looks like 40 year rolling mot exemption is coming

tel240z

Club Member
more importantly where is the extra 12 million pounds per year going to be generated for the Mot garages revenue, its gonna hit the smaller ones, as we know who takes there classic to kwik fit euro or halfords for there MOT ;);)

I'm not worried I'll just put an old L24 back in the German whip :rolleyes:
 

Dougs260z

Club Member
Well it's in the weekly Classic papers now, 40+ year old cars will be exempt from MoT testing from My but the detail about the modified cars will be clarified this November.

I can see the clarification being too difficult and all modified cars will need testing or excluded from 'Historic' status. We will see.

This may open up a 'can of worms' especially with hybrids, their safety and Historic status.
If the MOT is not required for unmodified cars I would think it would be a good and responsible idea for ZClub themselves to come up with a list of relevant inspections and testing that are specific for none-mot Z cars that the car owner can give to a MOT registered garage as a type of annual service on a suggestion / recommendation basis.

On no account could anyone be responsible for anything that is not on the list but would provide a checklist and comfort for none mechanic owners.

As the government says, the car owners of historic cars and clubs know about their own cars more rather than an MOT system which is geared up to cater for modern cars.

What do you think?
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Bit of an update from the latest FBHVC Newsletter:

The no MoT for Historic Vehicles is now law!

The 'substantial change' situation has yet to be agreed (they said it was to be declared in November). The original thought relating to 15% increase in power/weight has been overtaken by another proposal that anything done pre 1988 is ok. 1988 is 30 years ago and that date would be a 'rolling' date so if you modified your car in 1989 it would be ok after the first year so an MoT next year but not in 2019.

No actual monitoring is proposed of declarations made - so basically if you don't declare mods nobody will check. Insurance?

The level of mods has yet to be agreed. :rolleyes:

Anything substantially modified will not lose it's free Historic tax situation.

I think this is shambolic and brought about by people who don't understand the Classic Car world.
 
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MaximG

Well-Known Forum User
No it's brought about by people who are currently trying to negotiate BREXIT and look how shambolic that is.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
No it's brought about by people who are currently trying to negotiate BREXIT and look how shambolic that is.

'cos Brexit IS a shambles - a no-brainer being bribed, propped up and smuggled past parliament - off with her head at the tower for treason !
 

chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
Perhaps one of the most alarming aspects of this new law is that imports over 40 years old will not require an MOT prior to first registration in the UK.

The MOT test has always been a safety net to ensure a basic standard of roadworthiness for imports. In many years of importing hundreds of cars I can count on one hand the number that have passed an MOT without any work. Even if just swapping over lights work is usually required.

South African cars are often in a very poor condition as they have no regular road tests and cars from the States pretty much the same with emissions seen as the only important consideration on a regular basis.
 
Perhaps one of the most alarming aspects of this new law is that imports over 40 years old will not require an MOT prior to first registration in the UK.

The MOT test has always been a safety net to ensure a basic standard of roadworthiness for imports. In many years of importing hundreds of cars I can count on one hand the number that have passed an MOT without any work. Even if just swapping over lights work is usually required.

South African cars are often in a very poor condition as they have no regular road tests and cars from the States pretty much the same with emissions seen as the only important consideration on a regular basis.

So I can register my shell in theory and get a number plate?
 

IbanezDan51

Well-Known Forum User
So I can register my shell in theory and get a number plate?

YEP!:bow:

I think that's great news - as there is nothing worse than building a car you've imported for restoration and then wondering whether or not the DVLA will actually issue you a number plate after you've spent thousands on a rebuild.
 

chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
No......... not online and DVLA are increasing the number of inspections - sub-contracted to SGS.
I have had two in the last few months never having had any previously.
 

johnymd

Club Member
I thought this wasn't coming in until next April. Are you saying we can register them now without an MOT or that yours were inspected even though they were MOT'd?
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
I'll agree that perhaps there ought to be an initial test for imports, so that basic safety is checked, frame-worthiness, brakes etc. Seen and heard some horror stories - no doubt Chris has some also - about the bodges seen on imports. Floors pop-riveted etc. Unscrupulous dealers (privateers) will fire some underseal over them and carry on ...

Interested in the answer to John's question as there's no reason cars like mine can't be registered and licence no. issued now maybe ...
 
No......... not online and DVLA are increasing the number of inspections - sub-contracted to SGS.
I have had two in the last few months never having had any previously.

I'l have a lovely shell for them to inspect
:)

I'll give it a whirl once the paperwork arrives, to see what happens.

I guess you've had inspections as you're a trader, a lot of 'marque specialists' aren't as clear cut as you are.

Edit to add, looking though the document properly, may 2018 onwards for the MOT, so we'll have to wait till then. Might even be rolling by that point.
 
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chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
Apparently there was a recent insurance scam where someone bought a number of US titles only, no actual cars and managed to register them at DVLA as if they actually existed. He then made a massive insurance claim running into £ millions pretending cars had been stolen in one big hit. Insurance company paid out and he was only caught when he tried the scam again.

I am not sure what cars or pretend cars were involved as my sketchy information came second hand from an SGS inspector but they were relatively high unit value cars perhaps/probably from pre 1960 where no MOTs required hence easier to register.

As a result the insurance industry has now put pressure on the DVLA to conduct random inspections on 7000 imports per year, a compromise agreement reached as it would obviously be cost prohibitive to carry out inspections on all imports.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
...............As a result the insurance industry has now put pressure on the DVLA to conduct random inspections on 7000 imports per year.........

The DVLA ought to make life simple for themselves, not tax disc, no MoT, no imports!
 
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