Pre-64 cars becoming MOT exempt

[davidpidge]

This was a suggestion by an MP recently. It was covered in more detail in classic car weekly. I personally think it's a terrible idea and would all end in lots of carnage. This is coming from a 24 year old whos cars are on the brink of MOT failure at all times! Imagine if any old barn find that ran could be on the road! I know the lights would also have to work and it'd still have to be in 'road-worthy' condition otherwise you'd get pulled by the fuzz but the rest of the structure, brakes etc could be a nightmare! I've seen too many cars WITH MOT that shouldnt have one! Also, the values off classic cars would go mental! People would be selling number plates off projects left and right, the seas would boil and locusts would devour us all!

[RobMoore]

Whilst I really don't like the idea of any vehicle being exempt from MOT, one muist also take into context the LAW of the land. Having an MOT does not make a vehicle legaly road compliant, it is simply a check box for a given year. Every vehicle driver has a legal obligation to ensure that any vehicle they drive is road worthy and an MOT is nothi9ng more than a snapshot at a given time. So even without an MOT you are still legally required to be safe and fit for the road.

[LouiseM]

Also, the values off classic cars would go mental! People would be selling number plates off projects left and right, the seas would boil and locusts would devour us all!

No need to panic just yet! At a recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group discussions took place with regards to an MOT exemption for pre-1920 vehicles, which is currently under consideration. The Government is going to conduct a review into whether there is a case for exempting older historic and classic vehicles and there will be a full consultation with interested groups.

Minister Mike Penning said, “The MOT is important in helping to ensure that cars are safe for use on our roads. However, we need to be sure that the regulations we impose are having their intended effect. That is why I am going to look at whether there is a case for exempting older historic and classic vehicles from the MOT test. These vehicles are treasured by their owners who want to ensure they are well maintained, and in most cases they use them irregularly. I have asked my officials to look at the evidence on this issue and we will carry out a full consultation to allow interested groups to submit views”.

MP Greg Knight added, “If these older vehicles are exempted from the MOT test, owners will still be legally required to ensure that their cars are safe, roadworthy and in a proper condition to be on the road. The Minister has made it clear that the exemption will not relate to historic vehicles that are used commercially.”

FHBVC delegate David Hurley said “Although we discussed a rolling exemption, I don’t envisage pressing for much movement, perhaps to pre-1935 in five or six years time. Unlike early vehicles, more recent classics should be capable of passing”

I can’t find any reference (other than in Classic Car Weekly) to serious consideration being given to an exemption for pre-1965 cars.

[chrisd87]

Wasn't aware of any discussion of pre-'65 cars being exempted, although I had heard about the pre-1920 exemption. I think the main point of exempting pre-1920 vehicles is that the test is a bit of a farce - so few things are tested on a vehicle of that age, and a lot of the stuff that is tested has to be subject to a bit of lenient interpretation to pass anyway.

Whilst I would welcome this in principle, I would worry about unintended consequences. In particular, I wouldn't want it to be used as a pretext for usage restrictions on exempted cars. Likewise, I'd worry that the police might use it as an excuse to continually pull over pre-'65 vehicles, to poke around and see if they can find anything dodgy.

If my memory serves me rightly, Onne said on this board a few years ago that pre-1960 vehicles had been exempted from testing in the Netherlands. I wonder what their experience of this was? Did it result in lots of accidents from unsafe cars, or was there little difference?

[davidpidge]

If my memory serves me rightly, Onne said on this board a few years ago that pre-1960 vehicles had been exempted from testing in the Netherlands. I wonder what their experience of this was? Did it result in lots of accidents from unsafe cars, or was there little difference?

It would deffinately be interesting to see results of another country intoducing the exemption.

[chickenjohn]

There is no need for any vehicle to be MOT exempt, just a kinder system for cars depending on their age.

I was annoyed a couple of years ago when an MOT garage made me change 1 year old wheel bearings because of "play", the bearings were only 1 year, less than 5,000 miles old!!!

I duly changed the bearings (again!), no change in the tiny amount of "play " I could feel and the car passed the MOT.

What was the point in that???

The only cars for which there is a point that they might be MOT exempt would be for pre WWI cars, they have very little on them that a modern MOT can test for, so the MOT is a bit of a waste of time for pre WWI cars.

[ian.mcdougall]

In Ireland cars over 30 years old are exempt from testing, As has been said tests only an indication of the condition of the car at the date of the test In ireland cars 4 years to 10 years are tested every 2 years think how a car can deterioat? in two years especially on some of our roads at 10 years will be tested every year as has been said so few of the tests can be applied to older cars . Sad thing over here at mo is the scrappage I work in VW dealership seen good 00 and 01 cars for scrappage last one a 01 polo 35k miles a polish would bring it up nicely all the cheaper cars for young drivers are going for scrap only leaves the bangers that people cant afford to put in for scrappage left possible classics going to scrap/