How an Indian owner enters the Mille Miglia or London to Brighton

The short answer is that eligibility comes first, money second and customs paperwork third. No amount of either will get a car in if its model never ran the original event. For the 1000 Miglia, that means the car or its model must have taken part in the Brescia race between 1927 and 1957. For the RM Sotheby's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the rule is blunter still: the car must have been built before 1905, and you must prove it with a Veteran Car Club of Great Britain dating certificate or passport.

Eligibility: the certificate decides, not the owner

The 1000 Miglia works through the Registro 1000 Miglia, which issues three grades of certificate. "Participant" is for a car that itself ran one of the historic editions. "Eligible Car" covers cars whose model ran. "Guest List" is for cars built before 31 December 1957 that belong to an eligible category but never raced. Applications ask for the Registro certificate, photographs and the full ownership chain, so chassis and engine numbers and a traceable history matter more than show condition.

The international document that supports all of this is the FIVA Identity Card. FIVA's own FAQ says the card records previous owners, events attended and restoration work, and that organisers ask for it to confirm authenticity and period-correct restoration. It also helps at borders. FIVA is clear that the card is issued on a best-effort basis and is not legally binding proof. Only a national authority, the ANF, can issue it. FIVA appointed the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India as India's ANF on 4 May 2020, initially for three years, so an Indian owner should start there and confirm the current position with FIVA before paying anyone.

What it costs, and when applications close

The 2027 centenary edition runs from 24 to 29 May 2027, anticlockwise from Brescia and back. Entries close at 16:00 CET on 22 December 2026, and organisers confirm acceptances by 15 March 2027. Fees are per crew of two and quoted before 22 per cent VAT: €16,500 for Basic, €19,500 for Silver, €24,000 for Gold, which is capped at 10 crews, and €11,000 if both drivers are under 31, also capped at 10. The €75,000 Platinum package guarantees a place. The 2026 edition took more than 430 crews, so acceptance is never automatic.

The paperwork for taking an Indian-registered car abroad

A carnet de passages en douane is the customs document that lets a vehicle enter a country temporarily without a cash deposit at the border. In India it is issued by the Western India Automobile Association in Mumbai, which requires the applicant to be the legal owner with valid identification and registration papers.

For Britain, the Veteran Car Run's own guidance for overseas vehicles asks non-EU registered entrants for an overseas driving licence, registration documents, an insurance Green Card and customs entry documentation on arrival. London's charges apply to foreign-registered cars too. The Congestion Charge is £18 a day and ULEZ is £12.50 a day, though veteran cars are exempt from ULEZ if registered with Transport for London.

The easier first step

Most Indian owners reach the Mille Miglia name through the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE, a 1,000 mile time, speed and distance rally that ran roughly 120 cars in January 2026 and included sections in Oman. Yohan Poonawalla headlined with seven Rolls-Royce Phantoms. Shipping a car to Dubai is shorter, cheaper and a sensible rehearsal for a crew before Brescia.

Sources

• Mille Miglia 2027: Entries, Route and Fees, Classic Trader
• FIVA FAQs
• FIVA appoints FHVI as its ANF in India, evo India
• Veteran Car Run FAQs
• Veteran Car Run, overseas vehicles guidance
• Carnet de Passages, Western India Automobile Association
• 2025 1000 Miglia Experience UAE, Autocar India