Debate, Politics | The Progress Party will spend over a billion on tired used cars

In its recent proposed change to the definition of vintage vehicle, the Progress Party has set the stage for a controversial debate that could potentially turn the established scheme upside down.

With the proposal now on the table in Parliament, the matter has received national attention, and there is a lot at stake for the vintage vehicle community.

Opening up to used cars as vintage vehicles can have far-reaching consequences, and it is important that both politicians and stakeholders carefully consider the implications of such a change before a decision is made.

The proposal to lower the age limit from 30 to 20 has sparked concern among enthusiasts and experts in the vintage vehicle community, as it risks breaching international standards and undermining the existing vintage vehicle movement.

In the group of vehicles between 20 and 29 years of age, a total of 158,831 passenger cars roll around in Norway, according to figures from the National Road Administration.

If we look at vans and lorries, the figure is 292,744 vehicles (without motorbikes), if you make a simple estimate of the fees the state collects from this group, this proposal will cost AS Norge over a billion Norwegian kroner annually, is this good policy?

The Progress Party’s proposal to include these in the vintage vehicle category is a potential game-changer that will not only affect enthusiasts, but also everyday motorists.

It is a reality that many of these vehicles are not collectors’ items, but rather worn-out used cars that would not pass as vintage vehicles in the current system.

Opening up to this will lead to a number of implications, not least financial, as it can lead to increased damage statistics and thus costs for society.

But it is not just the economy that is at stake.

One consequence of such a change is that the entire vintage vehicle movement risks getting a worse reputation.

When injuries or other negative incidents occur with these “new” FRP veteran vehicles, the entire environment will be held responsible.

It will be an unfair situation where the enthusiast vehicles between 20 and 30 years old will not be the only ones affected.

LMK (Landforbundet av Motorhistoriske Kjørøtøyklubber) sees this as unfortunate policy. As a representative of 155 clubs and 50 thousand members, we ask where this proposal actually comes from.

We appreciate the commitment of the Progressive Party, but developing policy without consulting the expert community on vintage vehicles is not only poor craftsmanship, it can also have serious consequences.

The Progress Party has its own car group that works with transport policy.

Why hasn’t this group made contact with the specialist community on vintage vehicles before putting forward the proposal?

We have more than enough to ensure that vintage vehicles with their current status are allowed to drive on tomorrow’s roads.

So why doesn’t the FRP focus on the group that already is? Is their solution to expand the number of vehicles with veteran status? We want more money for our movement to secure Norwegian cultural heritage, but this proposal does not benefit veteran vehicle owners or society.

LMK has had a 2-hour trip in the center of Oslo to see the Progress Party’s new veteran vehicle, and the findings were terrifying.

There was a vehicle every 50 meters that will become a veteran if the FRP gets it their way.

These were not “enthusiast vehicles”, but proper utility vehicles. Many errors and deficiencies were uncovered which indicate that these will most likely never reach the age of 30.

This leads to a natural selection of enthusiast and vintage vehicles, where those that reach the age of 30 and are looked after are the ones we want to embrace. They are not those who have forgotten to change their car for a while and see it as a cheap solution to keep it for a few more years.

In light of the findings that LMK has made, it is clear that the Progress Party’s proposal to lower the age limit for vintage vehicles can lead to unfortunate consequences for both the vintage vehicle community and society in general.

By including a large number of used cars as vintage vehicles, we risk undermining the existing vintage vehicle movement and weakening its cultural and historical significance.

Rather than expanding the number of vehicles with veteran status, the focus should be on strengthening and preserving those vehicles that have already achieved this status.

It is important that political decisions concerning the veteran vehicle community are taken in consultation with the professional community and with respect for the established international standards.

The Progressive Party should reconsider its proposal and work to strengthen the existing vintage vehicle scheme, so that we can ensure the preservation of our motoring heritage for future generations.

Don’t mix the Norwegian cultural heritage with tired used cars!