Old-timer control trial processes starting on February 26

This Thursday an important next step will be taken in the aim of the Car Interests Foundation to come to a more acceptable old-timer arrangement. The first of the five test processes will be conducted in Breda. Initially, the pursuit of one lawsuit was the starting point. In 2014, however, the Tax and Customs Administration - in consultation with Autobelangen - divided the large file of old-timer owners into five groups because the enthusiasm for legal proceedings was particularly large. This means that five trial processes are being conducted instead of one case. 

Important situations addressed
The recognized groups include, among others, owners of vintage cars who have to pay the full motor vehicle tax and owners of vintage cars who fall under the transitional arrangement of the current legislation. Motor vehicle owners who first fell under a transitional regime of the old scheme ("Vliet scheme") but as a result of the new legislation now have to pay the entire motor vehicle tax (LPG and Diesel) are also classified as a category. As stated above, this subdivision into five groups leads to the same number of test processes. The candidates in these cases represent the five separate groups of holders designated by the tax authorities.

Legal issues also relevant for other groups
There will be no separate test procedures in relation to motorcycles, trucks, buses and campers. However, the legal questions that will be answered by the judge in the aforementioned test proceedings also apply to the other categories of vintage cars mentioned here. It applies to all groups that they have joined the test procedures through a settlement agreement.

Argumentation, usefulness and necessity of important pillars
The deployment of all test processes is aimed at achieving a more acceptable arrangement than is currently the case. The Van Vliet Amendment is a good example of this. During the legal proceedings, the Car Interests Foundation will, among other things, emphasize the relationship between the usefulness and necessity of the measure on the one hand and the disappointing returns on the other. The initial argumentation, based on environmental grounds, regarding the introduction of the current regulation will also be discussed. A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance recently confirmed what many already thought: the old-timer scheme that became current on 1 in January 2014 was implemented purely on the basis of financial arguments.

26 February: the first case
So on February 26 the time has come. Arjan Lenoir - owner of a BMW 535i from 1985 - is the first candidate. His case is being heard in the court of Breda. After Thursday's lawsuit, four more cases will follow in the context of the trial trials. The court ruling on these trials is expected to take place by the summer of this year.