FUZZ ANSWERS YOUR MoT QUESTIONS

What do I need to do If I am responsIble for a vehIcle aged more than 40 years old and fIrst regIstered In or after 1960? From 20 May most of these vehicles will not need a valid MoT certificate to be used on public roads. You still need to keep the vehicle in a roadworthy condition and can voluntarily have a test. We recommend continued regular maintenance and checks of the vehicle.

You need to check whether the vehicle has been substantially altered in the last 30 years, checking against the criteria (in the guidance above). If it has been altered substantially, a valid MoT certificate will continue to be required.

If you are unsure, check (for example) with an expert on historic vehicles – most owners’ clubs, if you’re a member, should be able to help with this. If you buy a vehicle, we also recommend checking with the previous owner, if you can.

The registration number of a vehicle should not be used to determine if the vehicle is a VHI because it may not reflect the vehicle’s age; bear in mind cherished transfers, reconstructed classics, and so on. The registration certificate (V5C) is more authoritative, but there are specific cases related to imported vehicles where in some cases the age of the vehicle would not have been captured at point of registration.

If your vehicle does not have a current MoT certificate and is exempt from needing an MoT test, you will need to declare this each time when you apply for Vehicle Excise Duty.