New EU proposal could send thousands of older cars to the scrapyard
If passed, the regulation could force countless vehicles off Spanish roads in one fell swoop
Drivers in Spain are already grappling with a mountain of new regulations, from DGT carpooling requirements and potential one-car-per-household limits to daily fees for non-residents on certain roads. Now, Brussels is adding fuel to the fire with yet another proposal that could turn the used car market upside down.
The European Union is considering a regulation that specifically targets owners of second-hand vehicles and if it gets the green light, we could see it rolling out as early as next year. The measure aims to pull older cars off European roads by expanding the definition of what counts as an "end-of-life vehicle."
The surge in used car popularity isn't exactly mysterious, particularly here in Spain. With new vehicle prices climbing steadily due to supply chain issues and market pressures, buyers have been scrambling to find affordable alternatives.
Some people are holding onto their current cars much longer than they originally planned, while others are diving headfirst into the second-hand market.
According to industry data, used car sales have absolutely exploded in Spain in recent years. Right now, dealers are moving two used vehicles for every single new one that rolls off the lot. Even though used car prices have gone up alongside this demand, they're still the go-to option for budget-conscious drivers across Europe.
What Brussels has in mind
The European Commission wants to tighten the screws on older vehicles through something called "end-of-life vehicle" classifications. Essentially, they're planning to be much stricter about which cars get to stay on the road and which ones get marked for the scrapyard.
Currently, a car only gets labelled as "waste" when it's beyond repair or when fixing it would cost more than the vehicle is actually worth. But Brussels wants to change this system entirely, introducing tougher restrictions that would force more cars into early retirement.
They're framing this as a crucial step toward building a more circular economy and reducing environmental damage across the continent.
Under the proposed system, these end-of-life certificates would be issued during regular vehicle inspections, such as during the ITV test, or at authorised repair shops. Once your car gets slapped with this designation, you wouldn't be able to sell it to another driver. Instead, it would head straight to the scrapyard, no questions asked.
This is where things get particularly worrying for used car owners. There's growing concern that perfectly functional vehicles might get caught up in these new guidelines simply because they're older or don't meet certain updated standards.
Imagine having a car that runs perfectly fine, gets you where you need to go and suddenly gets branded as "waste" during your next ITV inspection.
Nothing is set in stone yet, but all signs point to these changes arriving within the next twelve months. If the proposal moves forward, it would fundamentally alter the used car landscape across Europe. The secondary market that millions of drivers depend on for affordable transportation could shrink dramatically overnight.
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