Monday 12 October meeting in Chamber about disappointing MRB-yield vintage cars

A debate about the old-timer law will take place in the Lower House next Monday. Among other things, the meeting discusses the evaluation that the State Secretary sent to the House of Representatives before the summer recess. As you know, it contained data that can be seriously questioned.

The letter states that the intended € 137 million in MRB would actually have been raised in 2014. But most of it is not paid for by classic car owners. According to the Ministry of Finance, the substitution effect (revenues realized by old-timer owners who replaced their vehicle with another vehicle subject to MRB) yielded 82 million euros. Incidentally, this incorrect and therefore incorrectly presented yield was determined on the basis of a wide bandwidth. It was therefore no more than an estimate by the Ministry. The figures were presented as a behavioral consequence of the old-timer measure. This, too, was surprising, since it was previously stated that such consequences would never be taken into account.

Ministry of Finance seems impressed
Stichting Autobelangen recently published completely different calculations. Data from the RDW were used for this. The Car Interests Foundation calculated that the substitution effect in 2014 only nine million Euro amounted. This was closely linked to the predictions that were already made in 2013. In addition, it was calculated that the MRB revenue from old-timer owners in 2015 will decrease by seven million euros. The Ministry of Finance is very interested in the calculations of the Car Interests Foundation. The first reflections from The Hague made it clear recently that the Ministry is also very impressed with the way in which the calculations were made. The concrete results also seem to appeal to the imagination.

Omtzigt wants clarity again
Pieter Omtzigt - Member of the Lower House for the CDA - has also been working for a number of years on sound accounting principles and transparent communication. He believes it is very important that measures are taken based on the correct data. In the run-up to the current regulation, Omtzigt was already stunned by the information provided by Frans Weekers with regard to the import figures for vintage cars. Omtzigt also endorses the calculation method of Stichting Autobelangen.

Ronald van Vliet is probably also present
Wouter van Embden of Autobelangen is delighted. He is pleased to note that political stakeholders in general and the Ministry of Finance in particular are entering into discussions with the Foundation. In addition, Auto Interests sees next Monday's meeting as a new and important chapter in the current classic car file. “It seems as if we finally have a foot in the door.” The founder of the “abolished” scheme on 1 January 2014 -Ronald van Vliet- will most likely be present at the parliamentary meeting next Monday. As is known, the Van Vliet Amendment provided for a much better - and excellent working - classic car scheme than the current MRB solution.

Members may be present at a meeting
Old-timer owners and sympathizers of Stichting Autobelangen can also register to attend the meeting next Monday. The Foundation does invite those present, if any, not to use the meeting as a protest. Interested parties can register with Autobelangen by answering the newsletter already sent by the Foundation. The text "I come" is sufficient.

Deep breath
The long-term breath of Stichting Autobelangen also appears to be a strong one. Van Embden and his mates have been fighting for almost three years for a fair settlement. This perseverance ensures that the vintage car file will be revived next Monday. It is the full merit of the Car Interests Foundation and its loyal and sizable supporters.