MOTs Government response - MOT, now rolling 40 years.

[MilesnMiles]

You guys need to remember Construction & Uses regs. These could be used to identify flaws in a classic car involved in an accident.

Even in really good order I'm not convinced that the brakes etc on most classic yanks are up to modern driving and yet the Govnt stats show very low accident rates.

I'm just glad to save the money and stress on an MOT. I still want the car I drive myself, mates and wife to be safe and will maintain it accordingly.

Can only see this as a good thing.

[DaveBishop]

What happens with the red rear indicators / brake lights on post 1965 cars will anyone bother to change them

[Super Sloth]

What's the definition of 'substantially altered'?? Uprated engine, suspension, etc?. Different wheels and tyres from stock? MSD box?
And if you decide it's not substantially altered, and later need to claim on the insurance, will they decide it was, you should have had an MOT, and refuse to pay?

Not being paranoid but they do need to provide clarification.....

According to this article, 15% more power than stock qualifies a car as substantially altered!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/substant ... uart-brown

[adrianp]

TbH it doesn't really bother me. I probably break the 15% rule and the 8 point rule as well. So I'll continue getting MoTs. The bit that I can quite get a feel for at the moment is that:

"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if one of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

So does that mean I'm on a Q plate when these come into effect ? Will have to wait and see I suppose.

adrian.

[Cannonball]

TbH it doesn't really bother me. I probably break the 15% rule and the 8 point rule as well. So I'll continue getting MoTs. The bit that I can quite get a feel for at the moment is that:

"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if one of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

So does that mean I'm on a Q plate when these come into effect ? Will have to wait and see I suppose.

adrian.

No cause you say nowt,, most testers would not know how the car was originally,

[Super Sloth]

No cause you say nowt,, most testers would not know how the car was originally,

You just have to watch out for the odd tester that know more than they let on...

[sublimemike]

When this comes in you will have to know about cars because the MOT gave any purchaser the security the car was at least safe to drive on the road. Now i can see there will be plenty of pretty resprays with rotten floor pans bodged up sold to mugs who don't know better. Safety wise its not good but most responsible owners will continue to keep their cars safe. This provides an opportunity for unscrupulous people to buy up wrecks and tat that would have cost serious dough to get through the MOT and bodge em.

Having said that .. glad to save the fee and the annual exercise.

[Rebel]

The bit that I can quite get a feel for at the moment is that:

"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if one of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

So does that mean I'm on a Q plate when these come into effect ? Will have to wait and see I suppose.

adrian.

From what I understand ( and I might be completely wrong here ) if the car has fewer than 8 points, then it loses its historical vehicle status, meaning that it will require an MOT every year and will return to having to pay VED at the correct rate for the vehicle. I think

[Rebel]

When this comes in you will have to know about cars because the MOT gave any purchaser the security the car was at least safe to drive on the road. Now i can see there will be plenty of pretty resprays with rotten floor pans bodged up sold to mugs who don't know better. Safety wise its not good but most responsible owners will continue to keep their cars safe. This provides an opportunity for unscrupulous people to buy up wrecks and tat that would have cost serious dough to get through the MOT and bodge em.

Having said that .. glad to save the fee and the annual exercise.

You could always ask the seller to have it MOTd before you but it, if they refuse, then walk away

[MilesnMiles]

With these cars it's buyer beware. I had a Dodge with a new MOT that had a missing spring hanger and a wafer thin floor pan. Haggled the price down and bought it anyway. We're all grown ups and should check anycar out.
That said, I do like looking up MOT histories of prospective cars as it can show some interesting info.

[Steve]

Im with Duncan on this...... I understand the thought that most classic car owners want to drive safe cars and take pride in them but I still think even a basic test is a good thing. I will continue to get mine done every year. The guy I use is very good. He is thorough but fair and knows that if he suggests anything needs to be looked at, then I will do it. My Polara has just passed again with no advisories so I am happy all is well. I look at it as a £40 diagnostic check. I haven't got a ramp etc so the chances of finding a worn track rod end etc are minimal unless it fails on the road. Paul will tell me if anything looks like it will need to be done before the next MOT and I do it for peace of mind.

I wouldn't dream of selling a car on that I wouldn't be happy in myself so will continue to MOT everything I use or sell.

Miles alluded to Construction and Use Regs... they will still apply and if anyone has a bump in a car that is in breach of these regs then there is every chance that an insurance loss adjuster will go out of his or her way to avoid paying out.

Cheers Steve

[Dave81]

The bit that I can quite get a feel for at the moment is that:

"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if one of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

So does that mean I'm on a Q plate when these come into effect ? Will have to wait and see I suppose.

adrian.

From what I understand ( and I might be completely wrong here ) if the car has fewer than 8 points, then it loses its historical vehicle status, meaning that it will require an MOT every year and will return to having to pay VED at the correct rate for the vehicle. I think

I think this is the bigger issue for me.

I have seen snippets on various sites saying that if you class it as historic and stock that you have to tick a box online prior to processing the mot application.

Big fine if you lie. Insurers won't pay out if you bin it etc.

Would this not make some of the aftermarket performance companies go out of business?

[Rebel]

The bit that I can quite get a feel for at the moment is that:

"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if one of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

So does that mean I'm on a Q plate when these come into effect ? Will have to wait and see I suppose.

adrian.

From what I understand ( and I might be completely wrong here ) if the car has fewer than 8 points, then it loses its historical vehicle status, meaning that it will require an MOT every year and will return to having to pay VED at the correct rate for the vehicle. I think

I think this is the bigger issue for me.

I have seen snippets on various sites saying that if you class it as historic and stock that you have to tick a box online prior to processing the mot application.

Big fine if you lie. Insurers won't pay out if you bin it etc.

Would this not make some of the aftermarket performance companies go out of business?

It's always a possibility, but they seem to just be looking at substantial modifications. I guess there'll be a limit you can modify too before being classed as substantial mods though. According to what I've read so far, it only needs to be the original engine, it doesn't mention whether it has to be the original carb or manifold etc

[MilesnMiles]

I reckon 90% of our cars are unmodigied in the sense that would concern VOSA

You could turn your 318 into a stroker and it would still have the same look it had from the factory with just marginal change to inlet (still 4 barrel), carb body is similar and who knows about headers v manifolds 40 years on. Add to that is the fact that there was a huge range of options out there at point of sale.

If the car is backhalfed, tubbed, that's when questions might arise. Can't se it affecting most of us in a negative way.

[Blue]

Talking to various people over the weekend about this and it seems to be a whole can of worms and only time will tell how anyone owning a modified car stands legally. This isn't necessarily the good news it initially seemed.