About FIVA

FIVA

Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens

FIVA was established in 1966.  Although the founding member clubs (which included the Veteran Car Club of GB and the Vintage Sports Car Club) were all European, it was established as a worldwide organisation and now has member organisations from some 60 different countries all round the globe with a gross representation exceeding a million historic vehicle owners.

In its early days, the emphasis was on promoting and authorising international events, but during the 1980s there was recognition of the need for a body to represent the interests of historic vehicle owners at a pan-European level.  This coincided with the formation of FBHVC in 1988.  UK representation in FIVA was transferred from VCC of GB and VSCC to FBHVC.  FBHVC encouraged FIVA to establish a formal system of monitoring European legislation (see Legislation) and has been strongly involved with the administration of FIVA, especially in respect of oversight of its lobbyist, ever since.

FIVA’s purpose is best summarised by quoting from the first article of the current statutes, which says that FIVA is: a non-profit making world organization and an international association of national clubs, national federations of clubs or national associations of other nature, locally constituted in any country of the world and concerned with the preservation, restoration and use of, as well as the historic documentation on, any kind of mechanically propelled road vehicle of historic and technical interest.

FIVA is recognised by both the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Féderation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) as the sole authority on matters relating to historic vehicles.  An agreement with FIA gives FIVA responsibility for authorising touring and static events for historic vehicles if they are of an international nature.  As a consequence of that responsibility, FIVA has an Events Code and a set of vehicle eligibility rules called the Technical Code.  The code includes the requirement that vehicles taking part in events run under FIVA auspices should have Vehicle Identity Cards.  Responsibility for the issue of such cards is delegated to the representative organisation in each country.

If intending to apply for a FIVA ID card for a UK registered vehicle, please download the application form from this site, HERE. Please do not use the form on FIVA’s own website as it is intended for general application and thus lacks the detail instructions needed for making an application in UK.

FIVA has its registered address in Paris, but a practical headquarters in Belgium.  It publishes a newsletter in English and French.  The latest issue, the full text of the statutes and the various codes may be viewed at the FIVA website by clicking HERE