Historic Vehicles - MoT Exemption Review

Earlier this monht (November), the Department for Transport published a consultation on the possibility of exempting certain historic vehicles from statutory testing. This can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27

The consultation offers two options: to do nothing (i.e. leave things as they are); or to exempt all vehicles made before a particular date. Three choices of cut-off date are offered - 1920, 1945 or 1960. The proposals do not differentiate between different categories of vehicle, and the consultation suggests that there are too few pre-1960 vehicles to justify having different rules for different groups - in other words, if there is to be an exemption, it is likely it will apply to all vehicles manufactured before the chosen date, whatever they are, and to whatever use they are put. These proposals also appear to be ambiguous about submitting vehicles for a voluntary MoT test if they fall into the exempt category.

Unlike other consultations, where the interests of historic vehicle owners are obvious, there are powerful arguments for and against all options. FBHVC needs to know what historic vehicle owners think before responding to the consultation.

Time is short (the consultation closes towards the end of January) and the only practical way to assess opinion is by means of an on-line survey that it now accessible at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FBHVCMoT. We strongly advise that the consultation document is read before taking part in the survey.

At Sunday's (27/11/11) MVT Council meeting, the above press release from the FBHVC was discussed.

It was agreed that the press release should be put on the website and circulated to the Area Secretaries, so they can pass it on to members, to allow them to consider making their own individual responses. This decision was taken firstly as we have found the DfT seem to take more notice of many individual responses, rather than one sole response from a club representing its members. Secondly, members will have their own views about whether they support historic vehicles being exempted from MOT testing, as set out in Clause 1.1. They may also wish to suggest a different date to the pre-1960 date being proposed, as set out in the options in Clause 2.1. My understand is that the FBHVC prefer Option 3.

Having considered the matter, MVT members can respond direct to the DfT, or to the Federation survey, or indeed to both.

There is an argument that no testing will lead to some vehicles being poorly maintained. This was a concern of the Trust when our larger (HGV type) pre-1960 vehicles were exempted from testing some years ago, but this hasn't been shown to be the case. Others fear this would then be the thin end of the wedge and an exemption will lead to the restricted use of those older vehicles, and indeed could lead to insurance issues too. Once again this has not been the case with the already exempted historic HGVs.

New testing methods are going to be introduced aimed at more modern vehicles. To continue to test older vehicles, which would then be even further outside more test requirements, more exemptions from more parts of the test would be needed. But should this be a reason to stop testing all together?

Whatever happens, it will not change the current situation that it is the owner's responsibility to make sure their vehicle is maintained to the proper standard. Even now, the current testing only says a vehicle is okay until it drives off the garage forecourt. It doesn't provide any guarantee for the next 12 months.   

We would encourage all members read the consultation document at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27
and complete the response to it at http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27/annex-b.rtf

as well as completing the FBHC survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/FBHVCMoT

Simon Bromley - General Secretary