Hello, as some members may be aware, the MOT exemption criteria changed on 10th March.
I'm both raising a query, and also making folk aware in case anyone on here is affected.
These are the new criteria I've no objection to having my vehicles MOT tested, though I've several motorcycles legitimately historic and MOT exempt, as they are broadly unmodified.
As I read it, new regs have done away with the 30 year substantial mods rule, and removed the MOT exemption completely for kit cars, as well as changing the criteria for what qualifies as substantial mods.
It seems to have been brought in with little publicity, so how are the public to know?
I'm guessing/hoping it will become obvious at re-taxation time, as the website would reject, or I'd be reminded to check regs before claiming exemption; I'm not in a position to check that as my VEDs don't expire for several months.
An applicant might not even notice unless the website made it obvious that new rules have come into force.
On a personal note, two of the changes affect me directly with a couple of my vehicles.
I've a 1974 Air Portable Landrover, legitimately registered as historic but fitted with a Rover V8 30+ years ago (Old MOTs to prove that).
Previously, provided I retained enough original component parts, it was MOT exempt as the relevant substantial mod was done over 30 years ago.
Re-taxing it without an MOT never presented a problem.
I also run a Marlin kit car; it's correctly registered as a Marlin on the registration of the base vehicle, a 1973 Cortina.
Since it was built 30+ years ago, on an older base, it was a legit historic; I asked the DVLA myself who confirmed they were the rules at the time.
However, had I not seen a post, in a Marlin Owners group on Facebook, and subsequently specifically searched around elsewhere; (only GB News seemed to be covering it at the time), if I had gone out in the Marlin on the 12th of March as intended, I'd possibly be at risk of prosecution for driving without an MOT.
The Marlin passed an MOT today, and the Landrover is booked in next week.
The tester didn't know about these changes until I told him, and couldn't find any more information than me.
To be fair to him, his responsibility is the testing, not telling me whether I need one.
DVLA know I have several previously MOT exempt vehicles; they also have my phone number for texts, email address, and postal address.
Why haven't owners been informed as a matter of urgency?
This isn't a complaint about the change of regulations, I'm querying what could/would have happened had I been caught inadvertently breaking the law. I only found out it by chance.
In my case, I believe my insurance requires me to have an MOT
if the vehicle needs one, so I could even be at risk of driving uninsured.
The insurance co. are quite happy with me driving an exempt vehicle without MOT.
Thanks
Bill
