Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[colwyn500]

I see a great deal of angry sounding comment out there on the internet from people who are convinced that it will have only negative effects on our hobby.
As MOT testers seemed to get younger and me and my car got older, the MOT test became an increasingly stressful event in my motoring calendar.

I heard of lucky souls who had "sympathetic" testers. Depending on their level of sympathy, how useful was the exercise of MOT'ing their cars?
Personally, I had very variable experiences; a little like going to the dentist.

With exemption I will still be continuously insured, I will continue to check my tyre treads, I won't venture out with faulty lights or brakes, will continue to get stressed when I feel a little play in a kingpin and will continue the gentle process of maintenance and improvements that I have done for the last thirty years. I will use the car more frequently, there will be no drifting into periods of SORN and I will gratefully accept the little bonus of not having to fork out £50 for the privilege.

I don't think we should assume that there are all that many clowns out there who want to run "old bangers" that actually are bangers. Buyers will be more inclined to take on "barn finds" but I think that they will soon find that there is a limit to how little you can get away with in getting an old car working reliably. The hobby is also addictive and I bet that most of us old car lovers look for things to do, even when our car is "perfect".

[MikeEdwards]

I think I agree - the age limit at which the exemption applies pretty much rules out people using any old banger as an everyday car to save them from having to pay tax and get an MOT. You really need to be an enthusiast to run a vehicle of that age.

I like the idea that someone has checked my car over annually, though, as long as it's someone who knows what they're doing. The general "feel" of the car is quite different to my modern daily driver, and it's nice to know that if there was something badly wrong it would (or might) have been picked up before I ventured out in it, and that it just feels different because, well, it is.

[pigtin]

My Austin 10/4 has a current tax disc and is insured but no MOT. Is there any reason why I should not start using it when the legislation comes in?
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[colwyn500]

[Popular Norton]

My cars MOT and tax have both expired so i will try taxing it online on November 18th and see what happens.