MoT exemption for 30 year old vehicles?

[hiltow]

Thought it worth mentioning that the DfT are currently consulting on changes to the MOT system. This would see all vehicles aged 40 or over exempt from an MOT test, with an option to exempt vehicles 30 years old or over provided they have not been 'substantially altered' (something which would affect the majority of us) .

The consultation runs until the end of this month, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... c-interest

Personally, I would much prefer to have road tax exemption for my 31 year old car but still have to pay the £50 for an annual MOT.

I cannot see how it is in the public interest for the Government to be comfortable with putting public safety at risk by not requiring me to have my vehicle tested as before, but is comfortable with continuing to demand £235 pounds per annum in VED for the pleasure of only sparingly using my vehicle of 'historic interest'. Is it not then the case that pursuit of tax revenues trumps safety?

For the (comparatively miniscule) fleet of vehicles made during the late 1970s and 1980s still in use on the roads, these proposed concessions on the MOT front seem rather hollow, especially when free VED seems to be easily forthcoming for cars built over the last 10 years and those aged 40+.

[MK21800]

Yeah it seems a bit arse-about-face to exempt the very cars that probably need an MOT i.e. 40 years old. Strange.

The reasons, as usual, will be revolving around where there is the most money to be made, rather than actual common sense, I should wager.

[eefy]

As it currently sits today its not a bad idea (40years) as most car of that age are still simple to work on and can be diagnosed and fixed by a DIYer with a basic set of tools on a driveway and therefore will be fixed and roadworthy. Jump forward 20 years and the 40 year old cars will now need to be plugged into fault find, I get the feeling the number of roadworthy cars (working ABS, stability control, airbags) will start to fall in this age bracket and all these can be easily hidden until there's an accident.

Not to mention the likely need for a similar test required by the insurance companies to confirm its safe to drive, I just don't see the point. I'm happy for someone once a year to check over my car and if nothing else either confirm its safe or give me a list of jobs that need doing before there's a failure. I'd rather see the rolling tax exemption come back in say to 30 years or the original 25years.

[mark1gls]

No..... this can't happen there is some things that can not be tested or checked on the drive way at home, I don't know anyone with the ability to test the brakes bias on their driveway? What happens if you miss a little rot on your brake lines and they fail!
I do 99% of the work on my car and are happy doing most things but it's nice to know that every year someone will check over every thing to make sure the car is safe in case I miss something.
There is some people out there that drive classic cars and never lift the bonnet, check the tyres etc what happens when something fails like the brakes because they never check them and they have an accident ???

BAD IDEA this.....
If it does come in I will still be taking my car to and MOT station to get it checked over!

[unknownmale]

Yeah, it's an odd rule to bring in. I like the security of having it checked over.

[scrappy1382]

as above really,
in reality, an mot is only valid the moment its being tested, but with saying that , if you know a decent mot'er that allows you to 'hang around and watch whilst its being checked' then you can see exactly what needs to be sorted.
at the same time, for those that would not bother getting their car checked every year are dangerous people. its nice to know you have had a 2nd set of eyes checking it out just incase even the best mechanic has missed something out.

[unknownmale]

Exactly. The brake bias test is the big one for me as mark said. Many drivers aren't at all interested in the maintenance side of things. Just half our road tax please!

[whiteshark]

I've no problem with an annual mot and welcome it. The MOT in N. Ireland is very stringent, but when you do it you know your car is intact, sound and fit to drive. Road Tax, introduce a road tax exception for older vehicle owners with limited mileage.

[hiltow]

The Government's preferred option is to have both MOT exemption and VED exemption once a vehicle reaches 40 years old - I guess then that this means having a more 'relaxed' approach to safety at the same time as not wanting any money for the pleasure of using the car.