MOT for 40 year old car
Discussion
I have an old Lotus Excel. It's 40 years old in a month . It's not had an MOT for the last 10 years or more . It really was sitting in a barn .
It should be back on the road this year and I thought it needed an MOT once more before it became exempt.
I was just talking to the MOT tester whilst he tested another car I have and he said not necessary. Once it's 40 no MOT needed regardless of when it last had a valid MOT
I am sure I have read different to that but can't see in on DVLA site .
Are there any experts with a view ?
Thanks
It should be back on the road this year and I thought it needed an MOT once more before it became exempt.
I was just talking to the MOT tester whilst he tested another car I have and he said not necessary. Once it's 40 no MOT needed regardless of when it last had a valid MOT
I am sure I have read different to that but can't see in on DVLA site .
Are there any experts with a view ?
Thanks
Yes, it is exempt from MoT the day it becomes 40 (since first registration). But you cannot apply for 'historic' status until April 1st the year AFTER it is 40. This is because the rolling forward of VED zero rating has to be permitted by the treasury every year. If you are able to establish with evidence to the DVLA that it was manufactured in the previous year, it can be acquired earlier than 40 yrs from first registration.
Hence, any online MoT check will be returned as 'MoT expired' but this is not of concern because it is exempt. Once it is in the historic category, it will be returned as 'no MoT records held.' You can of course voluntarily get an MoT test but if it fails, you must get it to pass.
I've had a run of Lotus Excels myself in the 1990s, one of them an SE, time flies that the model is now 40!
Hence, any online MoT check will be returned as 'MoT expired' but this is not of concern because it is exempt. Once it is in the historic category, it will be returned as 'no MoT records held.' You can of course voluntarily get an MoT test but if it fails, you must get it to pass.
I've had a run of Lotus Excels myself in the 1990s, one of them an SE, time flies that the model is now 40!
Puzzles said:
Yes I have absolutely read this and agree straight forward. I am convinced I have also read a valid MOT up to the point it has its 40 birthday. I can't see that now . It has a speak to expert option on that site I will ask that expert .I've seen several cars at classic auctions now that haven't had an MoT for many years, but once they are 40, they become exempt. Some of them are not particularly in good condition. 
A car still has to legally be in roadworthy condition. No MoT is a fairly trivial offence in the scheme of things, having bald tyres or defective brakes will be treated much more seriously, and rightly so.
A car still has to legally be in roadworthy condition. No MoT is a fairly trivial offence in the scheme of things, having bald tyres or defective brakes will be treated much more seriously, and rightly so.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
"If the vehicle does not have an MOT and you wish to continue using it on the public
roads, you will have either to undergo an MOT or, if you wish exemption from the
MOT, to declare that the vehicle is a VHI."
"If the vehicle does not have an MOT and you wish to continue using it on the public
roads, you will have either to undergo an MOT or, if you wish exemption from the
MOT, to declare that the vehicle is a VHI."
Also from DVLA:
You do not need to get an MOT if:
the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, for example replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works
https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles
If the OP is concerned about the period of a vehicle being exempt from MoT (i.e. driving a 40+ year old car with no valid MoT) and being able to apply for VHI and exempt from VED the year after, that is understandable. Until it is a VHI, you have to pay for VED to use it on the road.
Some classic car clubs advise having valid MoT until you declare it VHI but the DVLA don't specify this in all their references to it...
You do not need to get an MOT if:
the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, for example replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works
https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles
If the OP is concerned about the period of a vehicle being exempt from MoT (i.e. driving a 40+ year old car with no valid MoT) and being able to apply for VHI and exempt from VED the year after, that is understandable. Until it is a VHI, you have to pay for VED to use it on the road.
Some classic car clubs advise having valid MoT until you declare it VHI but the DVLA don't specify this in all their references to it...
Edited by sixor8 on Wednesday 1st March 09:49
sixor8 said:
I've seen several cars at classic auctions now that haven't had an MoT for many years, but once they are 40, they become exempt. Some of them are not particularly in good condition.
A car still has to legally be in roadworthy condition. No MoT is a fairly trivial offence in the scheme of things, having bald tyres or defective brakes will be treated much more seriously, and rightly so.
Agreed, I actually think it is a stupid rule. Are they effectively saying "We understand that it might be tricky to get old cars to pass an MOT, so don't worry we will just let you off". A car still has to legally be in roadworthy condition. No MoT is a fairly trivial offence in the scheme of things, having bald tyres or defective brakes will be treated much more seriously, and rightly so.
What is the big deal about spending 1 hour a year taking them to a garage to get an MOT?
The only reason you wouldn't do this is because you suspect it would fail, and if that is the case you should not be driving it.
I run 40 year old motors which hasn't seen an MOT since they were made optional. I take care of my vehicles above and beyond what is needed for an MOT with subtle upgrades. Modern brake pads etc. I have yet to meet an view a classic car i wanted to buy and see it being used in dangerous condition, but then i haven't been fishing right at the bottom for ropey 1980,81,82,83 modern classics.
I suspect these cheap hopefuls may be starting to get their owners excited at the prospect of saving a few denario.
The classic MOT exception was a shock but ultimately the new MOT stations populated by textbook trained 21 year olds aren't going to pass a lot of the old puffers that i like, the test isn't flexible anymore to allow for cable operated brakes on a tyre that couldn't hold its own on the rollers.
I suspect these cheap hopefuls may be starting to get their owners excited at the prospect of saving a few denario.
The classic MOT exception was a shock but ultimately the new MOT stations populated by textbook trained 21 year olds aren't going to pass a lot of the old puffers that i like, the test isn't flexible anymore to allow for cable operated brakes on a tyre that couldn't hold its own on the rollers.
magic Monkey Dust said:
I run 40 year old motors which hasn't seen an MOT since they were made optional. I take care of my vehicles above and beyond what is needed for an MOT with subtle upgrades. Modern brake pads etc. I have yet to meet an view a classic car i wanted to buy and see it being used in dangerous condition, but then i haven't been fishing right at the bottom for ropey 1980,81,82,83 modern classics.
I suspect these cheap hopefuls may be starting to get their owners excited at the prospect of saving a few denario.
The classic MOT exception was a shock but ultimately the new MOT stations populated by textbook trained 21 year olds aren't going to pass a lot of the old puffers that i like, the test isn't flexible anymore to allow for cable operated brakes on a tyre that couldn't hold its own on the rollers.
It never was. The tester however....I suspect these cheap hopefuls may be starting to get their owners excited at the prospect of saving a few denario.
The classic MOT exception was a shock but ultimately the new MOT stations populated by textbook trained 21 year olds aren't going to pass a lot of the old puffers that i like, the test isn't flexible anymore to allow for cable operated brakes on a tyre that couldn't hold its own on the rollers.
what do you mean? I have cable brakes on a 90 year old car. What is it that would prevent that being on the brake testing rollers? Hol said:
Mine hadn’t been MOT’d since the mid 80’s and the DVLA automatically put it into historic status, without an MOT in place, when I applied for VED, thinking I had to be taxed, before I could go onto SORN.
They even sent my cheque back for the tax. Which was a nice bonus.
It isn't automatic, you have to fill in an application to tax it and you must have done it at a post office or by post to DVLA. The category changes to 'historic' and the V5c is retained and replaced. You can't do this online.They even sent my cheque back for the tax. Which was a nice bonus.
When doing this, you tick the box on the V10 form VED application stating that it is exempt due to age, and then you are also declaring that it has not been 'heavily modified.' There's a whole plethora of rules on that, these are NOT exempt an MoT.
Edited by sixor8 on Wednesday 1st March 14:13
sixor8 said:
Hol said:
Mine hadn’t been MOT’d since the mid 80’s and the DVLA automatically put it into historic status, without an MOT in place, when I applied for VED, thinking I had to be taxed, before I could go onto SORN.
They even sent my cheque back for the tax. Which was a nice bonus.
It isn't automatic, you have to fill in an application to tax it and you must have done it at a post office or by post to DVLA. The category changes to 'historic' and the V5c is retained and replaced. You can't do this online.They even sent my cheque back for the tax. Which was a nice bonus.
When doing this, you tick the box on the V10 form VED application stating that it is exempt due to age, and then you are also declaring that it has not been 'heavily modified.' There's a whole plethora of rules on that, these are NOT exempt an MoT.
Edited by sixor8 on Wednesday 1st March 14:13
Things never happen without forms and specific box ticking in a bureaucracy.
1. I applied to tax the car (online), as that hadn’t happened since mid 80’s and theonline system would not let me SORN it straight away because - no VED on record = computer says no.
Historic registration was just something I planned to do later.
2. They sent me a letter almost immediately to say my car was historic class, and that they gave me a cheque in the post, together with a replacement logbook saying historic class,
I didn’t request historic status, but somehow a human at DVLA had gotten involved and made the logical connection.
Edit. The letter they sent is below:
Edited by Hol on Wednesday 1st March 15:39
I clicked the ask an expert link on the historic vehicles part of the DVLA website shown in the fourth post . I got an answer today different from all posted on here . Glad it is anonymous. I have it on my phone I will see if I can paste it onto here tonight. On first look it appears I would have to make an application for the vehicles status, surrender the V5 and wait to have the case considered!!!! Oh and it does need road tax.
I will paste it later
I will paste it later
cliffords said:
I clicked the ask an expert link on the historic vehicles part of the DVLA website shown in the fourth post . I got an answer today different from all posted on here . Glad it is anonymous. I have it on my phone I will see if I can paste it onto here tonight. On first look it appears I would have to make an application for the vehicles status, surrender the V5 and wait to have the case considered!!!! Oh and it does need road tax.
I will paste it later
Yes, I said it will need road tax. It will still have to be 'taxed' once it is in the Historic category, the year after it is 40, but it will be £0. Once a year, a check will be done that it is insured, and you will also be declaring it as being unmodified. That of course, may change in the future.... I will paste it later
Wacky Racer said:
Sounds crazy to me that a forty year old car doesn't need a test, but a three year old one does.
(Yes, I know it has to be in "roadworthy condition", whatever that means)
Still, them's the rules.
I suggest you know what that means if you wish to drive in the UK.(Yes, I know it has to be in "roadworthy condition", whatever that means)
Still, them's the rules.
Here's some advice, it's not too arduous to learn.
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe
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