THE CHANGES EXPLAINED
Most classics over 40 will no longer legally require an annual roadworthiness test
Most vehicles built before 1978 will be exempt from MoTs from next year.
New legislation will come into effect on 20 May 2018, and will see most cars built before 1978 exempt from MoT and road tax on a rolling 40-year basis. Only vehicles that have been ‘substantially changed’ will be subject to an annual test. The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed the plans following a consultation process. When asked whether the respondents agreed with the proposed exemption from MoT testing for vehicles over 40 years old, 899 people voted for the movement, and 1130 people were opposed. This means that the Government is proceeding with the exemption despite 55 per cent of respondents opposing the proposal.
The change in legislation will result in an additional 293,000 vehicles being exempted from the MoT. At the moment, there are 197,000 vehicles on the roads that do not require an MoT, as only vehicles registered before 1960 are MoT exempt.
Owners of pre-1978 vehicles will still be able to voluntarily submit their vehicles for an MoT.
The reason behind the change, according to the DfT, is the fact that there are lower MoT failure rates and fewer fatal collisions involving vehicles over 40 years old.
Jesse Norman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads, Local Transport and Devolution, says: ‘After considering the responses, we have decided to exempt most vehicles over 40 years old from the requirement for annual roadworthiness testing. This means lighter vehicles (such as cars and motorcycles) and those larger vehicles such as buses which are not used commercially.
‘ Vehicles that have been substantially changed, regardless of their age, will not be exempt from annual roadworthiness testing. We do not propose to set out in legislation a definition of “substantial change” but will be including this in guidance so that it can remain more flexible and responsive. The exact wording for this guidance will be discussed with stakeholders and relevant bodies and published subsequently.’
The FBHVC says: ‘There are still issues to be addressed if we are fully to represent the wide interests of our members, not least of these being the adoption of a power to weight criterion in the draft guidance. We are unsure as to what type of vehicle this exclusion is aimed at trapping.
In addition we were led to believe that declaration of modification to a vehicle would be a voluntary process whereas it appears from the process that is outlined in the DfT document not to be the case.’