MOT exemption

[Daggs]

Has anyone heard anything about the possibility of vehicles over 40 yrs old being MOT exempt?

[Gage]

Owners of some classic bikes will be spared the annual trip to the MoT station after the government announced plans to exempt vehicles over 40 years old from the annual MoT test.

Previously vehicles manufactured before 1960 were exempt from the annual inspection but the new rules mean some 50,000 or so more bikes do not need an MoT test.

The new rules, which come in during May 2018, bring Britain in line with most of the rest of Europe and will work on a rolling 40 year basis. As of next spring, all bikes built before 1978 will fall under the new rules, meaning that classic bikes like Triumph Bonnevilles, Honda’s iconic CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1 will, in theory, be cheaper to own and run.

The 40 year rule also applies to vehicle excise duty (road tax), which are exempt from any fees, although riders will still be required to have valid insurance for their classic bikes.

[rosscla]

There are some constraints on the exemption from MOT.

The vehicle must not be 'substantially modified' to qualify for the exemption but I've yet to see a bike / scooter specific definition of what that means in real terms. If anyone's had a briefing on that it might be useful if they could share what it means.

[Burnside]

Criteria 1 would screw most of us, but a tough one to prove or disprove I guess

The criteria for substantial change
A vehicle will be considered to have been substantially changed (and hence not to have been historically preserved or maintained in its original state and to have undergone substantial changes in the technical characteristics of its main components) if it meets one of the following criteria. Such vehicles will not be considered of historical interest and will be continue to be subject to vehicle testing.
Criterion 1
If a vehicle has a power to weight ratio of more than 15% in excess of its original design, unless such a modification took place before 1988.
Criterion 2 If a vehicle:
 has been issued with a registration number with a ‘Q’ prefix; or
 is a kit car assembled from components from different makes and model of
vehicle; or
 is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance; or
 is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or
old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque bodyshell changing the general appearance of the vehicle.
While reconstructed classic vehicles and kit conversions can have age-related registration numbers that are more than forty years old, they are not VHIs. Radically altered vehicles should have registration plates with a “Q” prefix, but if a keeper considers they have such a vehicle with an original registration plate they should either test it or establish whether it is a radically altered vehicle.

[rosscla]

My GP was tuned before 1988...it's tuned a bit differently now but the original modification was definitely before 1988...

[boxofbits]

i wonder if the insurance company's will demand its MOTed though- ! does anyone know>?

[Daggs]

Why should they? Pre 1960 machines are already MOT exempt

[Daggs]

My GP was tuned before 1988...it's tuned a bit differently now but the original modification was definitely before 1988...

That won't help you much. The new cut-off is 1978.

[garry inglis]

next may and both of mine are due in march and april but itll be nice to have the last test certificates

[wrecklessrobbie]

What effect will it have on registering an imported scooter?
Does it mean it will just need to be novad/noved (not sure how to spell it)
and insured?