Just like any human activity in the developed republican society is regulated by the laws of that same society, so is our hobby, and everything related to it falls in that legal framework. If it is good or bad, advanced or backward is a matter of endless dispute and maybe the subject of an academic masterpiece.
All legal amendments for the purpose of regulating, alleviating and unequivocally defining the subject of our interests are accompanied by many years of efforts, meetings, talks, propositions, requests, letters by many colleagues. Last, but not least, let us not forget that the legislation of the European Union, as well as that of its Member States also has contributed for these achievements.
Historically, the legal privileges in Bulgaria are ordered as follows:
- The biggest achievement for the fans of retro cars was in 1999. The publication in Issue 74 from August 20 1999 of the State Gazette waives the annual roadworthiness inspection for all road transport vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1960.
- We also have Ordinance No H-3 from February 18, 2013 for the amendment of the construction of registered road transport vehicles, registered outside the Member States of the European Union or other country, which is a party in the Agreement on the European Economic Area”, in force from March 1, 2013, in which the term “road transport vehicle of museum or historical interest” is introduced for the first time in the Bulgarian legislation.
“A road transport vehicle of museum or historical interest is a RTV, which is not less than 30 years old, preserved and maintained in working order, close to its original state, not used as primary daily transport, and is part of the historical and cultural heritage, proof of which is its identification card.” - Ordinance No H-3 from February 18, 2013, in force from March 1, 2013, published in the State Gazette, Issue 21 from March 1, 2013
- In 2017, Ordinance for amending and supplementing Ordinance No I-45 from 2000 for registration, reporting, commissioning and decommissioning of motor transport vehicles and their trailers, and for the rules for providing data regarding the registered road transport vehicles is published in Issue 62 of the State Gazette from August 1. It reads: “Article 12(c)(1) Initial registration of the historical vehicle with an identification card, issued by the International Federation for Antique Cars or another body empowered by it on the territory of a Member-State of the European Union.”
In view of everything mentioned above, the work of many people and organizations in the coming years will yield the achievement of other required legal changes and their related transitional provisions. However, these planned or desired changes must be reasonable and feasible, and not the dreams of illiterate or greedy people.