Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Phil - Nottingham]

The V11 reminder arrived today to re-tax our 1938 Rover. Its been MOT Exempt on the old rules since it expired in 2015.

It stated "This vehicle needs an appropriate MOT Test Certificate" I have never noticed this the 2 times I have renewed or on the S2 LR.

I always do these online as soon as received in case anything changes - it renewed OK without an MOT. It did say on the screen to check its electronic MOT status by clicking on the link which I did not try

Perhaps this in readiness for May 2018 when all cars over 40 years will have to be self-certified to reconfirm it still qualifies ie has not been modified in the past 30 years?
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[Ray White]

My question would be as to who will be checking that these cars have not been modified? It seems to me that the ideal way for checks to be made would be at the M.o.T. test which, ironically, has been deemed no longer necessary. Either I am missing something, got hold of the wrong end of the stick etc, or there has not been much joined up thinking going on.

[ukdave2002]

[Ray White]

[Phil - Nottingham]

The government does not think it has the knowledge that a car is substantially modified. It's self-certified. It makes it clear if you are not certain you do not say it has not been. If you want to be certain it advises you to check with a club who knows

In any event, if you self-certify mistakenly or deliberately and its challenged by the police or an insurance company you will then have to prove your subjective view by finding an expert to back you up. This how things work in a lot of legislative areas now and relies on most peoples honesty

The guidance is flexible enough but those that breach it will pay a heavy penalty plus those for driving an unroadworthy and therefore uninsured car which applies with or without a valid MOT.

I really do not this is going to be a big problem as there will always be those that will get around it or think they can and bent MOT's will still arise
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[Kleftiwallah]

I'm replacing a single carb with twin carbs of exactly the same type, also replacing a single exhaust system for a twin exhaust system.

When, eventually time comes to tax the trike should I tell?
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It may work in practice, but not necessarily in theory!

[Ray White]

[Bitumen Boy]

[alastairq]

The wording regarding the need for an MoT has been on the V11 for a long time. It created some issues for DVLA when they changed their IT systems a few years ago [and resulted in over-the-phone advice to fill out the MoT exemption form, and take one's paperwork to one's local village sub post office, who will check, & 'tax' your old vehicle for you...for no cost to you...but a goodly cost to DVLA for 'administration charges'....]

This glitch, whereby the new system did not recognise an MoT exemption, has been fixed.

The cost of re-printing old stocks of V11 obviously is excessive...although, from personal experience, government forms are now usually held online [intranet] and printed off as needed.

Nothing sinister about it at all....and the MoT requirement, nought but a red herring.

As has been pointed out by Dave...regarding tuning etc, it is down to personal honesty.
Just as it is down to personal honesty to only drive a vehicle if it is roadworthy in hte legal sense..ie complies with existing, long-standing, LAw.
Which is why the hoohah over the necessity of a not-too-in-depth government test is just so much hot air.
But, we live in a society now, where everyone seems to expect somebody else to take responsibility for us, & our actions.

My views on the MoT test are simple.....and not in any way binding. If in doubt, pay someone to check the vehicle over....then fix any issues.
Otherwise, assume one's legal responsibilities, and check one's vehicle over oneself.

[I have this view as someone who has been 'victim' of the in-built failures of the test itself.]

Let's face it, we all try and 'get away with' all sorts over the years, on the road.......it works only if nowt happens.

[Bitumen Boy]

I think the main thing for me with the MOT is the chance to have a good look at the underside of the car while it's up on the 4 post lift. The testers at my local place don't mind me poking about at the back of the car while they're checking the front and vice versa. It's easy to see things that I might miss with the car on axle stands, lying on the floor and brandishing a lamp that's never in quite the right place, and that's worth the test fee on its own.

[Ray White]

[alastairq]

My only problem with lying down underneath with a lamp is.....I struggle to get back up again!

[Paul fairall]

I spoke to my insurer and said I was planning to fit twin carbs and they fine about it. I don't believe that is a radical modification anyway, but should I make a more radical mod and my insurer is fine with it I would consider myself insured regardless of the declaration when taxing my car. All hypothetical of course.
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1957 ford popular

[lowdrag]

Has anyone thought to look at the new DVLA regulations? It was proposed that an increase of 15% in power created a problem but this, after discussion with the Federation, was dropped. Power changes such as twin carbs or free flow exhausts have no bearing.

[Ray White]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/670431/vehicles-of-historical-interest-substantial-change-guidance.pdf

There is an interesting exemption to the ruling that a VHI (vehicle of historic Interest) may not have been substantially altered in the last 30 years and that is if such modifications were of a type carried out within 10 years from the end of production. From this, I have deduced that the supercharged MG TC (which I mentioned earlier) would qualify for M.O.T. exemption as there were numerous examples of supercharging throughout the 1950s. The MG car company were frequently supercharging their pre war midgets before they were clobbered by Big Brother.

The question remains that if a car is M.O.T. exempt does it no longer retain VHI status if it has an M.O.T.? To me the regulations are not clear on this point.