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MG MGA - MOT Testing

Just received an e-mail from the Department for Transport with the following summary:-

" The outcome from the ‘Roadworthiness testing for vehicles of historic interest’ consultation was released on 14 September 2017.

We have decided that most vehicles over 40 years old (on a rolling basis) will now be exempt from MOT testing.

Those that have been ‘substantially changed’ will still require yearly testing. We have prepared draft guidance as to what constitutes “substantial change” in the context of old vehicles. We plan to finalise the guidance during November 2017. If you have any questions or feedback about it please contact roadworthinesstesting@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

The consultation received 2,217 responses, including from:

owners
car clubs
trade bodies
businesses
public bodies "


The bill is being presented to Parliament today apparently.

...................Mike

Mike Moore

Yes Mike, got my e-mail today as well. As was said many times, by many of us, the devil is in the phrase, "substantial change". We still don't know what guidance they will give to the MOT stations.
Allan Reeling

Would my Honda S2000 conversion with Hoyle front and rear suspension be considered "substantial change"?
Gary Lock

Yes.
barneymg

Look at the power output criteria!
Any power increases which raise the power to weight ratio by more than 15% make the vehicle non-exempt unless the changes are pre 1988.
Graeme Williams

IMHO I think its wrong to make the exemption for classic cars and justifying by saying classic owners tend to look after their cars.
I was advised by someone in the know that the reality is fewer and fewer examiners are able to properly carry out the test on older cars.
Not testing things like wipers and washers I can understand, but structural tests, brake efficiency, etc are surely vital?

Just my view

Graham
Graham V

Graham I agree. They are just dodging the responsibility by saying "classic owners tend to look after their cars".
Many of us are 'home mechanics' working on items like brakes, steering and suspension and we do look after our cars, but do we always get it right?

Living 'down-under' I'm not affected by this so my comments are advisory.

Some years ago I found the reason my neighbours car jumped into the gutter each time the brakes were firmly applied. It was caused by fitting of all the smaller trailing shoes on one side and all the leading shoes on the other!

So maybe the test is justified.

Barry.

Barry Gannon

The rational behind the original exemption was more about accident rates than owners doing their own maintenance. They decided that the accident rate for the relatively few 40+ year old classic cars on the road and the relatively few miles they drove did not warrant the time and expense of writing a myriad of clauses into the test schedule. And we are talking about just tens of thousands cars involved compared to the multi millions of more modern vehicles.

Steve
Steve Gyles

One other consideration is with no MOT certificate as proof of road worthiness, what happens if your car is stolen or written off/or destroyed by fire, I can see the insurance company's not wanting to pay out as much as you thought you would get, or asking for proof of road worthiness,and service history by a qualified person, which will then exclude people who repair there own cars, I don't know but there is a bit more to this, than not having to have an MOT.
Andy Tilney

Andy

Those of us who are currently exempt can still have an MoT but my understanding is that it is only advisory and not a 'legal' document as our cars do not conform to the current criteria. I am happy to be advised otherwise. My car is registered as a category O vehicle which states that it is MoT exempt so not sure insurance companies could argue on that point.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve I fully appreciate what you are saying, but I think we will have to wait until someone has a claim on their insurance policy, to find out what will happen,
Andy Tilney

The garage that I have been using for MoTs offers a classic check service.

Also, how does this affect returning a car from SORN? The SORN notification for my Magnette includes a list of requirements to put the car back on the road, which includes a valid MoT certificate. As the car is exempt from MoT, I won't be able to fulfil part of their requirements.
Dan Smithers

Dan

Surely if you contact the DVLA and get them to confirm you are a Category O vehicle then the problem goes away.

This is the form you need: http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/333128/V112_150514.pdf

Steve
Steve Gyles

But Steve, the changes going through throw the whole mot exempt issue out of the window. You will need to decide based on the 15% power change and the 1988 date, among other things. I am convinced that finding yourself now needing an mot and therefore not an historic vehicle will result in a requirement to pay VED.
It's how Governments work!
Graeme Williams

Graeme

I am purely telling you the law at present. Everything else is currently speculation. You can only do what the law currently requires of you.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2017 and 15/09/2017

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