40+ year old cars exempt from MOT?
Discussion
markymarkthree said:
Simple answer to everyone who is struggling with this MOT exemption krap is to just get an MOT and you can then carry on as normal and not create any problems for yourself in the future.
But apparently there won’t be anyone able to do the testing according to the gov. If there was this daft change wouldn’t be needed.I have taken my 1952 car for a test every year and will also take all the others coming up for exemption.
If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
Vanin said:
I have taken my 1952 car for a test every year and will also take all the others coming up for exemption.
If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
I can see why folks prefer to go for an annual test even when not required, but I don't agree with your point about accidents and no valid test certificate. If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
That scenario only applies if the barrister can prove the accident is due to lack of maintenance/unroadworthy car, and if that is a realistic avenue of prosecution they will do that whether you have an MoT or not.
The law says you've got to keep your car roadworthy and as it's been said before, the MoT is only proof that the car was roadworthy on the day it was tested. Not a week later, not a month later. IMO that's the big problem with the MoT, there will be owners who pass the test and then do nothing until the next one which isn't something you can do on an old car.
w824gb3 said:
So my 1972 MGB is taxed as a Historic Vehicle and has been since it went back on the road in 1999. I re taxt'd in in April (for free). MOT expires on 14th May. If I just leave it in the garage until 20th May can I then drive it about legally without doing anything?
Once again, I suggest you read my post above. No, you can't just await the 20th May since if you haven't declared your car as a VHI by filling in form V112) and taking it to the Post Office. Except that the existing form V112 refers to pre-1960 cars since until the 20th May that is the law, but shortly they will be changing the form in line with the new regulations. My advice - and what I propose to do - is to cancel your road tax on line on the 20th May, then take in the completed new V112 to your Post Office on the 21st and retax your car at the same time. It's not as if you are losing anything by so doing. Once you have done that you will be MOT-exempt for ever.lowdrag said:
w824gb3 said:
So my 1972 MGB is taxed as a Historic Vehicle and has been since it went back on the road in 1999. I re taxt'd in in April (for free). MOT expires on 14th May. If I just leave it in the garage until 20th May can I then drive it about legally without doing anything?
Once again, I suggest you read my post above. No, you can't just await the 20th May since if you haven't declared your car as a VHI by filling in form V112) and taking it to the Post Office. Except that the existing form V112 refers to pre-1960 cars since until the 20th May that is the law, but shortly they will be changing the form in line with the new regulations. My advice - and what I propose to do - is to cancel your road tax on line on the 20th May, then take in the completed new V112 to your Post Office on the 21st and retax your car at the same time. It's not as if you are losing anything by so doing. Once you have done that you will be MOT-exempt for ever.You need to declare it's a VHI when buying tax without an MOT, because otherwise the lack of MOT will stop the purchase. But that doesn't mean pre-bought tax overrules the VHIness simply because it's not been declared.
But, as you say, it's a doddle to work around, so...
Therein lies the rub. It may look like a VHI, it may smell like a VHI, but is it actually a VHI? As I have understood the matter from the DVSA, it may well be a VHI - but it doesn't have that little bit of paper called a V112 noted on the DVLA records so dear Plod could argue that you are driving illegally. A grey area surely, but I prefer to do as I say above and be sure that my car is indisputably a VHI. That's bureaucracy for you.
My friend went his main Post Office yesterday and asked about a V112 form. He was told he can have one but all he does is fill it in and keep it. He said to the guy behind the counter "surely you have it back and sent it to the DVLA" No was the answer.
So do you just fill it in and show them it when you tax it at the Post Office and keep the copy with you? Is there one on-line to fill in when you tax on line?
So do you just fill it in and show them it when you tax it at the Post Office and keep the copy with you? Is there one on-line to fill in when you tax on line?
Fortunately my MOT's run out after this years tax is due on the cars, so I'm going to wait until then and see if the proposed on line system for declaring the cars as VHI is in operation, if that works I will probably still keep the cars MOT'd for piece of mind, however with all the changes coming in (and the apparent lack of knowledge of these changes) I can see a big rise in failures this year, some light reading for people that are interested
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-cha...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-cha...
lowdrag said:
Therein lies the rub. It may look like a VHI, it may smell like a VHI, but is it actually a VHI? As I have understood the matter from the DVSA, it may well be a VHI - but it doesn't have that little bit of paper called a V112 noted on the DVLA records so dear Plod could argue that you are driving illegally.
But anything taxed online won't have that piece of paper, anyway. It'll just have an "I faithfully promise" tickbox ticked. VHI is self-cert. MOT is only ever checked at tax-buying or if Mr Plod investigates. You self-cert at tax-buying, you self-cert to Mr Plod.Every website you look at says something different, this is on Classic and Sports Car website:
"1. Classic cars more than 40 years old will no longer need an MoT...
This is the big one for classic car enthusiasts. Whereas before only cars first registered before 1960 were exempt from needing an MoT, the new rules apply to any car first registered more than 40 years ago – with some exceptions, which we'll go into below.
That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
That's not correct is it?
Another article in Classic Car magazine that might be of some help (or not!)
https://www.classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/mot-and-road...
"1. Classic cars more than 40 years old will no longer need an MoT...
This is the big one for classic car enthusiasts. Whereas before only cars first registered before 1960 were exempt from needing an MoT, the new rules apply to any car first registered more than 40 years ago – with some exceptions, which we'll go into below.
That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
That's not correct is it?
Another article in Classic Car magazine that might be of some help (or not!)
https://www.classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/mot-and-road...
b2hbm said:
Vanin said:
I have taken my 1952 car for a test every year and will also take all the others coming up for exemption.
If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
I can see why folks prefer to go for an annual test even when not required, but I don't agree with your point about accidents and no valid test certificate. If I had an accident which involved a fatality, a good barrister would have a field day if it was seen to be the case that my car had not been tested for say five years. Even if the accident was not my fault.
I think that £50 would be well spent especially being a small fraction of the insurance and other running costs of classics.
That scenario only applies if the barrister can prove the accident is due to lack of maintenance/unroadworthy car, and if that is a realistic avenue of prosecution they will do that whether you have an MoT or not.
The law says you've got to keep your car roadworthy and as it's been said before, the MoT is only proof that the car was roadworthy on the day it was tested. Not a week later, not a month later. IMO that's the big problem with the MoT, there will be owners who pass the test and then do nothing until the next one which isn't something you can do on an old car.
and factual mgtony said:
Every website you look at says something different, this is on Classic and Sports Car website:
"1. Classic cars more than 40 years old will no longer need an MoT...
This is the big one for classic car enthusiasts. Whereas before only cars first registered before 1960 were exempt from needing an MoT, the new rules apply to any car first registered more than 40 years ago – with some exceptions, which we'll go into below.
That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
That's not correct is it?
Another article in Classic Car magazine that might be of some help (or not!)
https://www.classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/mot-and-road...
Yep! its correct, rolling MOT and TAX exemption and rolling black & white number plates."1. Classic cars more than 40 years old will no longer need an MoT...
This is the big one for classic car enthusiasts. Whereas before only cars first registered before 1960 were exempt from needing an MoT, the new rules apply to any car first registered more than 40 years ago – with some exceptions, which we'll go into below.
That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
That's not correct is it?
Another article in Classic Car magazine that might be of some help (or not!)
https://www.classiccarsmagazine.co.uk/mot-and-road...
markymarkthree said:
Yep! its correct, rolling MOT and TAX exemption and rolling black & white number plates.
Including this bit?That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
Can I register my April 78 registered car as a VHI from the 20th May and be MOT exempt even though it would normally not be historic and tax free till the following April (2019)??? As above as well, a June 1979 car would also have to wait until 2020?? Gov Website says only VHI's are MOT exempt.
Sorry for what sounds like me keep repeating myself on this issue.
HealeyV8 said:
If a MGB-GT or TR7 owner has fitted a Rover V8 will they get away with VHI MOT exemptions because there were MGB-GT V8's and TR8 models with this running gear?
It should. But again, you're self-certifying. The next question is, is a 4.6 injected engine sufficiently equivalent to a carbed 3.5? Cosworth YB in an old Escort? Well, it's a 2.0 Pinto, really, isn't it? While I suspect there could be interesting conversations on that front, the wording is:"alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered a substantial change. If the number of cylinders in an engine is different from the original, it is likely to be, but not necessarily, the case that the current engine is not alternative original equipment"
It'd be interesting to see how this goes. I could buy a brand new Overfinch Range Rover wiith a 5.7. So can I put an SBC in an old Range Rover and have it count?
I suspect there's a certain amount of "well, that explanation sounds like bulls
t, but it's internally consistent and convincing bullst, so fair enough" that will come into play where engine conversions are questioned.mgtony said:
That means that most cars first registered before 20 May 1978 will no longer need an MoT once the new regulations come into effect. What's more, the '40 years' rule is a rolling date. So if your car was first registered on 1 June 1979, you won't need an MoT after 1 June 2019. And so on."
Can I register my April 78 registered car as a VHI from the 20th May and be MOT exempt even though it would normally not be historic and tax free till the following April (2019)??? As above as well, a June 1979 car would also have to wait until 2020?? Gov Website says only VHI's are MOT exempt.
According to the conversation I had with the DVLA over the rolling 40-year rule their computer is set to automatically register your car as MOT-exempt when it reaches forty, so your car is now officially MOT-exempt being of April 1978. You do need to fill in the V112 though, although a post above says that he took the said form to the Post Office and they didn't want it. Will it be just a tick-the-box thing on your tax renewal? I don't know, but I have one car that is due on June 1st so I'll soon find out.Can I register my April 78 registered car as a VHI from the 20th May and be MOT exempt even though it would normally not be historic and tax free till the following April (2019)??? As above as well, a June 1979 car would also have to wait until 2020?? Gov Website says only VHI's are MOT exempt.
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