Ban on older cars in Spain by the European Commission

As part of its drive for greener transport, the European Commission is intensifying its efforts in order to phase out older cars. 

Brussels is proposing a new rule that would require used cars to be accompanied by a “certificate or useful life”. Without this, they could not be sold and had to be disposed of. The aggressive action comes at a time when the EC is revising its ambitious plans for the environment, including the Euro 7 Regulations and the 2035 deadline to phase out combustion-engine cars, which has received pushback by many manufacturers and motorists.

In Spain, the average age of a vehicle is now 15-years-old. This is due in part to the increasing cost of new vehicles which has increased by 40 percent since 2020. It also explains the demand for used cars and their subsequent price increases. Despite subsidy incentives like the Plan MOVES (offering up to €7,000 in savings), a 15 per cent tax deduction (capped at €3,000), and a new Energy Certificate, electric vehicle sales are falling way short of EU targets.

ITV decides to ban older vehicles from the European Commission

The EU has a new strategy that includes penalising fossils fuels and diesel in particular. There are proposals to align diesel taxes with petrol. This could increase diesel prices by as much as 11 cents per unit in Spain. The plan is on hold because it will have a significant impact on heavy-goods vehicle, which is a major industry in Spain. Instead, the EC has shifted its focus to the end-of life certificate which will be issued by authorized ITV inspection centres and workshops. The document confirms that an old vehicle is not suitable for circulation. It prevents its resale and mandates scrapping.

The proposal is causing concern about the impact it will have on classic cars and historic vehicles, as well as criteria used to determine a vehicle’s end-of-life. According to automotive studies, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and other rural regions in Spain have the oldest vehicles still on the roads. These cars are older than 18 years old due to low replacement rates and economic restrictions. The Commission claims The government is not targeting older cars but rather focusing on increasing emissions. Most car owners would not be able to afford the cost of modifying their older vehicles in order to comply with regulations.

Spanish drivers are already struggling with high vehicle costs, and there are few affordable alternatives. The scrapping of old cars initiative may reflect EU determination to reduce pollution. However, it could further strain them.