MOT Test Exemption Proposals

Hello everyone, Martin Boothman has sent me the latest bulletin from the FBHVC concerning the proposed abolishion of MOT testing for pre 1960 vehicles. It is proposed that all pre 1960 vehicles will be exempt from November this year. Here is the wording taken from the FBHVC Bulletin:-  **************** "21 May 2012  Historic Vehicles MoT Exemption Review  Mike Penning, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, has announced the results of the Historic Vehicles MoT Exemption Review. The DfT is in favour of exemption for pre-1960 vehicles and it is proposed this will take effect from 18 November 2012. Owners of exempted vehicles will be able to take them for a voluntary test under the new regulations.  The FBHVC’s initial response is a guarded welcome to a result that matches the wishes of the majority of respondents to the Federation’s MoT survey. We hope to get more information about the detail of the proposals from the DfT in due course, in order to make a proper assessment - particularly about passenger carrying vehicles in commercial use which we were surprised to note are also to be exempt from MoT testing.  In general historic vehicle owners are law abiding and safety conscious and are aware that they have a duty to ensure their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition and accept the exemption from MoT testing is not an excuse for poor maintenance."  ******************  Should this come to pass, it will be very much the duty of owners to see that their cars are kept in proper roadworthy condition. I hope everyone will take this responsibility very seriously; the last thing the old car movement needs is the horrendous publicity that would be associated with it if their were a serious incident involving an old car with safety issues. Just imagine the play opposition political parties could make with that......The MOT Test may still be taken and either this or a 'pre-MOT' check at a suitable specialist is advised to keep up with those roadworthiness issues where sometimes a deterioration is not noticed until an emergency situation arises.......  I know of at least one Alvis Specialist who aims to carry out a suitable pre MOT inspection with a report for less than the standard VOSA fixed fee.  Nick Simpson. Technical Advisor, AOC Ltd. Posted by Nickalvis 22/05/2012 19:35:07

I for one have no problem with retaining the M.O.T but with a two year gap because of the usual very low mileage these cars do.  But i do  know a few chancers who would be laughing if the test was dropped and  i wouldnt buy a vehicle from them. The biggest problem i have with my TB14 is keeping the brakes balanced but my kindly tester who likes the older cars  allows me the use of his rolling road after any adjustments are made.  May he never retire!!!!!!!!!! Posted by ivor.davies20 28/05/2012 14:29:33

I suspect that advertising a pre-1960 vehicle as having passed a recent MOT will be a feature of many adverts in years to come, as proof of the mechanical condition of the car. A valid MOT certificate will actually add value/add to the saleability of the vehicle, making the £55 fee a worthwhile investment instead of an expense.  I think it is a very sensible and useful step forward. Posted by Angus D'Arcy-Drake 29/05/2012 08:21:05

I believe that a cut off point of 1960 is to late. In my opinion it should be 1950. The MOT needs be checking out the fast and heavy cars of this period which often are as "rotten as a pear" EG Jaguar XK's that may well have nice shiny paint but!! I can speak from experience!! We may well find that the classic specialist insurance  companys will  insist the that vehicles they insure have  to have the voluntary MOT that has been mentioned.  Mike Wheadon Posted by Mike Wheadon 30/05/2012 15:15:32

My view is that it would be far better to have a test designed specifically for historic vehicles, and that inspectors have to pass an assessment specifically for that test. This would ensure that our vehicles are subject to an independant safety check, but are not failed by pedants who are not familiar with the quriks of older vehicles. However, there will always be a difference of opinion as to when the cut-off date should be.  In the mean-time might it not be a good ideas to keep a register of MOT test centres known to be sympathetic to historic vehicles. Perhaps the membership could recommend good examples Posted by greg124 09/07/2012 12:30:54