MOT exemption for classics ?

MOT exemption for classics ?

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Discussion

Cliftonite

8,421 posts

140 months

Saturday 21st October 2017
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Does one really need an MoT to tax a car anyway?!!!








How could THIS happen?!!

confused

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Saturday 21st October 2017
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It was MOT'd at the time originally taxed, then the MOT ran out but they didn't stop taxing it.

droopsnoot

12,092 posts

244 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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steveL98 said:
I don't thing the aftermarket items are good quality.
Talking to a friend some years ago just after he'd sold his MGB, and I mentioned the advantageous spares availability for the car, compared to mine. He said at the time that he'd probably returned 50% of the stuff he'd bought (a selection of stuff from various UK specialists and general eBay sellers) as either not fitting properly, or just not up to standard.

InitialDave said:
It was MOT'd at the time originally taxed, then the MOT ran out but they didn't stop taxing it.
But it shouldn't be possible to renew tax (at the moment) if the car doesn't have an MOT. On the other hand, there was a Ferrari in the "abandoned cars" thread that seemed to be taxed but had no MOT. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the computerised renewals don't check something (though I thought it was insurance rather than MOT) in case the records aren't quite up to date.


InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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droopsnoot said:
But it shouldn't be possible to renew tax (at the moment) if the car doesn't have an MOT. On the other hand, there was a Ferrari in the "abandoned cars" thread that seemed to be taxed but had no MOT. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the computerised renewals don't check something (though I thought it was insurance rather than MOT) in case the records aren't quite up to date.
Well, if it's being paid on direct debit, it'll just keep chugging along regardless of MOT status.

bobtail4x4

3,736 posts

111 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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er no
I had an email this year when the mot ran out, while the direct debit was running, saying eiher sorn it or mot it.

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Perhaps, but it doesn't automatically cancel.

R6VED

1,380 posts

142 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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I have a car that will qualify in a few years. Regardless of any requirement to have an MOT, I will have one done.

It seems foolhardy not to have an annual checkover, for the sake of £35.

Tax exempt I am on board with, as it doesn't relate to safety.

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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If a car doesn't need an MOT, but you take it for one and it fails, does that reset the MOT exemption status until it passes one?

steveL98

1,090 posts

182 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
If a car doesn't need an MOT, but you take it for one and it fails, does that reset the MOT exemption status until it passes one?
I wouldn't have an actual MOT done as its recorder and too formal, but I would have a "roadworthiness" check done and a paid receipt for the inspection as evidence that the car was ok at that point in time.

To be honest, I'd really want it done so I could get a good look underneath for myself and maybe take a few images.

droopsnoot

12,092 posts

244 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
If a car doesn't need an MOT, but you take it for one and it fails, does that reset the MOT exemption status until it passes one?
I wondered the same thing, but will probably do as SteveL98 said, just have the test done, but not done "officially". I can't see that it would cause the exemption to be removed as much of it seems to be based on trust. I do wonder whether a vehicle enquiry would show a car with the big red box and "MOT expired or failed", but not recognise that it doesn't need one, or whether their IT will be clever enough to know that it doesn't matter and just not show it.

I did wonder in another thread whether this affects the official stats on how many pre-60 cars have a voluntary MOT test and what the pass/fail ratio is - if a lot of those owners are also having a "not-an-MOT" done for their own peace of mind, then they won't be included in the stats.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

128 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
If a car doesn't need an MOT, but you take it for one and it fails, does that reset the MOT exemption status until it passes one?
No. It's still just as legal to use as if you hadn't had a test done. This is hardly rocket science, it's applied to pre-60 stuff for five years already..

Or, rather, it's probably still just as illegal to use as if you hadn't had the test done, if it's not actually roadworthy...

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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TooMany2cvs said:
No. It's still just as legal to use as if you hadn't had a test done. This is hardly rocket science, it's applied to pre-60 stuff for five years already..

Or, rather, it's probably still just as illegal to use as if you hadn't had the test done, if it's not actually roadworthy...
I've not had to deal with it, as the only pre-60 car I own hasn't been on the road for far longer than that.

I just thought of it because of the thing where it needs a valid MOT initially to get into the exemption status.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

128 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
I just thought of it because of the thing where it needs a valid MOT initially to get into the exemption status.
It doesn't.

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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TooMany2cvs said:
It doesn't.
Doesn't it? I'm sure when I read it, it said that a car "of age" only got the exemption if currently MOT'd. I'll need to re-read it later.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

128 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
TooMany2cvs said:
It doesn't.
Doesn't it? I'm sure when I read it, it said that a car "of age" only got the exemption if currently MOT'd. I'll need to re-read it later.
Wouldn't surprise me at all if it'd been made up somewhere, but it certainly doesn't say it (IIRC) in the Government consultation response. And it didn't work like that when they brought in the pre-60 exemption.

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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Yes, I think you're right, no idea where I got that one from. I've read a lot of different articles, though, so maybe it was in one of those.

That's going to annoy me now.

InitialDave

11,992 posts

121 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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Aha, found it.

It's in the "substantial change" draft guidance. The section about declaring a vehicle is exempt, in the "on-line" bit, it says:

"...it is intended that an additional question be asked whether the vehicle has a current MOT..."

That's what I've misinterpreted as meaning it's a prerequisite of getting the exemption .

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

128 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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InitialDave said:
Aha, found it.

It's in the "substantial change" draft guidance. The section about declaring a vehicle is exempt, in the "on-line" bit, it says:

"...it is intended that an additional question be asked whether the vehicle has a current MOT..."

That's what I've misinterpreted as meaning it's a prerequisite of getting the exemption .
Full context -
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
Draft said:
The process for vehicle keepers declaring an old vehicle is exempt from testing

Every year vehicle keepers are required to licence their vehicle. Part of this process includes paying Vehicle Excise Duty (Vehicle Tax). Where the vehicle that year is over 40 years old at the beginning of January then from April of that year the vehicle keeper is exempt from paying this tax. The vehicle keeper must apply for the exemption from tax at a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. Further advice can be found via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles/vehicles-exem...
It is intended that alterations be made to these processes to take account of the “substantial change” rule related to vehicle testing.

On-Line
Please note the first time you apply to licence your vehicle in the historic tax class you must apply at the Post Office. Subsequent re-licensing transactions can be completed on-line.
Where the vehicle keeper is re-licensing their vehicle on-line it is intended that an additional question be asked whether the vehicle has a current MOT and the vehicle keeper will be required to declare that their vehicle has not been substantially changed since 1988. Appropriate safeguards will be in place that will prevent a vehicle keeper from declaring the vehicle is over 40 years of age and progressing to the next stage of the licensing process before first declaring or not as to whether their vehicle has been substantially changed.
Seems to me that it's talking about a box that you have to tick when re-taxing a historic that doesn't have an MOT. So you go to tax, it checks there's an MOT or not, like now, and - if not - you get the box saying "Is it exempt?" rather than a straight refusal like now.

The italicised bit just says that you won't be able to get the first historic VED online, you'll have to go to the PO. Same as now, because the tax class has to be changed. So anything that's currently historic will just miss that step, and go straight to the tick box. Every year.

jeremy996

323 posts

228 months

Monday 30th October 2017
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mgv8 said:
Do you have anything to back this up apart from "I know"? (a)

The fact is we are talking about very few cars. (b) Most owners do know how to look after them. (c) The ones that do get someone to do it for them. If the car is so badly looked after it will break down before it crashes. (d)

PS Any chance you read the Daly Mail?
(e)

(a) I am a member of three car clubs and I was the technical consultant for one for more than 10 years. Being an enthusiast does not make you a motor engineer; I know a number of classic car owners who only pay for work when the car won't start or fails its MOT, so there is one less prompt for skilled attention!

(b) True - very few cars, and getting fewer, so a spike in the accident statistics will stand out.

(c) Where is your evidence? Einstein reckoned that human stupidity was the most common element in the universe and I suspect he is on firmer ground than you are!

(d) If you can guarantee that it will break down before it crashes I would be much happier, but owners will establish it can start before they find out whether it will stop!

(e) No, never; it is a sad, irritating rag. Presumably you are responding to the reference to the French. Ask a French car enthusiast what they think of the historic regulations for them. Most are jealous of the UK rules as they are much more permissive than the French ones.