The German government has announced that Historic vehicles will be exempt from restrictions, or fines, resulting from the Low Emissions Zones currently being set up in many cities.

On the surface it’s an encouraging initiative but reading the definition of Historic vehicle, as applied by the German authorities, shows the problems with creating a tight definition.

This is from the ADAC site (The German equivillant of the AA)
Stickers for foreign-registered vehicles

Historic vehicles registered in Germany and carrying an “H” or a red “07” historic car licence plate are exempt from the emissions labelling regulations.

This exemption applies also to foreign-registered historic cars.

As a prerequisite, the vehicles must be at least 30 years old and they have to be ‘well-preserved’.

Inappropriate conversions will not be accepted with only period modifications allowable.

The vehicle will be required to display a FIVA ‘identity card ‘ available for approx £95 ( figures from FBHVC site )

This shows how quickly the German authorities have siezed on the FIVA definition of Historic and have even extended it to exclude modified vehicles.