New MOT legislation and more...

[911hillclimber]

You have to declare the car MoT exempt every tax anniversary, it is not a single declaration for ever.
Reason is you could modify the car to a level that makes it MoT mandatory. You then have to have the car MoT'd.
The onus is on you to comply.

964:
Doesn't your car have coil overs? (I can't remember); If so then you cannot claim MoT exemption as you have broken the 'suspension rule', just as I have broken the shell rule so cannot claim MoT exemption.
Obviously, the owner/driver has a duty to keep the car to a safe condition, ie it would PASS an MoT if taken to one at any time!

Doubt this thread will stop for the next 12 months as these things are ironed out.

[964RS]

No standard sport suspension.

I think my car would qualify without an MOT but will get one anyway. My biggest concern is that you are responsible for ‘road worthiness’ and these cars are worth big sums now. Should you be involved in a crash that was your fault and god forbid involve other cars then your insurance company is going to look in detail at your car if it’s faced with a huge payout and your car doesn’t have an MOT in my opinion...it just leaves the door open for it getting complicated

[Mick Cliff]

That's interesting Jason - I taxed the Datsun yesterday and there was no mention of anything different to previous years....

[911hillclimber]

The Self Declaration question will be asked from May 20th 2018.
This will be asked on-line or at a Post Office when you go to tax the car.

The declaration is not policed by anyone, all down to the individual.
Thus, in Jason's scenario, I too would be very happy to be able to produce an MoT rather than say 'I know a bit about cars, and my car is great' in court.

This is when the MoT exemption (that a driver applies for at the point of taxation) seems a silly move of generosity by the DfT, but they state that Classic vehicles pass the MoT almost every time when presented compared to modern cars.

MoT or not, the car has to be kept in a roadworthy state, so in a crash you had better know your onions when quizzed by a sharp barrister. I know an MoT is only good for the day but at least it has been checked independently.
If you declare exemption you can still take the car for an inspection, a dummy MoT. No paperwork enters the system, (but the MoT tester can give you a roadworthiness statement for the same fee as an MoT) so a Police check will show the car simply as exempt.
If a car looks modified and the Police car check shows it declared MoT exempt, you might get stopped and you will need to be ready to prove your car complies to the guidelines for MoT Exemption.

Phew! Is this all worth it?

Take it for an annual MoT and rest easy, it made sense in the past, why not the future?

Oh, and if you do take an exempt eligible car for an MoT and fail, you cannot suddenly claim exemption to avoid working on the car for a re-test. The car is recorded as an MoT failure.

[gridgway]

Wow, you lot live in a scared world. Best get an MOT in case plod is clever enough to spot that coilovers are a mod to the original car? Will help your case in front of a barrister?

What strange thinking!

[964RS]

Wow, you lot live in a scared world. Best get an MOT in case plod is clever enough to spot that coilovers are a mod to the original car? Will help your case in front of a barrister?

What strange thinking!

Not really - I doubt I will take my non modified cars for an MOT as they are all standard.

The modified ones however I probably will as it's all too vague and open to personal interpretation - it's just common sense...and £30 and 30 mins

[911hillclimber]

Exactly my take, not that I have a choice as I know mine does not meet the 'exempt' criteria.

It is easy to see my view as an over-reaction for now, BUT just consider if you are involved in something serious and people are dead.
The authorities will be interested in every detail and to find the culprit responsible.

To declare the car not modified and be MoT free when the facts can prove otherwise will certainly work against you as the Insurance walks away and a law suit is pending.

That is the way I see these things, what if the worse happens, how will you stand, and how could it end up. I would like to keep my house to pay for my Home fees.

A traffic cop following a wide arched dumped to the ground V8 rumbling Ford Anglia might run a check on the reg number and read it is non modified because it is declared as such and has no MoT.
He is in the mood to sort this out esp if the car is going quickly, showing off or just too low to pass a sleeping policeman.

He stops the car and notices thing are not quite right...His duty is to bust the driver as the car is illegal. Maybe a ticket, maybe a telling off, maybe he will simply ignore it because he has no idea if Ford made a V8 Anglia. I know 2 traffic cops, one is an accident scene investigator. They are both absolute petrol heads. Not all traffic Police men are ignorant about cars.


If the Anglia is bog standard, lots of MoT welds, smokes a bit and stops with a dance across the road then possibly the Police will stop him.
That car on paper is perfect except it is not road worthy. Will the Police do anything? No idea. It is not their job to ensure the car is safe, their job is to ensure the Law is observed and kept to, they don't make the rules, they ensure they are met. I guess the Anglia lives for another day.

The whole 'MoT Exemption Thing' for classic cars is a load of bunkum, full of opportunity for mis-interpretation and loads of grey areas that can be turned on you because your interpretation is deemed incorrect.
And as 964 says, £30 and 30 mins, cheap for peace of mind, no mis understandings and no risk.

[gridgway]

What on earth are you talking about Graham?

[911hillclimber]

Simply my take on all this.
It is the way I see it all, and we will all have a different view.
If in a serious situation you need to have all things correct.
It is easy to read the guidelines and get confused out to make the wrong call.
This is why I asked independent people who are close to the subject for their guidance.

The fact that things are next clear show how ambiguous things are, no black or white understanding.

In all the people I have asked about this lot ( and only about my own car) nobody has said I was on the wrong track, just understood why things were not clear.

Sorry if my poor command of expression is irritating, but I have tried to show what I have been through which might help others.

Everyone can ignore me and find their own answers, I know the contact to ask if anyone wishes to pm me.
I think it best I'm off this thread!

[Darren65]

I'm currently in the process of fitting a BMW 1100cc into this van........I'm guessing that as it's an original engine type being air cooled and two cylinder, so not substantially modified and therefore I'll be fine with historic status and no MOT etc....



Cheers,

[Bootsy]

Yes, I think you've interpreted the new rules correctly. Exactly the type of car the legislation was introduced to insure you need not worry about those pesky MOTs

[KS]

Tell you what, just send it down to me and you won't have to worry about anything.

[markm]

So to resurrect a old thread. Apparently my 72S no longer requires a MOT as it is over 40 years old

Heres the conundrum. the MOT expires not he 20th May.18 but it no longer requires a MOT from 31st May.18, what should I do. Pay the £50 MOT fee for 11 days Mot or take a chance?

[jb]

Get an mot - my way of thinking is that it is always worth getting an independent view of the safety of your car.

[911hillclimber]

I agree with JB.

You can only claim MoT exemption when you TAX it next, either on line or at a Post Office, after May 20th. You will be asked if the vehicle is entitled to MoT exemption.
You make that decision.
Thus, my take on it is you have to have the car with a current MoT until at least your next tax renewal date.

So, if your Tax runs out on 1 Sept 2018 your car needs an MoT at least to that date.
This only applies to bog standard cars (or vehicles) over 40 years old.

If your car is modified within the DVLA/DfT guidelines then you cannot claim MoT exemption, you have to continue with the usual MoT routine.

This is my personal point of view.