Cars Over 40 Years Old To Gain Exemption From MOT

The Department for Transport has recently revealed plans to exempt the majority of vehicles over 40 years old from MOT’s.

These changes are due to come into effect from 20^th May 2018 and will not include vehicles over 40 years old that have been substantially changed / modified.

Find out more about your MOT requirements, the new changes and what they mean to drivers of vehicles built before 1978 in our latest blog post.

Why Are The Changes Being Put In Place?

The report cites the reason for the change being that there are lower MOT failure rates and fewer collisions involving vehicles that are more than 40 years old.

One of the reasons for this is that a lot of these older cars are kept in good working condition, sometimes for novelty and car shows, only being driven on special occasions. For this reason, this change will be welcomed by owners and collectors of older vehicles.

Owners can still voluntarily submit their vehicle for an MOT if they feel it needs it; it’s worth noting that owners of these older vehicles will still have a legal obligation to ensure their car is road worthy when in use.

Current Exemptions of MOTs

There are a few types of vehicles that are completely exempt from requiring an MOT, as with the new proposed exemptions, owners of these vehicles still need to ensure that their vehicle is in a safe roadworthy condition when in use. The current exemptions are:

• Cars and motorcycles made before 1960.
• Goods vehicles powered by electricity – note that this does not include electric cars

Autocare Tip – If you own a vehicle that is exempt from MOT, you will need to fill out a V112 form (declaration of exemption from MOT) in order to be able to tax your vehicle.

How Often Should I Have An MOT?

Once your vehicle hits 3 years old, you should have an MOT carried out by a registered garage once a year. An MOT is different from a service, which should ideally be carried out once every 6 months or 12,000 miles; ensuring your vehicle has this regular servicing will decrease the chances of failing your MOT.

During the MOT, a technician will carry out numerous checks on your vehicle to ensure it is safe to drive, you will then be given a pass or fail with recommendations or advisories based on problems that are developing with your vehicle.

What Happens If My Car Fails Its MOT?

If you’re vehicle fails its MOT, you’ll be issued a VT30 by the garage that carried out the MOT. This document will outline the reason for failure – you’ll need to have these issues addressed before sending your car in for a retest and getting back on the road.

At Autocare, we offer a free retest if your vehicle is left with us for remedial work following a failed MOT!

Can I Drive Without An MOT?

Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT can leave you liable to a fine of up to £1,000. The only time you are allowed to drive a vehicle without an MOT is if you have booked in for an MOT and are driving to a test centre; you’ll need to prove you have an appointment booked if you are pulled over.

If you’re worried you might forget about your next MOT, you can sign up for a free MOT reminder by text or email here.

Vehicle Maintenance, MOT, Servicing and Repair Chepstow

If you are the owner of an older vehicle, it’s important that you keep your car in a road worthy state when in use. At Autocare, we have the knowledge, skills and equipment in house to competently carry out repairs, regular servicing and MOTs on older cars.

Give one of our friendly team a call today on 01291 627137 to book your vehicle in today.