MOT Exemption

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bpr81a
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MOT Exemption

Post by bpr81a »

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle clubs is conducting a survey on the DFT proposals to exempt some classics from MOT testing. More details, and a link to the survey are here

The consultation period is quite short (the survery closes on the 10th Jan), so read the consultation document and make your views known by filling in the survey.

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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by robberred1993 »

I think it is a Bad idea, more chance for cars to fall into a state of disrepair, a HUGE disaster for classic car specialists. Every car on the road should have an MOT. They system should stay the same, for all its flaws, its better than the alternative
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bmcecosse
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by bmcecosse »

I disagree with ^^^^, but agree strongly with the proposal - many classics do relatively low miles and are very well maintained It's a £55 charge that many poor old pensioners can't easily afford, especially when it serves no useful purpose. :cry: It won't help me at the moment - my car is 1965 - but hopefully the date will advance year by year........ :wink:
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mike.perry
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by mike.perry »

Agreed with robberred1993. Badly mainained cars will be an excuse for authorities to restrict the use of classic cars
At £55 Scotland is an expensive place to get an MOT, maybe Roy should drive over the border for his test which is the cost of a tank and a half of petrol
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DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

http://applications.roadsafetyni.gov.uk ... ocid=18216

This is the Northern Ireland document.


I would suggest that they had random cars checked for road worthiness every year. I keep my cars well maintained and would have no problem with this.


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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by charlie_morris_minor »

robberred1993 wrote:I think it is a Bad idea, more chance for cars to fall into a state of disrepair, a HUGE disaster for classic car specialists. Every car on the road should have an MOT. They system should stay the same, for all its flaws, its better than the alternative
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by Peetee »

I don't agree with exception for classics. Every car should have an annual check-up and an MOT is about as cheap as you can get. When my 66 4-door Minor failed on extensive corrosion that was hidden by underseal it was initially a shock, inconvenience and expence I could do without. In retrospect I am happy it's true condition was brought to my attention. I wouldn't be happy to have taken my family out in a car in that state. I'm sure there are many other cars out there that reflect mine and are purchased/maintained in ignorance by owners that are not sufficiently knowledgeable to realise.
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kennatt
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by kennatt »

don't know how it would be policed but could it be done on milage,once a year if 3,000 have been covered rolling on to next year untill the figure is reached , that lets proper low milage classics off the hook probably every three years or so,and everyday users into the yearly system, the milage is input onto vosa computer now so could be a possibility.I've only done Wait for it ,500 miles in five years in my ser 11 ,thirty in between the last two mots and that includes 5 to and from testing station. :o
morrisminorbzh
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by morrisminorbzh »

robberred1993 wrote:I think it is a Bad idea, more chance for cars to fall into a state of disrepair, a HUGE disaster for classic car specialists. Every car on the road should have an MOT. They system should stay the same, for all its flaws, its better than the alternative
In 2009 a "contrôle technique" became obligatory in France for all "véhicules de collection" (as we call classic cars here) over 30 years old. Before 2009 there was no MOT in France for classic cars of that age, and many were not that well looked after and we realised that something had to be done. Our MOT is every 2 years for a modern and 5 years for a classic, but in my opinion should be every 2 years as for moderns. The French MOT is carried out by testing centres independant of any garage. Classic cars must be tested regularly, every 5 years is a good start. I believe that there is something specific for vehicules built before 1945.

This was the result of negociations between the Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Epoque (FFVE) and the French Ministry of Transport. As before 2009 French classic cars were were not "MOT'd" there were restrictions concerning where we could go - no going outside the département where the car was registered - if you wanted to go to a classic car meeting in the next département (even if it was 10kms away) you had to make a declaration to your Préfecture indicating your itinerary and destination etc. Imagine being in Plymouth and having to do all that to get over the bridge to Saltash for a classic car meeting.

Most classic car owners here consider an MOT important and is worth while as we now are now free to go where ever we like.

This change obliged some French classic owners to get their imported classic registered in France - there was a Frog-eyed Sprite running around for years near where I live still carrying North American plates !!!
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by faversham999 »

At the moment all MOT stations have to do MOT 's on classic cars, if you don’t need am MOT I bet the Insurance companies will want to see a certificate of road worthiness to usea Vehicle on the road. Not all MOT garages will do them bet they will be more than £55

Alan Pearse
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by Alan Pearse »

With reference to Mike Perry's quote £55 for MoT's in Scotland. The price of an MoT is standardised across uk by VOSA so if your in Lands End or Unst in Shetland you pay the same price, except in Northern Ireland where there tests are carried out under a different body. The differing costs of MoT's are where Garages offer a lower price which is accepted by VOSA, but the garage makes up the balance in the cost by business gained from offering the discount in the first place. However a garage cannot charge over the set price set by VOSA. ( Vehicle Operator Standards Agency) a department of the DoT)

The MoT system even though flawed should remain, as has been said and i agree if it does change we will see a drop in standards in the maintaince of cars.
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C6Dave
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by C6Dave »

Alan Pearse wrote:With reference to Mike Perry's quote £55 for MoT's in Scotland. The differing costs of MoT's are where Garages offer a lower price which is accepted by VOSA,
To add to that, most near me charge £30 for an MOT which is their Hourly Labour rate. VOSA aren't happy if someone does it at less than the labour rate.
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by chrisd87 »

On balance I think I'd be against this. Personally, I'm not massively bothered from a safety perspective, and generally dislike regulations. My main worry is that it's far too convenient a pretext to start restricting the use of exempted vehicles, as morrisminorbzh points out was the case in France. It would certainly result in an awful lot of bad press if a fatal accident was caused by mechanical failure on an exempted car (irrespective of whether or not an MOT test would have picked up said fault). It would be nice not to have to pay the ~£50 every year for the test, but we do already save considerably more than that from not having to pay road tax.

If there is to be an exemption from the test, IMO it should be for much older vehicles (say pre-1920) as I doubt more than a handful of such vehicles are in anything approaching daily use. This sort of vehicle may well have to be 'helped' through the test by a friendly inspector anyway, even if in perfect condition.

We should, of course, continue to argue that classics recieve a fair hearing at MOTs, through age-related rules, etc.
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bmcecosse
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by bmcecosse »

There is a place near me who charges nothing if the car fails - but the full cost if it passes.... Since I have complete confidence in my Trav passing - I use a local garage who charges £45 - they all do around here - can't blame them really for getting together on that. I've always wondered about the true age of my Trav - it does have some 'inconsistencies' - maybe it really IS a 1959 vehicle and therefore would be exempt if this legislation goes through.... Perhaps my paperwork is wrong??? :lol: :lol: :lol:
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mike.perry
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by mike.perry »

The £55 was not my quote, I was quoting Roy. My last MOT was £50 but it may have increased by now. Anyway the garage have used for years has moved out of the area so I am going to have to find another testing station that does a thorough but fair test and does not try failing the car for a worn steering rack when the steering wheel nut needs tightening
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stevey
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by stevey »

the MOT can be a pain, but its does make sense. Im happy either way, as long as earlier cars dont jump up in price because they are exempt. Also I know the guys on here that modify their cars do a good job but an MOT inspection should pick up on any modifications that were not done right and are unsafe... no one on here but someone who doesnt know what there doing and starts messing about with ride height and engine and brakes and gets it wrong can be a real hazard.

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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by Dean »

I wish the MOT on classics to be maintained... imagine the uproar if some young child got ran over and killed by a classic who's brakes were in bad state of repair.
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IaininTenbury
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by IaininTenbury »

Exactly.

Yes we all look after our cars, but hands up who hasn't noticed and been surprised by a brake imbalance (especially on the rear), a split gaiter, wear in a suspension bush or trunnion, or a little bit of corrosion only visible when the car is up on a ramp rather than jacked up on your drive.

If this goes through it would be a disaster for the classic car movement as we know it. Not immediately, but how long before restrictions of use for non MOT testable cars - weekends only? pre authorised events and parades? And thats without any well publicised incident. Its a slippery slope.

The current MOT test is a fairly priced thorough assesment of a vehicle. Well worth it for the best part of an hour of a garages time.
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by Alan Pearse »

Sorry Mike, at the moment the MoT fee is £55 but i beleive from April next year (2012) as there is a change in what is tested on the test i e more items have been added the test fee will rise to i beleive £64.80. Just to bring joy and happiness to the motorist. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
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rayofleamington
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Re: MOT Exemption

Post by rayofleamington »

This legislation worries me immensely on two counts.

At present whilst under local authority employment (unpaid 2nd job) I'm allowed to take "other people's children" in any of my cars as long as the car is MOT'd, properly roadworthy & insured and the child has a seatbelt. As soon as they start changing MOT rules for classics, I'm going to have major hassles to use the Minor :(

Secondly, same as many others this looks like the slippery slope towards restricting the use of classic cars :x
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