New MOT legislation and more...

[Bootsy]

I contacted the Modified Register of PCGB. They were unaware of the changes to come into force in 2018. Sorry Keith I suggested Ralph contacted you as a knowledgeable person.

Kind of sums up the lack of awareness about the initial consultation and general apathy

[911hillclimber]

Indeed, no wonder the Gov did what they wanted!

You need 100,000+ signatures to get Parliament to consider anything, and as the last petition gathered 2200 or so responses, I think it is a worthy call, but a hopeless one.

Looking forward to Nov'ish and the comments about Modified classic cars.

The definition of modified will be so complex...esp when you are to do things on-line.

[Darren C]

The definition of modified will be so complex...esp when you are to do things on-line.

As Keith says it will all depend on individuals honesty and I believe, their interpretation of the rules. Since all of us see the world as we choose, then obviously the facts will be given in favour of the individual presenting them; which is where the whole thing is going to be impossible to police effectively.

[BILLY BEAN]

Indeed, no wonder the Gov did what they wanted!

You need 100,000+ signatures to get Parliament to consider anything, and as the last petition gathered 2200 or so responses, I think it is a worthy call, but a hopeless one.

Looking forward to Nov'ish and the comments about Modified classic cars.

The definition of modified will be so complex...esp when you are to do things on-line.

I think you are confusing the initial "consultation" which gathered a few thousand responses with a petition which is something very different.

[rhd racer]

Done - up to 882, so 500 or so have already signed today.

It is the self cert thing that is so unnerving. Working in insurance, I know that knowingly not disclosing basically leaves you without a leg to stand on, and in the event of a tragedy in a very bad place indeed. On the other hand, unless very clearly defined, I would not describe a bulk head change for RHD conversion and the cutting of the original wings for GT arches as heavy modifications. They are just small projects, well executed and safe, and tested by the MOT man for the last 15 years. Moreover, like Graham, good enough to compete in at ten tenths without fearing for my safety.

Ask my mum what she thinks, and she would say it's radical surgery because her perspective is different because she cannot change a wheel.

[911hillclimber]

I cannot see the DVLA changing its stated position on MoTs.
They ignored the responses in the original public feed back.

You do not HAVE to stop taking your classic to the annual MOT.
Many know this is a silly move, but the Gov have stated the classic car is well maintained, safe etc.
They are because they have been MoT'd for all time!

Personally, I don't care if the classic has or has not to be MoT'd, I will carry on with the routine.

The issue for me is the modified declaration, risk of IVA failure and loss of the registration and hence the car in the worst case.
I hope all will be clear in Nov or whenever the definitions are published.

This is with us, not something that is up for change as KS said right at the start.
My 911, a 73T has spent over 1/2 it's life rhd converted by me using Porsche panels and MoT'd for 23 years along with many other mods inc. 100 bhp power increase.

There will be very many classics in a similar position and of a greater value.
This car has been a large part of my life and my families for 28 years, and I find it very up setting that it is suddenly at risk of being taken off the road in the worst case.

Others will feel the same.

[904GTS]

Playing Devil's advocate - are we signing the petition because of safety considerations or because we hope it might reduce the risk of getting caught for having a radically altered vehicle ?

If someone accepts that they have a car that doesn't comply with the 8 point rule now then it is legally necessary to declare it as such and go through the BIVA (this has been the case for many years), this new MOT exemption doesn't change that. Is there really much difference between knowingly ignoring what you know to be the case now or in the future ticking a box and claiming you didn't think it was radically altered for whatever reason you want to give ? ( The 8 point rule applies to all cars not just those more than 40 years old so radically altered SC and 3.2, 964 and 993 should also go through the BIVA.)

The big unknown at the moment is whether there will be any requirement for proof over and above a simple declaration ???????????????????????

[simon james]

Well I just signed it too, my reasoning being that the golden era for rot boxes was from the mid fifties up to the early eighties. Your car might drive ok, similarly your drivers seat might fall out as you drive over a speed bump you didn't spot.
Back in the day, say eighties and early nineties, everything had to be MOTd and taxed. The pre 1947 cars got 12 months at half price.
The current legislation for free RFL is probably OK. The pre-1960 MOT thing isn't, by 1960 most cars were monocoque and rust traps. I hear stories of early Vauxhalls rusting away inside 12 months and somebody famously once said that a Porsche 356 rusted quicker than an Alfasud.

Personally I'd be happy to pay Road tax on all my vehicles and MOT them all. That way this thread wouldn't exist, there'd be no dodgy ID swapping for tax evasion either. Let's face it, that's what this is all about.
In fact why not (as has been said before on here) abolish road tax and stick it on fuel. That would be so much fairer although I wouldn't win many friends in the RHA by saying so.

[911hillclimber]

I would think the tax on fuel to be a very contentious issue, although very fair, use it, pay for it.
Balancing the amount to go on a litre would be really hard, a new RR v a Ford ecoboost with emissions in mind, the Gas Guzzellers would benefit, the others would be worse off.

As to the MoT, all road vehicles should be MoT'd, and you might include trailers and caravans in that too.

As far as I understand it, you will be asked if the vehicle is modified via the tax application system from May 2018 onwards.
I imagine this will be in the form of ticking a box against each of the items in the Points System, and if you have less than 8 as a result, IVA/ suspension of your V5 with immediate effect comes up on the screen.
You will be directed to IVA, £450 bill and possibly your vehicle will fail and may never pass.
You will loose your V5 and the car is unregistered, and worth considerably less.
If it passes, your vehicle gets a Q plate for ever.

Solution to an un-passable situation is to remove all the mods and then you can claim it is unmodified, you have no tax or MoT to go through. Not sure what registration you end up with.

In my case, I could convert the car to lhd and all this goes away.

[smallspeed]

get fia papers and sell it as a historic race car with the words "goodwood" in the title - seems to double the value of cars at the moment

[911hillclimber]

Indeed, or ex race car ex barn find now eligible for Goodwood and other international events.

Just dated my RHD conversion, Winter of 1991!

[majordad]

How would this fare under the proposed system ?

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/195 ... 550-spyder

[jwhillracer]

Year of manufacture - 1955, Built in 2009................

Exactly what the current rules are meant to stop.

JW

[Darren C]

Just buy this afix plates and keep shtum

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1965-LANDROVE ... SwpOBZzXk3

[gridgway]

I quite like that!

How would this fare under the proposed system ?

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/195 ... 550-spyder