40 year old Car MOT/tax exemption?

[Sputnikski]

I own a 40 year old car, first registered 1.1.1980. I thought I could get an MoT / tax exemption, but the post office said I couldn’t this year. Car not on their computer list. Anyone know if this is right? It’s not on a personalised plate.

[smokey mow]

You’ve missed out by a day.

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

Yours won’t be tax exempt until next year.

[Sputnikski]

Aha. Bummer. Thank you for the response. I thought I might fall in the 1-8 January cushion. But I guess not.

[littleredrooster]

smokey mow said:

You’ve missed out by a day.

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

Yours won’t be tax exempt until next year.

Hmmm...not sure why?

Gov Website said:

Vehicles exempt from vehicle tax
You do not need to pay vehicle tax if your vehicle was built before 1 January 1980.

If you do not know when your vehicle was built, but it was first registered between 1 and 7 January 1980, you do not have to pay vehicle tax.

Seems to cover it? Or have I overlooked the obvious - I'm good at that!

[TarquinMX5]

I would try a different Post Office; was the one you tried one that normally deals with 'car tax'. My experience is that not all PO staff are up to speed with the historic vehicle exemptions and how to deal with it. It's a fairly straightforward process.

I guess that it might not automatically come up on the system as it wasn't regd before 1 Jan 1980 and you're relying on an additional exemption.

[mgtony]

As already mentioned, being registered up until the first week of the following year it's taken that it was built in the previous year. The MOT exemption is another anomaly as that doesn't run from the April like the tax exemption . Once a car is 40 years old then it doesn't need an MOT. Thought I once read that it had to be registered 'Historic' to be MOT exempt but it doesn't say that on the Gov website.

[Sputnikski]

thanks everyone, it’s a good shout to try a different post office. I’ll try that. Cheers