TV’S MIKE BREWER: CLUBS SHOULD ISSUE CLASSIC MoTS

Wheeler Dealers star to campaign for self-governing, club-led roadworthiness certification for MoT-exempt classics

‘Too many people are taking a gamble thinking that a car will be okay’

MIKE BREWER

Wheeler Dealers presenter, Mike Brewer, wants historic vehicle clubs to be able to test classics to MoT standard or greater at a nationally recognised level. Although cars aged 40 and older can still voluntarily undergo an MoT or inspection by a garage as if an MoT was taking place, many owners have taken advantage of the Vehicle of Historic Interest ( VHI) taxation class, which exempts them from annual roadworthiness inspections. The new rules, which came into force on 20 May 2018, allow otherwise exempt cars to be tested to the outgoing [old] MoT standards that were superseded by the requirements set out in an updated EU Roadworthiness Directive if its owner wishes to do so. However, as CCW revealed on 15 May this year, classic car MoTs have dropped by more than half from their pre-VHI figures. Mike said: ‘I’m still dismayed that the Government has said that we don’t need to MoT our cars after 40 years. Too many people are taking a gamble thinking that the car will be OK but it still needs to be roadworthy at all times. I feel that it’s a huge problem in our sector.’ Mike proposes a new, extra voluntary national scheme for clubs ‘to impose their own MoT or club standards on cars, one that’s self-governing and that would check all the safety-related items before issuing a certificate to say that it’s roadworthy for the year. He added: ‘Almost every club has a mechanic or an ex-MoT tester and it would draw more people into joining them. I would like to campaign for that and be the voice of it.’ A spokesperson from the TR Register expressed concerned about the burden of liability the new initiative would place on clubs and the ramifications it might have for insurance. He said: ‘While the club is happy and equipped to help with sourcing parts and offering advice of solving particular technical issues for members, we wouldn’t be comfortable putting a car club volunteer in the position where they were liable for proclaiming a car to be roadworthy or not. That is a job best left to professional specialist garages who have the expertise, equipment and insurances to advise owners on a vehicle’s maintenance needs.’ Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, meanwhile, has announced that cars entered into its annual auction will only be allowed if it has examined the car in question and the car given a fresh MoT. CMC’s Managing Director, Nigel Woodward, said: ‘As a company that prides itself on its integrity, we felt that we could not have an auction without putting some safeguards in place.’