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MOT Exemption


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Hi All,

 

I have a 1974 TR6 and just called my local garage to book an MOT. The owner informed me of the change in law which had completely passed me by. I've read up on it and i'm not sure I qualify. I fitted the telescopic shock absorber brackets in place of the lever arm version, this was to improve stability and in the exceptions on the .gov page it seems to be a bit of a grey area (in the exceptions to the exceptions bit).

 

The rule is you don't qualify if you have made substantial changes to the vehicle namely in this case:

 

• Axles and running gear – alteration of the type and or method of suspension or steering constitutes a substantial change;

 

however there are exeptions:

 

• in respect of axles and running gear changes made to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance;

 

- not strictly applicable I know..

 

• changes of a type, that can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or in general use (within ten years of the end of production);

 

- possible? I think it's fairly likely that the telescopic modification was in use within ten years of the end of production.. but can't be sure.

 

What does everybody think?

 

I have the original lever arm dampers in storage and could refit if need be, i'd rather not though i'll probably just keep MOTing it.

 

Cheers,
Chris

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There are a number of threads on this topic - do a search (box, top right).

Rear telescopics wouldn't, alone, be cause for concern I would have thought.

My view is get the car MOT'd anyway for all the reasons you will see in other threads.

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OK thanks for the feedback, (I did try and search initially but MOT was not allowed as a search term and MOT exemption came up with nothing). I'll get it MOT'd anyway as I would feel better to have done so.

Thanks again,
Chris

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I think they are targeting heavily modified from original cars. In the end it will just come down to opinion what a substantial change is, but I don't see your telescopic shocks as being one myself.

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  • 1 month later...

Production TR6 never had telescopic rear suspension fitted to my knowledge so that's not a get out.

 

"in respect of axles and running gear changes made to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance;" may be a get out but that's a very wide definition; has anyone got any more definitive info on this particular mod?

 

I assume fitting gas shocks doesn't count as a "substantial change" ?

What about wider wheels & lower profile tyres?

Engine tuning that increases performance?

 

The Forum web site has changed considerably since I was last here & all my searches have came back with nothing meaningful. it would be great if someone with specialist knowledge of the MOT changes could produce an article noting all the popular modifications on all TR's & weather or not they would be considered a "substantial change" or not.

 

I notice the .GOV website includes a link to "talk to a historic vehicle expert" which leads you to the "Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs Ltd" - has anyone used this to get a definitive answer to anything?

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Production TR6 never had telescopic rear suspension fitted to my knowledge so that's not a get out.

 

"in respect of axles and running gear changes made to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance;" may be a get out but that's a very wide definition; has anyone got any more definitive info on this particular mod?

 

I assume fitting gas shocks doesn't count as a "substantial change" ?

What about wider wheels & lower profile tyres?

Engine tuning that increases performance?

 

The Forum web site has changed considerably since I was last here & all my searches have came back with nothing meaningful. it would be great if someone with specialist knowledge of the MOT changes could produce an article noting all the popular modifications on all TR's & weather or not they would be considered a "substantial change" or not.

 

I notice the .GOV website includes a link to "talk to a historic vehicle expert" which leads you to the "Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs Ltd" - has anyone used this to get a definitive answer to anything?

Welcome back Richard, good to see you on here again.

Stuart.

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Chris,

 

It was my understanding that a substantial change is something like transplanting in a different engine. Anything in keeping with the original vehicle or improvements intended to improve the original spec aren't a substantial change. But it is a very grey area and will subject to different opinions until its been properly tested for real. I suspect tuning up the engine won't matter but doubling the output with a turbo and nitrous might.

 

Daz

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Why wouldn't anyone want to mot their TR6? Surely for peace of mind it's good to have your car checked over? I think this is one of the stupidest ideas this government has come up with- dangerous cars can kill so the safer they are on the road in terms of roadworthiness the better!

Edited by michaeldavis39
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Hi All

And partially in reply to michaeldavis39, couple of things, don’t forget pre 1960 cars are already exempt and that doesn’t seem to have caused a huge problem and owners of an age exempt cars can still submit the car to a voluntary MOT test. They will still, like all vehicle owners, need to ensure that they meet the legal requirement of keeping their vehicle in a roadworthy condition at all times.

So I think the thought from the Govt point of view is that the classic cars which will be MOT exempt will be at least 40 years old and be a cherished possession kept on the road by an enthusiast who maintains the car properly anyway. It’s also true the Govt knows the MOT failure rate for the cars newly classified is much lower than the average anyway.

Also a problem is the wide range of tech MOT most testers might have to deal with, so at the local test station the last car tested was a 2015 Tesla model S then a 1961 TR3 rolls up and does that tester have the knowledge and experience to impartially test a very new hi tech wonder machine and a vehicle older than they are and the only one they have ever seen of that age. And does the test which has to keep pace with new car tech become less applicable over time to those older cars.

In terms of danger cars it’s the cars that are 10 to 15 years old that can be bought for less than the cost of the road tax (that’s now a lot of cars) but that people cannot or will not afford to maintain they seriously need a legally mandated test.

If someone can be bothered to run a 40 plus years old car I’d be amazed if they can’t be bothered to maintain it, after all is not the cheap option.

But there will people who are not hands-on but on a budget and I’m sure there will be many workshops with classic car experience will do an MOT style safety check if anyone wants.

I’ll bet Stuart would if anyone wanted and probably for a similar price of an MOT with better feedback.

I think much more controversial is extending the first MOT to 4 years. Think about that Ex-company hsck with 120k on the clock bought cheap at an auction at the end of its 3 year company car life.

Cheers

Keith

 

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Production TR6 never had telescopic rear suspension fitted to my knowledge so that's not a get out.

 

 

Notwithstanding the argument about whether it is wise to not have the annual MOT, one could argue that the suspension (coil springs) has not been changed. It is the method of damping that has been changed.

 

Welcome back Richard. Your wise words on here were a great help to me when I first started my TR journey.

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Hi, Richard

Good to hear from you again. You were of so much help to me in 2003/4 when if was restoring my car which I still have.Your knowledge and encouragement

were so welcomed hope you do start posting again.

Hope is all Ok with you.

 

Cheers Phil

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  • 3 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

The only reason I was looking for a get-out in the short term is that my TR6 is at my parents farm in Leeds and I now live in Cambridge. It's not often I get home and arranging an MOT and being around to drop off and pick up especially if there is anything that needs to be done is tricky. In the past it has been easier to SORN it but I figured it would be nice to have the option of a late summer drive. Turns out I got a weekend up there and.. well.. it wouldn't start, so that was that. Back on the trickle charger and hopefully have the time to MOT it next spring!

Thanks for all the advice guys

Chris

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On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 6:52 PM, cj79 said:

Hi All,

 

I have a 1974 TR6 and just called my local garage to book an MOT. The owner informed me of the change in law which had completely passed me by. I've read up on it and i'm not sure I qualify. I fitted the telescopic shock absorber brackets in place of the lever arm version, this was to improve stability and in the exceptions on the .gov page it seems to be a bit of a grey area (in the exceptions to the exceptions bit).

 

The rule is you don't qualify if you have made substantial changes to the vehicle namely in this case:

 

• Axles and running gear – alteration of the type and or method of suspension or steering constitutes a substantial change;

 

however there are exeptions:

 

• in respect of axles and running gear changes made to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance;

 

- not strictly applicable I know..

 

• changes of a type, that can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or in general use (within ten years of the end of production);

 

- possible? I think it's fairly likely that the telescopic modification was in use within ten years of the end of production.. but can't be sure.

 

What does everybody think?

 

I have the original lever arm dampers in storage and could refit if need be, i'd rather not though i'll probably just keep MOTing it.

 

Cheers,
Chris

My car passed the MOT with Telescopic shocks but I did notice that the tester whom had tested my car for years gave it a much more stringent test! His comment was that the rules had changed and they are checking the MOT Stations work more often .

Bruce.

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1 hour ago, astontr6 said:

My car passed the MOT with Telescopic shocks but I did notice that the tester whom had tested my car for years gave it a much more stringent test! His comment was that the rules had changed and they are checking the MOT Stations work more often .

Bruce.

Or an alternative view ...... the MOT test alone is not profitable and so garages are going out of their way to find things to repair? 

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41 minutes ago, Hawk said:

Or an alternative view ...... the MOT test alone is not profitable and so garages are going out of their way to find things to repair? 

I disagree, the MOT test alone is very profitable.... Look at all the stand alone MOT stations, they are booming!

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3 minutes ago, Tom Boyd said:

I disagree, the MOT test alone is very profitable.... Look at all the stand alone MOT stations, they are booming!

I'm not aware of any standalone MOT testing stations in my area but will defer to your subject matter expertise. 

But ...... I am struggling to see the profit if an MOT takes (or should take if done properly) anywhere from 45 mins upwards to an hour ... for which a garage can charge a maximum (and many charge less) of (just under) £55.  When you take into account the overheads (MOT tester, equipment, registration etc.) most garages can make considerably more spannering. 

 

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56 minutes ago, Hawk said:

I'm not aware of any standalone MOT testing stations in my area but will defer to your subject matter expertise. 

But ...... I am struggling to see the profit if an MOT takes (or should take if done properly) anywhere from 45 mins upwards to an hour ... for which a garage can charge a maximum (and many charge less) of (just under) £55.  When you take into account the overheads (MOT tester, equipment, registration etc.) most garages can make considerably more spannering. 

 

MOT tester wage around here is £24k, cost to set up an MOT lane is around £15-£20K, you really would be surprised how much the stations have to pay the government per MOT..

On average 8-10 tests a day per man.. My business partner in the classic car sales side of things, also owns (family business) a chain of MOT only stations, it's not making millions but they do ok. 

Overheads are the killer in many businesses, £55 for 45 minutes work? That's £73 per hour.

But i do see your point, in the past some garages may have (possibly still do) made up issues to get extra work...

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