Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[ukdave2002]

I'm sure this has been posted before , but I couldn't find the link!

If you are not aware; because EU reg's don't require pre 1960 cars to have any for of test, the UK government is considering scrapping MOT's for historic vehicles, and is looking at 3 options:

1) Scrap the MOT for all pre 1960 vehicles
2) Scrap the MOT for all pre 1945 vehicles
3) Scrap the MOT for all pre 1920 vehicles

The public consultation period started a couple of weeks ago, and will end on the 26th of January, so speak now or forever hold your piece !!

The link below attaches to the consultation paper:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27/consultation-document.pdf

I think the plan is to make a decision within three months, it would be interesting to see if the views on this forum are in line with the final outcome!

Dave

[Rick]

I've read about this yes, but I've not seen the pdf.

I'm in two minds really about the whole idea, although within 10-15 years I think we'll struggle to find any MOT staff that have the first clue about older cars, especially pre-war ones.

I think most people with pre-war cars tend to keep on top of things pretty well anyway, and often know their cars better than Joe Bloggs at the MOT centre, but that's not to say that owners are always right and always spot potential problems.

My preference would be for a pared-down MOT for say pre-1970s cars, at a reduced rate given how much less there is to test on most vintage and classic cars.

RJ
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[lowdrag]

In these troubled times, the MOT is still a reassurance - to others too - that the car is, at the time of the test, roadworthy. I haven't gone into the ins and outs of current legislation, but it is self-evident that the requirements for a 1904 Darraq or a Model T must be considerably different to those for a Jaguar Mk 2 for example. Here in France we have an MOT every two years for the everyday car, but any car over 25 years old is now required to have an MOT once every five years on the basis that they do relatively few miles.

Doing away with the MOT completely would, I feel, lead to some problems, since many owners don't know a spanner from a screwdriver, and since they only ever drive their car to the pub on a sunny Sunday aren't capable of spotting things that could be potentially dangerous. I'm in favour therefore of keeping the MOT for all cars, but increasing the time span between each MOT, similar to over here.

[Rick]

I also wonder if there would be any insurance implications (rise in rates for example), if the MOT requirement was removed?

RJ
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[ukdave2002]

I think I'd like to see a simple (and cheaper!) test that just focused on real items of safety, like the brakes and steering, I guess similar to the original "10 year test" .

We also don't want to see people profiteering by dragging wrecks out that really shouldn't be on the road and flogging them on to unsuspecting buyers.

Dave

[Jim.Walker]

They say "two heads are better than one".
The last MOT on my 1968 car was a fail! Only for a weeping rear shock absorber I had not spotted, but could I have missed something more serious, which might have had disastrous effects undetected?
That was the first failure in 28 tests in my ownership, though I have had a couple of "Advisory" comments.
I think the tests should be retained, though with a charge commensurate with the demands on the Tester and equipment required for the age of the vehicle.
I do not feel that a second opinion on anything, especially a lethal weapon like a car, is anything but sensible.
Jim.
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Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
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[PAUL BEAUMONT]

This proposal worries me where monocoque bodies are concerned. My first car - admittedly of 1963 vintage - had a sill that consisted mainly of filler and somones old underpants!!
A truely rotten E-type would suddenly command a much bigger value if all that was needed was a bit of baked bean tin, a few pop rivets and a healthy dose of underseal to get it to market. I am well aware of caveat emptor, but an MOT does indicate that at some point someone looked round the vehicle.
I do appreciate the point that a Ford "Y", let alone a 1904 Darrac will get many a Mot tester's head spinning. I also appreciate the point about reduced mileages.
I wonder if the owner's clubs, or in the absence of such, one of the motoring organisations could set up a voluntary scheme.
I do suspect that insurance companies would hop on the band waggon and demand their own "test" in exchange for a reduced premium

Paul

[JohnDale]

My oldest vehicle being 18.03.60 this will make no difference to me but I wonder if I had older cars(always possible) would I have the option of having an MOT or would older vehicles be automatically removed from the MOT database. I couldn't find the Annexe B quoted to be used for response in the PDF.
Cheers,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.