MoT-exempt? How to keep safe

No need for a certificate but your car must be roadworthy

AN ESTIMATED 235,000 UK historic cars – plus 200,000 historical vehicles of other types – will become MoT-exempt on 20 May and owners are being warned to be prepared because of a lack of Government clarification. For example, that number includes 106,000 cars registered between the newly exempt years of 1961 and 1978 that are currently on SORN, but there is no official line on whether these will need a safety test before being returned to the road. Neither has there been any response as to whether a car that fails the MoT shortly before the exemption starts technically becomes road-legal on 20 May.

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs advises owners to assume that there is a blanket transfer of responsibility to them to ensure their cars are roadworthy at all times. Spokesman Geoff Lancaster pointed to the fact that almost 200,000 pre-1960 classic cars are already exempt from the MoT. He said: ‘Satisfy yourself that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy at all times and not just once a year, then at least once a year have it inspected by a qualified third party because we can all miss an obvious fault on a vehicle we are familiar with. There is a list of historicvehicle-friendly garages on www.fbhvc.co.uk.’

To ease concern, classic car hire company Great Escape is offering a £50 hour-long, classic-biased Health Check with an MoT tester. ‘Whatever your view of the MoT exemption, it’s happening,’ said boss Graham Eason. ‘Responsible owners should protect themselves with a paper trail to demonstrate regular maintenance and checks.’