MOTs Government response - MOT, now rolling 40 years.

[JinxJay]

OK I've checked on the dvla Web site and can't find the info. I know this is down to self certification, is it a case of everyone with a pre '77 vehicle is going to be sent a form by the dvla? Or is it a case of having to do a mandatory form or lose the classic status of your vehicle?

[MattH]

I re taxed a 1953 vehicle online in June and had to do nothing other than insure it. There was no MOT declaration or anything.

[MattH]

OK I've checked on the dvla Web site and can't find the info. I know this is down to self certification, is it a case of everyone with a pre '77 vehicle is going to be sent a form by the dvla? Or is it a case of having to do a mandatory form or lose the classic status of your vehicle?

I'm guessing that the date of reg / first use of the vehicle will just mean that when the tax is due there will be no check for an MOT before issuing the tax for vehicles of the relevant age.
When the annual reminder for VEL / SORN is sent out it says what you need to tax the vehicle so will only ask for insurance, as the pre-60 stuff does at the moment.

I assume DVLA will automatically reclassify vehicles as Historic as they reach 40 years old.
Has anyone had to do this recently, and how did it work? Did DVLA do it automatically or does the owner have to send the V5 in for a change of class?

[raven68]

Having just read all through this post (and many others on several other forums) and noting Matts comment repeated below.....

The modified aspect generally is aimed at Kit cars, where what looks like a Cobra is still registered as a Jaguar XJ6. Thats's where it may need to keep being MOT'd.

and as someone above has noticed the 'panic' over on rods-n-sods I have also noticed there is a sudden influx of glass fibre hot rods for sale on various sites which are superb quality and all under 20k which is extremely rare in the past... definitely some off loading going on I reckon of those rods which will break the 8 point rule........ !!

[JinxJay]

OK I've checked on the dvla Web site and can't find the info. I know this is down to self certification, is it a case of everyone with a pre '77 vehicle is going to be sent a form by the dvla? Or is it a case of having to do a mandatory form or lose the classic status of your vehicle?

I'm guessing that the date of reg / first use of the vehicle will just mean that when the tax is due there will be no check for an MOT before issuing the tax for vehicles of the relevant age.
When the annual reminder for VEL / SORN is sent out it says what you need to tax the vehicle so will only ask for insurance, as the pre-60 stuff does at the moment.

I assume DVLA will automatically reclassify vehicles as Historic as they reach 40 years old.
Has anyone had to do this recently, and how did it work? Did DVLA do it automatically or does the owner have to send the V5 in for a change of class?

ive looked on a couple of other sites and it looks like were not being given a choice, we have to declare what our cars are to keep hold of the classic status.

[lemans-tom]

Some of the OP raise the issue of government's capacity to deal with this stuff. Yes, the civil service has been hollowed out, and yes many of those remaining are being tasked with dealing with Brexit.

But dont think civil servsnts can't think out of the box. For example in NZ they outsourced it all to the private sector. When a build was complete a private sector inspector visited and wrote an engineer's report, paid for by the car owner and annual inspections were farmed out to a few 'super MoT' private sector garages, paid for by the car owner.

[latil]

Much of VOSA is already privatised.

[MattH]

But dont think civil servsnts can't think out of the box. For example in NZ they outsourced it all to the private sector. When a build was complete a private sector inspector visited and wrote an engineer's report, paid for by the car owner and annual inspections were farmed out to a few 'super MoT' private sector garages, paid for by the car owner.

I think this is happening here too now that the VOSA and DVLA local centres have gone. I know someone recently imported a 53 pick up and before it could be registered it had to be inspected, that was by a private company on behalf of DVLA to check it was what it claimed to be.

This still means the check point is at registration at the moment. It will be a case of wait and see for some of this.

[Cannonball]

I reckon its a load of cock, there really will be some pieces of crap running round, in a highly illegal state if it still had to have an mot, so what happens when any of us are running round you guys in your pride n joy muscle cars or what ever n some berk in a beater that would never have seen the road if mots were still required, rams in to you, are there insurance going to pay ??????????????????????? think on,,

[GJUK]

so what happens when any of us are running round you guys in your pride n joy muscle cars or what ever n some berk in a beater that would never have seen the road if mots were still required, rams in to you, are there insurance going to pay ??????????????????????? think o

Assuming they are insured, yes their insurance would pay out for your damaged car you as a third party were not at fault.
They would possibly not pay out for the insured 'highly modified' car, which has not been taken for and MOT but did in fact require one.

[MilesnMiles]

Mines only 14% modified

[GJUK]

I phoned Brentacre and asked them what this new ruling meant for my cars with them over 40 years old and was advised (not word for word but along the lines of) "you just don't need an MOT".

Heritage have put out this, probably after hundreds of their customers asked similar questions:

https://www.heritagecarinsurance.co.uk/ ... -prove-it/

So the DVLA changes to classic cars seems to have started already with them sending out letters randomly to classic car owners asking for justification that their vehicle deserves to keep its original plate, the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs have replied by saying “this would seem to be an inappropriate use of public money” especially when you consider how unclear it is to rectify this matter based on their confusing guide lines. The Vintage Sports-Car Club are now involved as well and are fully aware of the potential implications for the historic car movement in the UK. A representation is intended to be made to the DVLA.
Note: You will only need to show evidence that your classic is indeed a classic if you receive a letter from the DVLA asking for this information, if you have not been contacted by the DVLA asking for proof then you do not need to take any action.

[GJUK]

article seen shared on facebook.

[GJUK]

Annnnnd this.

[lemans-tom]

Has common sense finally been applied? I hope so!