MEP Peter Agius proposes changes to the EU VRT Directive to consider classic car enthusiasts and oppose obligatory yearly VRT testing

The European Commission wants to revise the current EU Directive on vehicle roadworthiness and VRT tests to include obligatory yearly vehicle testing, increased scrutiny on emissions and older cars, and regular monitoring of vehicle odometers, including by small mechanical and electrical garages.
This week, MEP Peter Agius submitted five written amendments in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee to the proposed Directive, advocating that VRT testing be kept on a two-year basis and increased to yearly testing only at the discretion of Member States, depending on vehicle usage.
MEP Agius said:
“We hear many politicians denouncing a one-size-fits-all Europe. This is precisely where we need to move from words to action. Car usage varies widely across Member States. We do not need to harmonise what is different by nature. Many people in Malta use their cars for far fewer kilometres than in larger countries. We should not impose yearly VRT testing, nor more rigorous tests and expenses, where these are not strictly justified.”
Agius also highlighted the need for Europe to acknowledge the dedication of vintage and classic car enthusiasts, underlining that vintage and classic cars represent “the impressive legacy and heritage of Europe’s automobile industry, as a testimony to an evolving story of excellence and technological advancement.” In his amendments, Agius stressed that these categories of vehicles, as defined under Member State rules, should not be regulated through EU Directives.
“Over the past months, I have met scores of car enthusiasts who dedicate time and money to keeping heirloom cars in top shape. Most of these hobbyists use their cars only on a few occasions per year. We need to ensure that they are not burdened with EU rules intended for vehicles in daily use,” said the MEP.
Agius’s amendments also address the role of small-scale car repairers, such as mechanical and electrical garages, which under the European Commission’s proposal would be required to collect data and transmit it to EU or national databases every three months.
“I believe that Europe cannot pass on its obligations onto small businesses unless it is strictly necessary. While I support EU targets to improve vehicle roadworthiness and reduce emissions, we must ensure that small garages are not further burdened with excessive EU reporting obligations. For this reason, I am proposing that this obligation be limited to VRT testing sessions,” said Agius.
“I was elected to raise the voice of the common people in Europe. People want a Europe of rights and opportunities, not a Europe of bureaucracy and obligations. We must add burdens on citizens only where strictly necessary. All the rest of our work should focus on making people’s lives easier and more prosperous through local and European opportunities,” concluded MEP Agius.
The amendments proposed by MEPs to the VRT Directive will be voted on later this year in the Transport Committee and subsequently in the Plenary of the European Parliament, after which the Parliament is expected to negotiate the Directive with Member States under the Cypriot Presidency.