MOT exempt owners - do you MOT?
Poll: MOT exempt owners - do you MOT?
Total Members Polled: 30
Discussion
So, no arguments please about the sense of this law change, but if you have an MOT exempt vehicle, do you take it for an MOT just as an independent check for your own peace of mind, or just take advantage of not having to?
Mine hasn't been on the road since the change so I haven't had to make a decision yet.
Mine hasn't been on the road since the change so I haven't had to make a decision yet.
My oldies are 1965 and 1970, so the choice is out of my hands.
On several occasions, the MoT inspector has noticed stuff (e.g. as advisories) that I hadn't (yet?) noticed.
So, if my vehicles were exempt, I would still want the professional inspection of an MoT-type test.
HTH (I haven't voted!).
On several occasions, the MoT inspector has noticed stuff (e.g. as advisories) that I hadn't (yet?) noticed.
So, if my vehicles were exempt, I would still want the professional inspection of an MoT-type test.
HTH (I haven't voted!).
Again my classics are 1973 and 1977 so don't have this decision to make.
However if i was i personally wouldn't MOT them, instead I'd do what I do with my current cars (along with mot) and have a classic car specialist service them and give them a thorough checking over once a year. I've had classics fail on stupid things where the tester doesn't understand old cars, whereas a specialist would know what to look for. Also with this I've found they pick up some things that a tester has missed, which has happened on more than one occasion.
However if i was i personally wouldn't MOT them, instead I'd do what I do with my current cars (along with mot) and have a classic car specialist service them and give them a thorough checking over once a year. I've had classics fail on stupid things where the tester doesn't understand old cars, whereas a specialist would know what to look for. Also with this I've found they pick up some things that a tester has missed, which has happened on more than one occasion.
Mine's a '73 so no choice. My dad's would qualify though and we spoke about it recently. He was talking about saving money by not having it done but I convinced him otherwise as the tester may pick up something that he has missed or was misssed when it was being serviced by the garage. I think another pair or eyes is a good thing!
Not going to bother to get mine tested as I know it's condition. I would only get it done if I was going to sell it otherwise there would always be a question mark in a possible buyer's mind and then the inevitable faffing about to get it done at the last minute. Not that I intend selling, though.
I get my XK tested. The MOT is a cheap way of getting someone independent to give the car a thorough once over and test stuff. The guy at the local test centre has been around for years, he maintains a fleet of classic Jags for a friend who owns a wedding hire business, so knows his Jags well too.
Just seems to be a sensible course of action for some peace of mind.
So I'm intending continue to get my car tested.
Just seems to be a sensible course of action for some peace of mind.
So I'm intending continue to get my car tested.
It's academic for me because my cars are post 1960, so I must have an MoT ticket. My attitude has changed though, at one point I'd just have said "great, no MoT", but now I'm not so sure.
The garage I use is local and very helpful, like some of the others quoted on this thread. The MoT isn't an excuse to drum up trade and they've made one or two very helpful comments of things that might not be good enough to pass in 12 months time and explain why. They're also very open about how they interpret pass/fail and clearly don't expect the same standard from a 1960s design that they do from a 2009 model.
So yes, I would take an MoT test, for £54 it's no big deal and I get good advice from it. However, if I felt the mechanic was just collecting business for new exhausts, dampers, windscreen wipers or whatever then no, I wouldn't bother.
Brian
The garage I use is local and very helpful, like some of the others quoted on this thread. The MoT isn't an excuse to drum up trade and they've made one or two very helpful comments of things that might not be good enough to pass in 12 months time and explain why. They're also very open about how they interpret pass/fail and clearly don't expect the same standard from a 1960s design that they do from a 2009 model.
So yes, I would take an MoT test, for £54 it's no big deal and I get good advice from it. However, if I felt the mechanic was just collecting business for new exhausts, dampers, windscreen wipers or whatever then no, I wouldn't bother.
Brian
My '36 Austin wouldn't have a hope in Hell of passing a legit m.o.t. so I'm glad I don't have to bother... saves putting silencers, legal lights and proper no. plates on it...
Joking apart, I don't bother with m.o.t.s on either of my exempt vehicles ('55 Ariel and '36 hot rod). I am quite happy with my own ability to check over (which I do far more regularly than just once a year) and maintain them. The last test that the '36 Austin went in for was a joke anyway as the tester really did not have a clue what he was testing and passed it despite me pointing out various defects. Before anyone points out that this means I do not keep my vehicles up together - I knew of the defects but decided to put the car in for m.o.t to see what additional work was needed as well... the car was being returned to the road after having been laid up for many years.
Joking apart, I don't bother with m.o.t.s on either of my exempt vehicles ('55 Ariel and '36 hot rod). I am quite happy with my own ability to check over (which I do far more regularly than just once a year) and maintain them. The last test that the '36 Austin went in for was a joke anyway as the tester really did not have a clue what he was testing and passed it despite me pointing out various defects. Before anyone points out that this means I do not keep my vehicles up together - I knew of the defects but decided to put the car in for m.o.t to see what additional work was needed as well... the car was being returned to the road after having been laid up for many years.
Edited by spoodler on Sunday 28th July 19:56
I had a '59 splitty vw van but sold it this time last year, just before the exemption came in, its in Germany now so not relevant as to whether it does or doesn't get MOT'd now but I was planning on treating it no differently and doing it annually as usual. It's common sense really, I can't see why anyone wouldn't and I'd think twice about buying a car from someone who made it known that they didn't as it would make me wonder what was being hidden or that someone didn't really care for their vehicle.
It had everything new running gear wise and I do my own work so agree with what others say about knowing my vehicles and I knew the van was fine but its peace of mind and 'official', an MOT inspector up on ramps may well pick up on something I didn't know about and you can't put a price on your life, others safety and your prized possessions. If I ever do own anything pre '60 again then it'll get an MOT.
Not that I use any old back street monkey, the chap that does all my stuff is excellent and a classic enthusiast himself.
It had everything new running gear wise and I do my own work so agree with what others say about knowing my vehicles and I knew the van was fine but its peace of mind and 'official', an MOT inspector up on ramps may well pick up on something I didn't know about and you can't put a price on your life, others safety and your prized possessions. If I ever do own anything pre '60 again then it'll get an MOT.
Not that I use any old back street monkey, the chap that does all my stuff is excellent and a classic enthusiast himself.
Edited by midgeman on Sunday 28th July 23:09
spoodler said:
The last test that the '36 Austin went in for was a joke anyway as the tester really did not have a clue what he was testing
This is of course a real problem. I can't help feeling it was the trade pushing to be able to get away from testing ancient things they knew nothing about that led to the change. A couple of years back my XK went to a different test station as it was in the garage for some ither work at the time. The tester failed the car because the middle of the tyres were "bald" without checking the unused spare in the boot, the middle portion of a Blockley doesn't have any tread, yet its type approved and works fine.The trick is to find testers that know what they are doing with our cars.
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