The Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, approved in 2021, establishes that in 2023 all Spanish cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, as well as those with more than 20,000 that exceed certain pollution thresholds, must have a Low Emissions Zone ( ZBE). These are areas in which vehicle circulation is restricted, in order to improve air quality.
Older vehicles that do not have an environmental label – B, C, ECO or 0 emissions – are the most affected by traffic restrictions, as it is understood that they are the most polluting. But what about historic cars? These are cars recognized as such by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) based on three criteria: their age, they must be over 30 years old and be in original condition; that are registered in the General Inventory of Movable Property of the Spanish Historical Heritage, declared assets of cultural interest or when the vehicle has participated in some historical event or belongs to a personality; as well as being considered collector's vehicles due to their uniqueness.
The DGT has prepared a modification to the regulations for historic vehicles, in agreement with the Ministry of Industry, the Autonomous Communities and the Spanish Federation of Antique Vehicles (FEVA), whose changes will foreseeably come into force at the beginning of 2024. This will include greater facilities for the registration of historic cars, as well as to process the ITV. In addition, it includes news about its access to Low Emission Zones.
The new regulations for historic vehicles prepared by the DGT will urge city councils with Low Emission Zones to prepare a municipal ordinance through which the access and circulation of historic vehicles to city centers is allowed. This is because their circulation does not exceed 30 days a year, so the atmospheric pollution they generate is not considered relevant, compared to their cultural value.
Although this new regulation has not yet come into force, some municipalities already allowed historic vehicles to access Low Emission Zones. This is the case, for example, of the Madrid City Council, where vehicles and motorcycles that have historic status can access the Central District Special Protection Low Emission Zones. In addition, surface parking is allowed for historic vehicles over fifty years old.
In the case of the city of Barcelona, a municipal plenary session held in January of this year approved sporadic access to the ZBE for vehicles that do not have an environmental label, including historic or classic vehicles. However, its circulation is limited to only 24 days per vehicle per year. In conclusion, until the new regulations for historic vehicles come into force, your access to the ZBE corresponds to the regulations established in each municipality.
