40yr old bike tax & mot exemption

[xtruss]

Hi, i am note sure if this is the correct place to post the question since it is a motorbike, but now a classic.

The bike in question was registered 1st Mar 1979 - XT500. It has been sorned for the past 2 years, and no MOT for that period of time as it is stored away.
I have some confusion on getting the logbook change to historic vehicle tax exemption. If what i understand is correct then i can't actually start my application until the 1st April 2019, or can i do it before but the exemption doesn't start until the 1st April.
2nd thing is it says i need a current MOT certificate for the application, but as it is now 40yrs old it doesn't require one (and it doesn't have one)
Do i need to get an MOT on it for the application?

I understand safety and the positive reasons for having an MOT on an old bike, but i rebuilt this bike a few years ago and know it intimately, and feel as though keep tabs on a single cylinder trials bike is well within my scope.

Thanks in advance.

[lowdrag]

I would suggest that you online and see if you can retax it. The system seems to have changed I've heard but it used to indicate that you should tick a box if your car was over 40 years old and you could then tax it without an MOT. It was explained to me by the DVLA that they had reset their computer to automatically acknowledge that a car/bike had become 40 yrs old when the date of first registration came up. Anyway, try it and best of luck. It worked for both my oldies.

[3200gt]

You cant do anything until april 2020. It has to _over_40 yo to qualify. April this year is for 1978 vehicles. April next year is for 1979 vehicles.
I did 4 of mine april last year and they 1977.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
When it qualifies all you need to do is take the v5 to the post office, they will tax it foc and send part of the v5 back to the dvla. When it returns its tax class will state historic.

Edited by 3200gt on Friday 1st March 17:06

[xtruss]

Thank you for clearing that up - It will give me something to look forward to next year.
A lot of articles just stated the following :-
"From 20 May 2018 the MOT test for vehicles over 40 years old will be abolished. It means that cars and bikes will simultaneously become MOT and VED-exempt the moment they hit 40."

[lowdrag]

Which I why I said to try the system out. It IS over 40 years old now, and there is no requirement for an extra calendar year.

[xtruss]

Just tried doing it online - Says no MOT, so computer says no.. Over 40 yrs old so no MOT required.

[singlecoil]

Why not just get an MOT?

[xtruss]

I will be doing at this rate, not a problem. But that was also my initial question, when its over 40 years old it doesn't require one.

[3200gt]

But dvla use the old new registration letter year not the reg of the bike calendar year so it runs from april to april.
To qualify your vehicle needs to have been registered in the calander year BEFORE the april in the year
Reg change.
So registered anytime in 1977 + 40 year and 3 months = 2018 april qualifies
Registered anytime in 1978 + 40 years and 3 month = 2019 april qualifies
Registered anytime in 1979 + 40 years and 3 months = 2020 qualifies

Just the stupid way they set it up.

Edited by 3200gt on Saturday 2nd March 16:16

[xtruss]

3200gt said:

But dvla use the old new registration letter year not the reg of the bike calendar year so it runs from april to april.
To qualify your vehicle needs to have been registered in the calander year BEFORE the april in the year
Reg change.
So registered anytime in 1977 + 40 year and 3 months = 2018 april qualifies
Registered anytime in 1978 + 40 years and 3 month = 2019 april qualifies
Registered anytime in 1979 + 40 years and 3 months = 2020 qualifies

Just the stupid way they set it up.

Edited by 3200gt on Saturday 2nd March 16:16

Thank you 3200gt for taking the time to explain the rule, and after talking to DVLA they have confirmed the same. Only exemption is if i can get proof of the actual date of manufacture which i am not going to bother with..