Let it be old, very old.
Although the vast majority have not been prepared for January 1, with the arrival of 2023 the ban has been opened for the implementation of new ZBE zones in 149 municipalities throughout Spain, all those with more than 50,000 inhabitants. This will imply that cars with an A label or cars without a label will be prohibited, although there is a trick to avoid fines.
It is paradoxical, but to get rid of the penalty, the alternative to having a very new car is precisely the opposite, having a very old car, so old that it is possible to make it historic, since, although they have certain limitations, access to the Zones Low Emissions is not one of them.
In fact, in general terms they behave like a label B or C, being able to access the LEZ without restrictions, just having to park in a public or private parking lot; but, in fact, if they are over 50, they can even do it in the SER Zones.
Now, not all cars can become historic, they have to meet a series of conditions to be able to do so, we are going to analyze them.
How to turn your car into historic
The first thing to know is that it is necessary to prove that 30 years have passed since the first registration of the car. The second thing is that the car has to be completely standard, without having undergone mechanical or aesthetic modifications that prevent it from passing the ITV, which must be in force.
With this accomplished, you have to go to an approved laboratory to certify it, in addition to ratifying that it is a car with special interest, due to its uniqueness, rarity or for having participated in a historical event; something that is undoubtedly the trickiest part of the process since it can be somewhat subjective.
The laboratory will prepare the report and it is also possible that they provide the necessary administrative procedures in the final price depending on the requirements and prices of your Autonomous Community. These vary from one to another, but in general terms they are expensive, being above 500 euros as a general rule.
The necessary documentation for this is the following:
- DNI, Spanish driving license, residence card or passport plus the Foreigner Identification Number
- Proof of ownership of the vehicle / Purchase-sale invoice or notarial deed
- Documents with the characteristics of the vehicle (ITV card, manufacturer’s certificate, membership in a club of historical vehicles, etc.)
- Reduced technical file of the characteristics of the vehicle and DUA (for imported vehicles)
With the new ITV technical sheet, you have to go to the DGT Traffic Department, which is where they will give you the new documentation, as well as the historic vehicle license plates, which have this format: H – 1111 – AAA. It is not mandatory to put them, but it is recommended to avoid possible automated fines with elements such as cameras.
The advantages and disadvantages of a historic car
In addition to those related to the ZBE, a car with a historical license plate has certain additional advantages: in many communities they do not have to pay the circulation tax, the frequency of their ITV is increasing (biennial with more than 40 years, triennial if it has between 40 and 45, and every four years if older than that) and the insurance policies are cheaper.
Of course, with respect to the latter, insurers establish a limit of 5,000 kilometers per year, which means that they are vehicles that can be used relatively little.
In addition, on certain dates or on certain roads, it is possible that the circulation of vehicles that cannot exceed certain speeds may be prohibited, so that older models and less features may be affected.
