles' for automated vehicles (AVs). This consultation is effectively asking for views on the draft document created as a result of feedback. It doesn't affect historic vehicles, but we have made our position clear previously that all AVs must be able to identify historic vehicles, which may have different characteristics to modern vehicles (e.g. use of hand signals, rather than indicators) depending on their age, type (including steam) and design.

Working with FIVA on Alps 'ban'

A ban on all vehicles in groups (such as organised tours) from using roads over 1,600m in elevation in the Italian Alps (Sud Tyrol) was suddenly implemented on 25 July, without notice.

This ban includes the famed Stelvio Pass, which marked its 200th anniversary of opening last year https://www.fiva.org/en/post/italy-bicentennial-of-the-stelvio-pass-a-road-turns-200 

Further details are awaited, including how it is being enforced, but it is understood that the ban covers all ages and types of vehicles (including motorcycles) and has been brought in primarily due to congestion on the road. The ban only covers ‘organised’ groups of vehicles; individual vehicles are not prohibited.

The international body for historic vehicles FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), of which the FBHVC is a member, has taken immediate action to establish the facts and challenge the ban to exempt historic vehicles.

As it is local government measure (rather than one brought in by the national Italian government) the options for challenging this under EU law are not easy.

There is concern that this ban could spread leading to similar measures being adopted by the local regions covering the French and Swiss Alps, which are also popular with tour organisers.

FIVA points out that tours by historic vehicle groups bring in many hundreds of thousands of Euros in revenue to the region, of which much is spent with the hotels in the area.