Date Published: 30/07/2025
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
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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Avda de las Moreras 8 Mazarron, 30870, Murcia
Tel: (0034) 868 056 278
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Decklid Auto Services in Mazarrón
English and Spanish spoken at your one-stop car mechanic and servicing centre in the Mazarrón area
Decklid Auto Services is a fully licensed and legal British-run garage based in Mazarrón, Murcia in southern Spain, run by David since he and his family came to Spain in 2005.
Since then they have constantly worked hard to continue improving the workshop and to provide more and more services, using the experience David gained while working for three years in a Spanish garage before setting up on his own. His goal now is to provide the best possible service to his British, Spanish and European clients, and recent reviews in the local media in Murcia agree that David at Decklid Auto Services is the one to visit with all your vehicle needs in the area of Mazarrón.
David speaks both English and Spanish to help provide the best service possible.
Among the services offered are regular servicing, general maintenance and repairs (including cam belts, clutches and engine repairs), ITV pre-checks and full ITV packages, avoiding the need for owners to take their vehicles to the testing centre.
Computer diagnosis is used whenever appropriate, especially for electrical fault finding and air conditioning maintenance and repairs, and of course full tyre replacement and wheel alignment are on the menu as well!
Decklid can also re-register right-hand drive cars in Spain and change the number plates on import.
Opening hours: weekdays 9.00 to 18.00. Closed at weekends!
Telephone: (0034) 868 056 278
Mobile: (0034) 626 678 840
Email: decklid@hotmail.es
Website: www.decklidautos.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/david.decklid
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