Hundreds of thousands of classic cars could be at serious risk under new Government plans to limit emissions, according to experts.
Earlier this year, the Department for Transport launched a fresh consultation on proposals to strengthen the law around emissions from motor vehicles used on roads across Great Britain.
The proposals aim to ensure that road vehicles continue to meet the same legal requirements for emissions that applied when they were first built.
It highlighted that it wanted to promote vehicle maintenance, enable stronger enforcement to improve air quality and protect human health.
However, just weeks before the consultation is expected to close, experts have warned that any new policies could have a devastating impact on historic vehicles.
Classic car insurance specialist Footman James has suggested that owners of older vehicles could be caught up in rules designed to crack down on poor maintenance and the deliberate use of “delete” modifications.
The consultation suggests that non-compliant vehicles could see their owner could be fined if emissions control systems fail to operate as they were originally intended to.
It states that the removal or manipulation of certain systems would be treated as illegal, regardless of their impact on the car’s real-world emissions.
Experts are warning that drivers could face difficulties with their classic cars in the near future if new laws are introduced
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CAR AND CLASSICFootman James highlights that this could affect DPFs, GPFs, catalytic converters, AdBlue/SCR systems and diesel EGR systems.
Given that many cars from the 1980s and 1990s are heading to the 40-year mark to be classified as a historic vehicle, more drivers could be at risk if new rules are introduced.
The insurance specialist highlighted that these vehicles still contain complex emissions equipment, such as catalytic converters, AdBlue systems and manufacturer-specific control software.
Original parts for these older vehicles naturally become more scarce as demand falls, making it increasingly more expensive to restore to the initial design.
Historic vehicles do not have to pay car tax if they were built more than 40 years ago
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GETTYVehicle manufacturers are not required to keep these components in production indefinitely, meaning drivers often have no choice but to go for alternative parts.
Sam Smith, head of Footman James, said: “Classic owners are not the problem this policy is trying to solve.
“The Government is right to target deliberate emissions cheating, but it must not accidentally punish the people preserving Britain’s motoring heritage.
“The danger here is that a cherished modern classic could be maintained with care and sail through its MOT – including the emissions test – yet still be treated as non-compliant because an obsolete emissions component has failed and can no longer be sourced.”
The classic car industry provides billions of pounds to the UK economy every year | GETTY
Footman James is now calling on the Government to introduce a specific exemption for historic, classic and modern classics, allowing the vehicle owner to demonstrate that the vehicle is “responsibly maintained”.
Mr Smith acknowledged that the Government should crack down on people deliberately using “delete” services and so-called “defeat” devices to reduce their emissions.
“Modern classics are part of Britain’s motoring culture. They should not be lost because regulation failed to account for the realities of keeping our heritage alive,” Mr Smith said.
Footman James is urging the historic vehicle community to take part in the consultation, which ends shortly before midnight on September 6, 2026.