What you need to know about FIVA ID cards
If you are a resident of the United States or Canada and own a collector vehicle that you intend to show or compete in a Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens (FIVA) sanctioned event, read this guide carefully.
Top events for which your vehicle requires a FIVA identity card before it can compete include Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Mille Miglia and the Peking-to-Paris Motor Challenge.
For a full list of International FIVA-sanctioned events requiring an ID card, click here.
To obtain such a card, you must apply to the National FIVA Authority (ANF) where the vehicle is currently registered. If it isn’t registered for the road – as is the case of many race cars – the ANF in the country where the owner lives has authority.
The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) is the ANF for North America, and as a courtesy to those requiring a FIVA card, they have set up scrutineering facilities at Amelia Island and will do the same at The Concours d’Elegance of America on Saturday, July 30, and at Pebble Beach on Friday, Aug. 19, at the Pebble Beach Polo Fields for a limited number of appointments.
The first step in the process is to complete an application form, available here.
The form is self-explanatory, but there are steps in the process that must be completed to avoid a delay and to assist the scrutineers and the ANF, so please follow these instructions explicitly.
Although the ID card is necessary for many events, it is intended solely for identification purposes and is by no means a guarantee of the vehicle’s authenticity, nor is it to be used for commercial purposes or proof of the vehicle’s history.
You may wonder: Who are the scrutineers, what does the process entail and how long does it take? As one of the scrutineers I can assist you with those questions.
A team of independent specialists, usually concours judges who possess significant historical and technical skills, will be inspecting, documenting and confirming that the vehicle’s configuration, physical condition, chassis, engine and body serial numbers match the documentation provided.
If the forms have been completed as required, the process should typically be completed in 30 minutes. The scrutineers will also examine and appreciate any relevant documentation that the vehicle owner has (photocopies are always greatly appreciated). It is an informal and friendly experience, unlike the nerve-wracking experience of Sunday morning on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.
The scrutineers make a visual inspection similar to the judges at concours events. The items covered include the chassis or frame, front and rear suspension and axles; this may require a wheel to be removed to facilitate the inspection of the braking system to see if it is mechanical, cable or has been converted to hydraulic. From the top side a visual inspection of the engine, gearbox, ignition system, fuel system, wheels, tires, upholstery/trim, instruments and lights will be performed.
With the application, supporting documentation, the $250 USD fee in hand and the inspection complete – assuming the inspection was satisfactory – a FIVA ID card will be issued by the HVA, generally within 30-60 days. The card is valid for 10 years or until the ownership of the vehicle is changed, whichever comes first. The ID card remains the property of FIVA and must be returned to the HVA or FIVA upon request.
To schedule your vehicle for an inspection, please contact the HVA at 866-922-9397 or e-mail info@historicvehicle.org.
