‘Drop MoT for all historics’
The classic world’s voice in Westminster – Sir Greg Knight MP – argued in June that all tax-exempt cars should be spared annual MoT tests too.
The East Yorkshire MP, who heads up the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group, argued that the dates should be set either at the 40-year rolling rule currently used as the basis for exempting classics from road tax, or at the 30-year system used in other European countries.
Sir Greg said: ‘ There are those that were manufactured before 1960 and are exempt from both tax and Mot, and those that have to undergo a modern MoT but are nevertheless exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty and which were made 40 years ago – a rolling exemption.
‘I see no reason for this distinction and am urging the government to merge the two dates. I believe that all vehicles manufactured 40 years ago should be exempt from both Vehicle Excise Duty and MoT as part of the historic vehicle classification and that both dates should be a rolling exemption.’
Since then the Department for Transport has launched its long-awaited consultation into what should replace the MoT, which included proposals similar to Sir Greg’s suggestion. But the question of whether classics should be tested annually or not has left classic owners divided.
Chester-based classic specialist John Wood is one of those who argued against the MP’s proposals, arguing that all vehicles should be subject to a roadworthiness test. He says: ‘If the MoT is done away with, it should be replaced with some sort of mandatory test for safety reasons, even if it isn’t the same format as the current test.
‘It will only take one incident of a classic being involved in an accident to open the floodgates.’