Roadworthiness testing for vehicles of historic interest

[WWT338J]

I was aware of the discussions about MOT exemption but I had not seen these documents before. Interesting data in the first.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/554763/historic-vehicles-consultation.pdf

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/553903/vehicles-historical-interest-impact-assessment.pdf

 

I think I'll probably continue with an annual MOT.

 

David

[Cew]

I received a newsletter from my insurers this morning mentioning this 30 year exemption. I'm at a loss as to why the powers to be think this might be a good idea !. IMO the MOT needs reforming certainly, but to exclude vehicles from the mid '80s is not the way to go, I don't think that pre '60s cars should be either but that's another issue. Yes a more "sympathetic" testing may be a good idea, specifically safety related, brakes ,steering, tyres and the like, but to think that the owners of said cars would police the condition of their vehicles is pie in the sky thinking. Younger drivers do not seem to have the knowledge/ability to even keep their lights in full working order let alone know when brakes and steering are worn out and I cannot recall when I last had a roadside check on tyres carried out by the constabulary. I also will carry on having an annual test on my cars, and I DO have the ability to keep things up to scratch.

[rhino_mac]

Almost without exception, the people I have spoken to with pre-1960 cars have their cars MOT'd every year and think the exemption is a bad idea. I think the government are flogging a bit of a dead horse here.

 

To be honest, my main concern was finding a sympathetic MOT station but in the end, due to lack of planning I just took it to my local garage. It failed, but on things that it should have done anyway (no brake lights - yikes. I think I must have shorted the switch when I jetwashed the Goodwood mud out of the wheel arches before I took it to the MOT station). Apart from the eye watering hourly rate (and the fact they damaged the rear screen - however they did put it right without any undue fuss to their credit), it was a painless experience.

 

It really isn't that much hassle to MOT a car. There is so little to test on such an old car it has to be pretty major to fail in which case it needs sorting anyway.

[stillp]

+1.

 

I'm lucky in having a local MOT specialist who is not only cheap (£25) but classic-friendly.

I can't see any advantage to anybody (except those wishing to drive unroadworthy vehicles) in exempting older cars.

 

Pete

[Ragtag]

Almost without exception, the people I have spoken to with pre-1960 cars have their cars MOT'd every year and think the exemption is a bad idea. I think the government are flogging a bit of a dead horse here.

 

 

 

And yet according to the published statistics, only 7% of registered pre 1960 vehicles have been presented for MOT during the period reviewed. It seems the overwhelming majority of owners don't share your (my) view.

[Ragtag]

It would be interesting to know what the FBHVC response was to this consultation.

 

So here it is:

 

http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and-fuels/recent-consultations/_file/241/fbhvc-rwt-consultation-response-pdf/

[Dave Larnder]

Hi Guys

 

Here in Spain we have full time proper ITV (MOT) test stations, which are state run so there is no favouritism shown to their mates, like your sympathetic garage man over there. You go to reception and hand in your papers and pay the fee, about €40.00, they give you back a receipt and your papers and a test sheet for the test chap to use to record his findings.

The test for all vehicles is fully comprehensive, first they check your commission plate to see the papers line up, then start with an emission test, followed by a test of all lights including dip and main beam, stop , directional and reversing. Then it´s the safety belts front and back, horn and windscreen wipers.

After that you move onto the rolling road for a brake test , front, back and hand. Next it is over the pit for oil leaks, tyres steering and then they shake the s**t out of the front wheels forwards and backwards to test ball joints etc. on a plate under each wheel that is controlled by the chap in the pit.

After that you drive out and wait for your results and get the O.K. sticker to display on the windscreen for the next 12 months. If it fails for any thing at all you get the fail certificate and have 7 days to correct and return for a free retest of the defective parts.

This test is also carried out on Historic Plated cars, although if yours is over 50 years old, the test is every 5 years, and no window sticker is given but your equivalent of the V5 is stamped with the next test date, which you must keep in your car all the time as for ordinary cars as well, along with proof of payment of your insurance, and permission to circulate papers, not to mention your driving licence.

I wonder if the MOT test is as stringent as that?

 

Dave

[AndyR100]

And yet according to the published statistics, only 7% of registered pre 1960 vehicles have been presented for MOT during the period reviewed. It seems the overwhelming majority of owners don't share your (my) view.

That is an interesting stat.... My simple brain had assumed that The owner of a pre-60's car could still have a test performed at an MOT station, get the feedback from the tester but, because it was pre-60 vehicle, the event is not actually recorded.

 

Maybe some mot garages work that way and others don't ?

 

..... Andy

[John Morrison]

Dave

 

does that mean your car is oiltight?

 

John.

[rhino_mac]

Dave, your test sounds almost identical to the MOT here.

 

It's not so much favours from a friendly garage owner but more a sympathetic approach to the test.

 

For instance, if there is any slack in the steering it should be an automatic fail but someone experienced with classics will understand that the steering boxes were had a little slack even when new.

 

So it's more having an understanding of what the cars should be like if well maintained rather than failing them as hey aren't performing as a modern car might.

[hothersall]

Dave,

I was interested in you expression; proper MOT(ITV).

I also get my 65 TR4A tested here in Spain (Cataluna) as well as a modern car. I also have a car in the UK which I have to annually get tested. In my mind there is no comparison to the UK test, at best in Spain it is cursory and thier is no-one underneath with a strong lamp inspecting anything on the suspension or corrosion. At least on the modern car the front steering is jacked up an a brief bit of steering wheel shaking takes place. Further, this is usually carried out with the owner in the car rather than by a 2nd mechanic as in the UK.

I am not sure when you last had an MOT in the UK but it gets more thorough, intense and exhaustive each year.

Interesting my Historic plate (65) car does get a sticker and only for three years (they only have 2 year ahead stickers so I always have to return for the 3rd year). My 09 car get 2 years per test.

You are correct that the system of having government run centres rather than local garages is a far better one.

We still have to meet up for that beer yet.............somewhere between Murcia and Girona?

 

regards

 

John

[riverstar]

I welcome a annual safety check on my car although did get frustrated when it failed due to the windscreen washer not working, not that it does any good anyway (pipe had become detached driving to the garage). If my vehicle became exempt I would still have a annual check although not necessarily at a motor testing station but with a classic specialist

[Dave Larnder]

Dave

 

does that mean your car is oiltight?

 

John.

Hi John

 

Only a tiny weep in the joint between the O/D: and the tail shaft, not worth pulling the lot out for. As a matter of fact, only yesterday I checked the G:B: oil level through the side plug and it was still full even after that small problem with the O/D I had in Switzerland last month locking in the engaged mode, which I released manually, but on the way home the O/D started to work properly and has done since.

Dave

[Dave Larnder]

Dave, your test sounds almost identical to the MOT here.

 

It's not so much favours from a friendly garage owner but more a sympathetic approach to the test.

 

For instance, if there is any slack in the steering it should be an automatic fail but someone experienced with classics will understand that the steering boxes were had a little slack even when new.

 

So it's more having an understanding of what the cars should be like if well maintained rather than failing them as hey aren't performing as a modern car might.

Hi

 

That´s the whole point, there is no difference shown by the testers between modern euroboxes and our classics, as I said they shake the hell out of the front wheels to test for steering failures.

 

Dave

[Dave Larnder]

Dave,

I was interested in you expression; proper MOT(ITV).

I also get my 65 TR4A tested here in Spain (Cataluna) as well as a modern car. I also have a car in the UK which I have to annually get tested. In my mind there is no comparison to the UK test, at best in Spain it is cursory and thier is no-one underneath with a strong lamp inspecting anything on the suspension or corrosion. At least on the modern car the front steering is jacked up an a brief bit of steering wheel shaking takes place. Further, this is usually carried out with the owner in the car rather than by a 2nd mechanic as in the UK.

I am not sure when you last had an MOT in the UK but it gets more thorough, intense and exhaustive each year.

Interesting my Historic plate (65) car does get a sticker and only for three years (they only have 2 year ahead stickers so I always have to return for the 3rd year). My 09 car get 2 years per test.

You are correct that the system of having government run centres rather than local garages is a far better one.

We still have to meet up for that beer yet.............somewhere between Murcia and Girona?

 

regards

 

John

Hi John

 

We stayed at the Ibis hotel in Girona on October 2nd, this year on our way back from Morges. I tried to contact you but was unsuccessful. Will be in Valencia on 26th of this month for one night, hope to see Jesus there. Send me a P.M. with your e mail address on it please.

Dave

[Peter Cobbold]

There was a lot of talk in the EU draft documents about new tests for electronic aids in moderns, such as the abs, esp and so forth. Testing stations will have to be re-equipped to do that. Maybe DoT sees problems in testing old motors on the same standardised, computerised facility.

Peter

[hothersall]

Dave

PM sent