The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is not supporting the proposed historic vehicle MoT exemption.
Current law states that vehicles manufactured before 1960 can be exempt from MOT testing. However, a new EU Directive will change the rules to allow any vehicle over 30-years-old to become exempt from MOT testing by 2018, as long as they haven’t had substantial changes made to them After the Department for Transport invited consumers and motor traders to voice their opinions on the proposed directive, the IGA has stated that it does not believe the proposals will have the backing of its members, and the wider motor trade.
Stephen Coles, head of MOT technical operations at the IGA, said: “The view of the IGA is that classic cars and vans should not be exempt from MOT testing, and that the current yearly testing regime should be retained for any vehicles of this age subject to testing. What’s more, we are confident that the majority of the motor trade will agree with this stance.
“The reason for this is that to use a rolling date would remove from any mandatory safety checks vehicles registered after1988 should this proposal go through. The type of vehicles that would gain additional exemption under the proposed directive would be a far different proposition from the pre-1960 vehicles that are currently exempt. They are far more likely to be used frequently, will potentially be less regularly maintained, and they will be of the age where corrosion and other serious defects are more likely to occur. Without testing these potential defects may go undetected and therefore the threat to road safety would be severe and unjustified.”
The IGA points to a number of factors that need to be taken into account when considering the new directive. The number of vehicles that would be exempt from MOT testing currently with SORN notifications, and exactly what classifies a vehicle as being ‘historic’, are questions that it is asking of the DfT. The association is also questioning the level of investment required in order to set up and administer an exemption scheme and how this would be funded. According to the IGA, the current yearly testing regime should be retained, and the IGA is confident that this view is shared by a large majority within the motor trade.
IGA director Stuart James added: “It is our view that the MOT scheme is understood by the general public, testing facilities are readily available with over 22,000 facilities in the UK, and has the advantage that the means of overseeing and maintaining the standards are already in place with supervision from the DVLA.
“The advantage in having an annual MOT test for historic vehicles would reduce bureaucracy and red tape in checking vehicles for historic status. This is likely to be the most cost effective option to the owner of the vehicles, but most of all, it will have the benefit of ensuring and maintaining road safety. We are confident that the motor industry will have provided similar feedback to the DfT in recent months.”
The proposed EU Directive on historic vehicle MOT exemption has already been questioned by such organisations as The Garage Equipment Association (GEA) and the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).
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