less easy

Let’s remember the basics. To be considered a collector car, it must have been first registered at least 30 years ago. This is the first registration date shown on the registration certificate.

It doesn’t matter if it was the original owner or not. Similarly, the current registration of the vehicle does not matter. You can own a collector car registered in SIV (from 2009 with registration type AA-123-AA).

Features of the collection

Your vehicle must no longer be manufactured by the manufacturer. It must remain true to the original: the same engine as originally installed (same cubic capacity, same power, same transmission, etc.).

Your car should also have historical value. Finally, to be officially considered a vintage car, you must request a certificate issued by the FFVE (French Federation of Vintage Vehicles).

After the certificate is obtained, you can add the note “collection” to the Z section of the registration certificate. After that, it is necessary to respect the transition to technical control every 5 years.

Exceptional vehicles like this Delahaye 135 hardly ever hit the road. The average mileage is about 1500 km per year; the impact of emissions is very low. photo Classic Trader

Can we ride every day?

Technically it can be done. Since the adoption of the SIV in October 2009, you have the right to act as you see fit. However, the circulation of old cars is prohibited during peak pollution periods.

The restrictions include the creation of ZFE-m (Low-Emission-Mobility Zones), which restrict the movement of vehicles with a Crit’air sticker 0 or 1 (or even 2).

FFVE is working with local authorities to organize the circulation of collector cars, particularly arguing that the number of cars in circulation is low and that they have a low emission impact.

Classification according to the low distribution of certain models and the aura of the manufacturer is easily achieved. Then it is necessary to assess the interest in passing a car in the collection. photo by B. Jouvin

The work of FFVE

We can read on the website of the FFVE: “At the request of the Prime Minister, the presidents of the agglomerations related to the creation of the ZFE-m were invited to the Minister of transition to ecology with a letter from the representative of the Minister of Transport. to make a local exception for vehicles with a collector’s registration certificate.

The government has also decided to create a special sticker for collector cars in the short term to facilitate the implementation of these measures. FFVE will be coordinated with the working group on the implementation of automated control systems in the areas of ZFE.

Sometimes limited permissions

Eleven metropolises have already signed derogatory decrees for the circulation of old cars, including Grenoble.

For this city, we note that a one-day license will be issued twelve times a year for people who do not have a collection vehicle or a collection certificate, but the date of their first registration is more than thirty years old.

Application must be made online. Other cities include Paris, Reims, Rouen, Nice, Toulouse, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Saint-Etienne and Aix-Marseille. You can familiarize yourself with the decrees at www.ffve.org.

The more we advance in time, the more the collector's car has the ability to adapt to modern traffic; but remember that planning business trips with Citroën Traction is difficult. Photo by Stellantis — The more we advance in time, the more the collector’s car has the ability to adapt to modern traffic; but remember that planning business trips with Citroën Traction is difficult. Photo by Stellantis

Avoid insurance

Whether you own a collector car or an old car without a collector’s registration certificate, you insure your jewels. There may also be usage restrictions associated with insurance.

Guarantees are valid in the areas indicated on the green card for personal travel and sometimes business travel.

Under the condition that the insured informs the insurer in advance, in most cases such trips are allowed dozens of times a year; this possibility is accepted in the absence of an available vehicle.

It is often necessary to justify another “normal” vehicle in order to be able to insure the old vehicle.