What We Do

FBHVC actively seeks information about legislative and regulatory proposals that are likely to have an impact on the historic vehicle community and frequently makes representations at all levels of government to ensure that the interests of historic vehicle owners are not ignored.

When necessary, it campaigns to influence the decision making process to remove, or at least minimise, any adverse results.

Transport related legislation is driven by two concerns: the environment and road safety. FBHVC takes the view that protecting the environment and improving road safety are both laudable aims that should, in general, be supported.

FBHVC’s underlying aim, however, is to preserve the present freedom to use old vehicles on the roads without them having to be up-rated to meet modern standards. Thus FBHVC will campaign against proposals that, if they became law, might restrict existing rights of use or require owners to modify their vehicles in a significant way. FBHVC may well comment on other issues but is unlikely to oppose measures that do not have a direct impact on the ability to use historic vehicles.

Over the years, FBHVC’s task has changed, although the aim remains the same. In the late 1980s, the main problem was ensuring that vehicle-related regulation took account of older vehicles as more and more UK regulations were amended and adjusted to fit in with broader European legislation. Now, the threats are almost all from measures aimed at environmental protection.

It is understandable that legislators, both in UK and Europe, should tend to take an all-encompassing approach with a consequent risk of legislation that may unintentionally disadvantage historic vehicle owners.

One of the first things that FBHVC did when it was established in 1988 was to obtain agreement from the UK government to the principle that vehicles should not be required to meet higher standards than applied when they were new. Although it took rather longer, a similar agreement has also been agreed with the European Commission (EC).

These agreements do not mean that FBHVC can assume that proposals to amend vehicle construction and testing requirements will be benign, but it does mean that officials are generally receptive to representations when problems are identified.

In respect of broader European requirements, FBHVC works with and through the international body, the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA)

FIVA employs a professional lobbyist to monitor the output of the EC. He reports through FIVA’s Legislation Commission to all FIVA’s member organisations in Europe and FBHVC takes a lead in responding to and countering any potential problems that may arise.

The FBHVC legislation committee, chaired by David Hurley, meets six times a year. Members of this committee meet regularly with the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group and with relevant officials at the DVLA. FBHVC also sends representatives to FIVA’s Legislation Commission meetings.

Details of legislation currently receiving attention are reported in the bi-monthly newsletter that is sent to subscribers. Consultations that are currently receiving attention can be found under Current Consultations. Links to the government websites where these consultations can be found are shown on the Links page.