Author Topic: Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria  (Read 720 times)

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Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria
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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

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Re: Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria
« Reply #1 on: »
If you had been caught "inadvertently breaking the law" then the worst case outcome would be an income-related fine, in the unlikely event of ending up in court. A £100 penalty is more likely. No points would be applied in either case.

An insurance clause requiring an MOT has been ruled unenforceable by the Ombudsman on several occasions. However, your future premiums might be affected when you declared the offence.

Re: Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria
« Reply #2 on: »
I'm one of those lucky ones who has a few pre-1960 preserved buses. They've been test exempt for a number of years now as well as being zero rod tax. The initial amendment to the "exempt vehicles" list was a simple one-line amendment along the lines of "any vehicle built or first registered before 1t January 1960". That includes buses used for hire and reward/PSV use which some people felt was quit worrying. when I mentioned this to the local Traffic Commissioner a few years back she said that was quite alright as any bus used on an operators licence would be included on the operator's planned maintainence scheme.

I've not seen the latest amandements, but this suggests they will have been brought
into line with EU regulations and exepmtions.
Bus driving since 1973. My advice, if you have a PSV licence, destroy it when you get to 65 or you'll be forever in demand.

Re: Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria
« Reply #3 on: »
Time for an update to this one; I only found out by accident on our kit car owners club Facebook page (Private group so no point in me sharing the URL).

By the looks of it, the DVLA advisory page explaining exemptions was updated incorrectly on the 10th March.
It's now been revised, I think in early May, but still shows last updated on 10th March.


They have now added at least two extra paragraphs, which confirm an MOT exemption for historic kit car and modified vehicles, where the 30 year rule applies.
Also clarification that this only applies to MOT exemptions and not the registration.
Text below in blue font has been added, though the page date remains unchanged.

A vehicle does not need an MOT if:

it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
no substantial changes have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years
This includes vehicles previously exempted on the basis of being first registered before 1960.
Such vehicles are known as vehicles of historical interest (VHIs).
You will need to declare that your vehicle is exempt from the requirement for an MOT when you apply to tax it. You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay.
Your vehicle must be roadworthy whether it is exempt or not, you may wish to voluntarily undertake an MOT test anyway.

Your vehicle must have an MOT if it:
has been substantially changed
is a large vehicle being used commercially
has a registration number with a ‘Q’ prefix
is a kit car constructed from components from different makes or models
is a kit conversion where a kit body, chassis or monocoque is added to an existing vehicle or vice versa
is a reconstructed classic vehicle (as defined by DVLA)

However, if a vehicle meeting one or more of these criteria is taxed as a ‘historic vehicle’, and it has not been modified during the previous 30 years, it is exempt from needing an MOT.

If you cannot confirm that a vehicle has not been substantially changed, you must not claim MOT exemption.

This guidance is only intended to determine the testing position of a substantially changed vehicle, not its registration.