History of the Vsp

CONTEXT OF THE BIRTH OF THE VSP

The Vsp was born in the context of the development of the industry in France and a little everywhere in Europe. Talking about the history of the Vsp allows us to cross the centuries and to see their evolution, in time and space.

The history of the automobile necessarily goes back to the turbulent beginnings of industrialisation in Europe. The eighteenth century was a turning point in changes of habit and the machine was born, even replacing the human being in certain sectors. 

After developing the classic "normal" car, car manufacturers had the ingenious idea of launching a new range of vehicles, usually called small cars. These were initially aimed at an older clientele and a segment of the population that could use them without the need for a driving licence.

Nowadays, licence-free cars can be found on the streets of many cities in France, delighting a young public with a desire to get away from it all. But do you really know the origins of these famous cars and how they have evolved to the present day?

ORIGIN OF THE VSP

It is difficult to talk about the Voiture Sans Permis (VSP) without mentioning the name of one of the forerunners in France, Léon Bollé, inventor of the Léon Bollé racing car in 1898. In the same year, the term "voiturette" was first used by Léon Bollé himself.

In the past, the term "voiturette" referred to a tricycle and over time came to refer to cars that do not require a licence to drive.

These motorised tricycles were therefore the first steps towards the licence-free car that we know today and which are experiencing an explosion in the car market.

Its evolution up to the present day has been achieved through constant testing, adaptation and improvement, as is the case in all areas of automotive engineering.

Initially running on oil, these cars have taken a decisive step forward in the use of green energy, making it possible to run them using substitute products. These are known as hybrid cars, which can be recharged using a built-in battery.

PETROL TRICYCLE

It is impossible to talk about Léon Bollé without mentioning the name of his predecessor, Edward Butler, who introduced a petrol-powered tricycle in 1891. Seven years before the Frenchman, Butler was driving a tricycle cart through the streets of London.

Edward Butler was an English inventor who created a three-wheeled petrol car called the Butler petrol cycle, which is accepted by many as the first British car.

As part of the rapid evolution, a few decades later, so-called "light cars" were introduced in England, with the advantage of being extremely light and easy to assemble.

These vehicles are also appreciated by French manufacturers such as Renault and Peugeot, who were racing cars without a licence in the early 1900s, the beginning of Formula 1 racing.

CURRENT MARKET OF THE VSP

The year 1980 was a turning point in the propulsion of VSPs throughout Europe. It was the trend and everyone wanted their own VSP!

In fact, it was from this year onwards that the licence-free car was propelled to the forefront of the automotive scene, with the most well-known versions. Today, Aixam is the market leader in Europe for the VSP.

At the time, the small car was in fact a moped with a body. However, technical developments have brought more safety, comfort, design, etc. over the years.

The VSP became more and more a replica of the well-known classic cars, with various options, despite the speed limit and traffic routes. The small city cars are becoming the car of teenagers and individuals, the time to obtain a driving licence and even a deliberate choice in the acquisition of some owners.

However, licence-free cars still have some work to do in terms of safety, as demonstrated by some crash tests on Aixam vehicles in 2016.

However, new forms of licence-free vehicles have emerged, such as 4-seater licence-free cars, electric cars and utility vehicles. It is therefore a growing market, with sales in the thousands.

And as far as insurance for licence-free cars is concerned, there is a law that requires insurance for normal traffic. Just like "classic" cars, the licence-free car must be insured to drive on French roads, and has been since 1958.

In addition, despite the low speed of a small car (45 km/h), a claim can occur, for example in the form of an accident or breakdown. However, the price of a licence-free car insurance will be lower than a car insurance.

Your partner, Mister VSP, will help you with the supply of spare parts and the maintenance of your car. Our experts are at your service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.