KIT CARS & REPLICAS

There are some categories of kit cars and replicas that cannot qualify for MOT exemption. Any vehicle with a Q-registration, which was introduced in 1983, must continue with an annual MOT test. However, many kit cars carry the original registration plate of their donor vehicle because a sufficient number of components have been reused.

VW Beetle-based exotica such as the Nova, Avante and numerous beach buggies apply here, but the MOT exemption initially states that these cannot qualify. The official wording groups them into the following: “A kit car assembled from components from different makes and model of vehicle; or is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance; or is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque bodyshell changing the general appearance of the vehicle.”

However, there’s an exclusion to this rule, which stipulates: “If any of the four above types of vehicle (the kit car details we have outlined) is taxed as an ‘Historic vehicle’ and has not been modified during the previous 30 years, it can be considered as a VHI.” So this suggests that there are a few kit car categories that could be eligible for MOT exemption, provided they have been classed as Historic. And some kit cars were registered as new cars, such as the Mini-based Midas, so these should be eligible for MOT exemption.