Owners of classic cars would welcome an age-specific MOT test, despite their vehicles currently being exempt.
Under today’s rules motor vehicles that have reached 40 years are defined as “historic” by the DVLA and do not have to undertake the annual MOT check, as long as they have had no substantial changes within the last 30 years.
However, according to a recent survey by Hagerty, the majority of owners would support a test for classic cars to ensure that they’re kept in roadworthy condition.
With more than 1,200 enthusiasts responding to our questionnaire, 64 per cent of respondents said they would actually welcome a classic vehicle version of the MOT.
“A more sympathetic approach to older car testing would help keep unroadworthy cars off the road,” noted one respondent who owns a modern classic Citroën.
“A proportionate and appropriate testing regime would not be unwelcome, and if there is a broader concern in the non-classic car community that our vehicles are unsafe, and that could be addressed by such a move then this could be helpful,” replied another collector of classic cars and bikes.
“I don’t want unsafe classic cars on the road, but I also don’t think they should be tested as if they were modern cars,” added an Audi owner.
Some 90 per cent of those that took part in the survey currently own a classic car, and benefit from the existing system, yet 43 per cent said they still choose to put their cars through an annual MOT test, even though it is not a legal requirement.
Many drivers feel that the current MOT test is not suitable for older vehicles, but 43 per cent of respondents still said they would pay more for a classic that has a valid MOT certificate and 47 per cent believe that mandatory MOTs would help preserve classics for future generations.
“I cannot understand why you would not have an MOT test on classic vehicles,” said one enthusiast who owns a Triumph TR3 and Citroën 2CV.
“I don’t think any vehicle should be exempt from some kind of test,” contributed the owner of a Ford Capri.
These views reflect a wide concern over the safety of older cars on the road. More than half (51 per cent) of those who took part in the survey said that they feel the exemption rules help drivers use unroadworthy vehicles. 69 per cent said it’s more likely for unroadworthy cars to be on the road and 21 per cent said they’ve actually seen unroadworthy vehicles driving on the roads thanks to the MOT exemption.
“Our survey shows many classic vehicle owners have concerns over MOT exemption,” commented Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty UK. “It is clear that many owners would welcome a classic-specific MOT test, one that proves roadworthiness with tests more appropriate for the age of vehicle. Most agree there should be some form of annual inspection, ideally by a classic car expert, particularly as many popular cars are now exempt from any form of annual test and can be driven freely regardless of condition.”
While many owners seem to be broadly in support of a new type of MOT for older vehicles there are those who support the status quo, with 61 per cent of classic car enthusiasts who participated in the survey saying that MOT exemption is a good thing, mostly because the MOT test is not suited to older vehicles.
“In general, non-classic vehicle owners have little or no mechanical understanding and are far more likely to drive a defective vehicle on the roads than an owner of a classic car,” noted a collector of Austins, Rovers, Toyotas and VWs.
“People who are willing to own and operate a 40-plus-year-old car are already committed to keeping classic cars on the road, which, by definition, means maintaining and repairing them, otherwise they would own something else,” said one Porsche owner.
Supporting this statement, 98 per cent of those drivers questioned who do not submit their cars for a regular MOT claim that they maintain their vehicles to a standard that would pass anyway.
The classic car industry, meanwhile, appears to be in favour of some form of testing, while still being in supporting exemptions.
“We support regular safety and roadworthiness checks for historic vehicles that are exempt from the statutory MOT, particularly when a vehicle is being returned to the road after a period of storage, following restoration or significant mechanical work,“ said Dale Keller, CEO of the HCVA: Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance. “There is a clear rationale for the current exemption, not least because historic vehicles can require specialist knowledge to assess properly. However, we believe there is a strong case for developing an optional, industry-led roadworthiness inspection specifically for MOT-exempt historic vehicles.”
