Historic vehicle taxation class in the UK

Long-time friend Bob recently visited his local Post Office to tax a motorcycle first registered during early 1980, because from January 1, 1981, it apparently qualified for historic vehicle status, due to the rolling 40 year rule.

Unfortunately, his application for historic vehicle class status and free tax was refused. Bob contacted DVLA, who also informed him that his motorcycle remained liable for a vehicle licence fee as in previous years. Sure this was incorrect, Bob telephoned me, and, like Bob, I believed this advice incorrect, but a trawl through the DLVA website revealed the following…

Yes, the rolling 40-year rule for historic vehicles still applies, and Bob should have been home and dry with his request. Then, further research revealed that although the rolling date historic vehicle eligibility is for vehicles which were manufactured before January 1, xxxx, or registered before January 8 xxxx, the rolling date class isn’t implemented until April 1 each year. Thus, currently only vehicles manufactured before

January 1, 1980 or registered before January 8, 1980 are tax exempt until April 1, 2021. Then one assumes the rolling rule will move on a year and we can speculate vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1981 or registered before January 8, 1981 can stop paying tax from April 1, 2021.

Bob is planning to wait until early April 2021 before trying to tax his early 1980 registered motorcycle as a historic vehicle, eligible for free road tax. We’ll await his report.