MOT Exemption

[rwtstag]

Just seen this.
Perhaps MOT tests are going to be mandatory for classics again.

Public BACK classic cars losing MoT exemption

https://honestjohncoukltd.cmail19.com/t/r-l-thcludy-uijkkiiklr-i/

[wilf]

TBH, so do I, but the test has to be relevant to older cars - I have seen MOT testers try to fail my older cars for front wheel bearing play when they were adjusted 100% properly - they are used to moderns with zero play.

I am lucky in that my local MOT station is run by a classics-friendly proprietor, and so have maintained current MOTs on the Stag up 'till recently, when he had to close for a while due to an operation that went wrong. Soon as he is back, she will get tested - a useful second opinion on my own maintenance.

[Philip Wardle]

Tend to agree with Wilf - my informal circle of classics owners belives it makes sense for our own safety, and for the benefit of other road users, that we should take our cars for an MoT each year. We're fortunate that we do have a knowledgeable and experienced test station to call on.

[jakesmig]

My Stag and Midget aren't exempt because of engine transplants but I always went for an MOT on them anyway because IMO it's always worth someone else looking.
I'm lucky because the garage I use has a good tester and good time served mechanics, not franchised fitters.

[022Dave]

I’m also one of those that thinks an MoT is a valuable second opinion to my own judgement as to the safety of my vehicle. I much prefer to pay £50+ once a year for an independent examination and a piece of government paper to show that my Stag was roadworthy at the time due, than trying to blag my insurance company that following an accident, as a retired aircraft engineer, my judgment was beyond reproach. I’d much rather shield our free road tax from Rachel From Accounts.

Dave

[richardthestag]

MOT exemption is insane but mainly because it is so wide open to abuse.

Most auction houses are punting stuff on that really should be non-road legal projects but proudly proclaiming MOT exempt!! Last Mot in 2007 etc. Wouldn't trust it any further than I could throw it but folk lap it up.

I would be more worried about rumours that zero rated VED for 40+ year old original classics is under threat. Millybund wants us all in a Chinese EV

[mike@thenook]

MOT exemption is insane but mainly because it is so wide open to abuse.

Most auction houses are punting stuff on that really should be non-road legal projects but proudly proclaiming MOT exempt!! Last Mot in 2007 etc. Wouldn't trust it any further than I could throw it but folk lap it up.

I would be more worried about rumours that zero rated VED for 40+ year old original classics is under threat. Millybund wants us all in a Chinese EV

- That's the bit that worries me too Richard, Minibrain will be keen to remove anything from the roads not built in China to run on electricity

[Tdafforn]

I think a big motivation for the original mot exemption was the new testers being challenged by old cars turning up. A friend brought in a 1930s bsa 3 Wheeler and tester had no idea where to begin :-) at my mot place there is one older tester and I had to wait for him to be available back in the day to test my old cars. Particularly after one of the young guys failed to start my lotus elan and they phoned me say it was bust. I wondered down, pumped the throttle for the dellortos to squirt some fuel and it fired right up. Much to the enjoyment of the older tester who clearly wanted to teach the younger lad a lesson. The younger tester moaned about my older cars after that until he had to test my mg midget with a 150 bhp k series. Strangely apparently he had to test the brakes on a road test! Yeh yeh yeh!

[jbuckl]

Generally but not exclusively, older car peeps know a bit more than average mot peeps. (Doesn’t actually mean their cars are good condition of course)

Not new:- Roads are unfit for using cars on…. Terrible in fact.

If I have to get a mot for the stag, I will have to fix the wipers properly.

thats been an ongoing lengthy saga…. But almost never out when wipers are needed…. They do work…. Just about…. But not correctly.

Root cause :- new wiper switch from dimmers…. Incorrectly wired at manufacturer.

Once fixed an mot will be sought again.

fairly pointless though.

one daily got an advise for corrosion on lower arms… not affecting operation. Oh wow, big deal! Surface rust …. Yep… it happens. Do I clean and paint? Do I replace?

difficult decision…. Unnecessary though.

[richardthestag]

Even my classic friendly MOT garage MSE Cartech in Great Kingshill nr High Wycombe if you want to know. Wanted to know where the odb2 port was on a 1993 Range Rover and was then somewhat flumoxed as to how to proceed with out being able to plug his ministry bit of kit in.

I will often be nearby when he is testing a classic just in case, what with the tests being timed and I really do not want an unnecessary fail. I think he enjoys testing the older stuff, trusts my work and that I will not to expect him to push the boundaries. Good guys but getting scarce

These guys are not the sort who will add advisories for rusty springs etc, there apparently is guidance from the ministry to avoid clean sheet unless absolutely necessary. I found this out after taking #1 sons car (2004 citroen c3) to another local test station, came out with advisories for rusty rear springs and lips on front discs. the car did 150 miles and I resubmitted it a year later. Chap, just back from morning prayer, was most unhappy that I didn't change anything on the advisory sheet and gave it a fail. I moaned like hell that the discs were well within the serviceable thickness and that surface rust was not an issue. He gave me a lecture, I threatened an appeal and he relented but re-added the same advisories. Following year and 4k miles further (I started to use it) took the car to MSE, no issue with discs or springs (despite me pointing it out as an advisory prior) but one rear damper was misted. listed as an advisory and I changed them.

Same strict tester tested #3 sons car (2002 clio) passed but with advisory on rusted rear springs, They were new and I told them, ah we meant the dampers, they were new too. ****wits. I leave them to testing the wycombe taxis and use MSE instead. If there is something wrong then they will be honest about it, there is a difference and I prefer that

[rwtstag]

I agree with the fact this govt will also want to remove Road tax and probs ULEZ exception for our Stags.
I kinda agree with the MOT exemption being removed as I purchased my latest Stag from Abinger Hammer motors 6yrs ago and it was exempt already but got Abinger Hammer Motors(sadly closed now but a Stag specialist) to perform an annual roadworthiness check, which is how the Classic MOT test should be.
I hope common sense will prevail on this, but unlikely.

[MandM]

I've seen advisories for light corrosion on brake pipe ferrules and rear wheel bearing has slight play. I use Gorleston garage they mot a lot of classics. I always have my stag mot as people have said, it checks my work, which I,m more than happy with.

[Philip Wardle]

Yep, have always found that a second pair of eyes on any engineering enterprise is valuable, anyone can get so close to the job that they miss the bloomin' obvious - and I include myself.

[APS]

I have seen some real rust buckets at some classic shows, amazing that they even run.

Arrogant owners putting everyone else on the road, and themselves in danger. Whether a classic or modern there should be no excuses for not having a roadworthy vehicle.

Sympathetic MOT based on age of car should be a must.

Get the dangerous ones off the road.

[Bakdraft007]

To me I have seen it go both ways.

How good is an MOT anyway? I have seen modern cars (say from 2005 to 2017) be bought with 12 months MOT and yet they no way should have passed. Second hand car dealers always have a mate who will pass anything. I bought my Stag from a Stag dealer - it should not have passed its MOT .. but it had.... So I have little faith in some MOT's

Yet, of course, there are good MOT stations , who will always know more than me. The problem for me is there are many minor issues that can cause it to fail that may not be an issue for a 300 mile a year Stag. And as people have highlighted the older generation of testers have retired.

Maybe it would be a good idea for the club to have a Nationwide register of quality test centres that we know are knowledgeable and sympathetic to Stag owners... I would love that.

Dave