MOT Exemption for 40 Year+

[Alf ista]

Just to give a non UK perspective. In Ireland we have an NCT (national car test). Soon, it looks like it will go to a rolling 40 year test starting in 2020. Currently all cars before 1/1/1980 are exempt from testing. So in 2021 cars before 1981 are exempt and so on. Honestly it doesn't appear to be an issue. Although I do see the point of having an independent body test your car to check its roadworthiness. Of course, I am happy enough not to have that extra cost for the two classics that I own. Most classic cars you see are well looked after and do very little mileage. Incidentally, a few years ago the government department responsible put out feelers to enthusiasts and car clubs about what they would prefer. I found out then that the car element of the vintage motor scene, in Ireland at least, is quite small. There are about 3 or 4 times as many vintage tractors as vintage cars!

[woodman]

I use my 50 year old car every day and do about 5,000 miles a year. It is essential to me and everyone else that the car is roadworthy. A voluntary test would seem sensible, but more importantly I would expect that my insurance company would want to know that the vehicle was safe, otherwise they wouldn't insure it. So the best option would seem to be that the car is exempt from the standard MOT, but the insurance for any significant mileage (eg over 500 or 1000 miles a year) would be dependent on a voluntary test that is equivalent to the MOT.

[Underdrive]

It would be good if the road tax exemption follows, to help the preservation of 70's classics that may have a lower re-sale value by making them cheaper to keep on the road. The exemption cut-off date can make quite a difference to the desirability and value many cars.

[Derek UK]

It would be interesting to know if anyone with a pre '60 MOT exempt car has had any interaction with their insurance companies. Pre 60 PV anyone?

[SwallownAmazon]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

It would be interesting to know if anyone with a pre '60 MOT exempt car has had any interaction with their insurance companies. Pre 60 PV anyone?

When I asked the question of the insurer of my 1950 bus, their response was that it is up to me as the insured party to comply with their requirement that the vehicle is safe to drive on the public highway. An MOT certificate does not prove that but the absence of one might jeopardise any claim.
In short, they would not give me a definitive answer.

[wurlitzer895]

So will I. It's absolutely vital to have our vehicles as roadworthy as possible, given the ever-decreasing standard of driving I'm witnessing on our roads.

[CLIVERALLY]

This will be an opportunity for a rise in premiums is the only downside for me. The current MOT is not an indication your car is good, just it met a set of standards, many of which are not safety related.....
No matter how people and celebrities lobby the decision to rise the limit to over 40 years has been made...end of and in my opinion a good job too.

[SimonJessop]

This is madness!!