MOT failure

[Cerdic]

The MOT exemption for cars over 40 years old caused a fair bit of controversy in the classic car world when it was brought in. Many feared a rash of headlines along the lines of 'polluting old wreck causes crash' and subsequent restrictions on their use!

The reason old cars are now exempt seems to be connected to future plans to change the MOT so it's more high-tech. Apparently it is going to be too difficult to test old cars under the expected future regime, for some reason! Maybe something to do with the kit and training that MOT stations are going to have to invest in.

A lot of classic owners are in favour of some sort of retro-MOT for old cars, maybe at a specialist retro-MOT station.

 

[Deleted User]

It first came in for pre 1960 vehicles which I completely agree would generally be owned by enthusiasts but then it was bought into line with the free road tax (40 yrs) which there are a lot more on the road, I've got 4, rot is a big one when it comes to cars/vans. Just think every VW Splitscreen or Bay window camper you see is exempt, apart from the Brazilian one's obviously.
On a side note, Isle of Man have no Mot's.

 

[keithmac]

The MOT exemption for cars over 40 years old caused a fair bit of controversy in the classic car world when it was brought in. Many feared a rash of headlines along the lines of 'polluting old wreck causes crash' and subsequent restrictions on their use!

The reason old cars are now exempt seems to be connected to future plans to change the MOT so it's more high-tech. Apparently it is going to be too difficult to test old cars under the expected future regime, for some reason! Maybe something to do with the kit and training that MOT stations are going to have to invest in.

A lot of classic owners are in favour of some sort of retro-MOT for old cars, maybe at a specialist retro-MOT station.

You can present any age vehicle for MOT and have it inspected.

A lot of historic bike owners still get them done.

 

[Deleted User]

You can present any age vehicle for MOT and have it inspected.

A lot of historic bike owners still get them done.

You can but what happens if it fails?

If you're the kind of person to run a vehicle that's a bit 'iffy ' you won't take it for a test.

 

[Drago]

What I find curious is that cars older than 40 yrs don't need an MOT at all.

Statistically historic vehicles are far and away the safest 4 wheeled category.

 

[DaveReading]

Statistically historic vehicles are far and away the safest 4 wheeled category.

What statistic are you quoting ?

 

[DRM]

Hi. After many years of MOT passes on my old car, yesterday it failed quite spectacularly. I've kept on top of any work it's needed but I obviously over looked this one. Whilst on the rolling Road checking the brakes I was quite impressed by how well they were balanced looking at the MOT dails. They were almost perfect until i heard a pop and then noticed the car had become incontinent with brake fluid. I heard the Mot tester saying "oh no that's not good"
When testing the brakes on the rolling Road there really put under pressure to the point that there doing an emergency stop. Even though though the rollers are turning relatively slowly the torque in them is really strong, so the brakes can be applied heavily to check for any weakness.
Sure enough with the wheel off it became evident the brake pipe had burst just were it meets the front flexy hose. Mot guy is a good guy and offered to fix it there and then which meant him working after closing time. It's an old oily rag type of garage stuck in the middle of nowhere, but there really straight and hands on will do kind of attitude. After looking around the issues a bit more i told him to leave it till Monday to sort out and asked if he could replace the brake pipes and flexy hoses on both sides as I'm sure the the other one wouldn't be to far behind.
In retrospect I'm glad it burst whilst he was testing the car. The thought of brake failure going down some Welsh mountain road could of ended in disaster.
MOTs can be a pain, but thank god we have them.
All the very best,.
Johnny

This is something that’s crossed my mind a few times when you get passed by an elderly BMW/Audi on the motorway being driven at 90mph, when was the last time the brakes and flexible hoses were checked, how confident are you that something won’t fail catastrophically, if the brakes do work what state is the suspension or tyres in, having had a similar thing happen on my then girlfriend’s, now Mrs DRM’s car, luckily when actually checking it over, it’s a good job we do have MOT’s, it’s one thing I’ve never begrudged having done, and I’ve never understood anyone getting a dodgy one, at least I know when my car gets serviced the wheels come off and the brakes, hoses and shockers get checked, as well as the scheduled items that need doing as the garage sends you video of the mechanic actually doing it.

 

[Alex321]

It's because usually they are owned, used and maintained by hands-on enthusiasts who are very active in looking after these aged treasures and will check and inspect their vehicles regularly to a similar standard as the MOT test (which itself is only a basic assesment of vehicle condition).
I'll bet before this exemption was granted they looked at the stats and found that vehicles of that age and older rarely failed the MOT test anyway?

I don't think there is any chance at all that is the reason. Officialdom just doesn't work on the basis of "we don't need to test these because the type people who own them are so conscientious they will keep them perfect"

Far more likely is the fact that MOT testers would need way more training t be able to know what was exempt on those cars.

There are quite a few things which would be required to pass the test on a modern car which an older one just wouldn't have.,

 

[Mike_P]

Have my car serviced and MOTed at the same time with a request that anything required is seen to first. The one thing that gets me is a car can be failed due to a dead bulb which is fine and plainly an issue but that bulb could have blown when at the MOT station.

 

[MrGrumpy]

My car has failed it’s MOT two years on the bounce after 7yrs of clear passes . Age related failures , brake pipes and bushes . £400 last year , looking like £600 this year to fix the failures .

 

[tyred]

My car has failed it’s MOT two years on the bounce after 7yrs of clear passes . Age related failures , brake pipes and bushes . £400 last year , looking like £600 this year to fix the failures .

It would still be more cost effective than replacing the car with another one and at least some of the work needed like brake pipes will be unlikely to needed again in the lifetime of the car so next year's bill will be lower.

 

[MrGrumpy]

That’s the view I’m taking for now. It’s all aged related failures. I can stand the repair cost for now. It’s far cheaper than chopping in and spending loads more money .

 

[CXRAndy]

That’s the view I’m taking for now. It’s all aged related failures. I can stand the repair cost for now. It’s far cheaper than chopping in and spending loads more money .

Nissan are doing great lease deals on the Leaf EVs. I deal opportunity to catch up with the future

 

[fossyant]

Nissan are doing great lease deals on the Leaf EVs. I deal opportunity to catch up with the future

Hmm, PCP ? £200 a month, but £5k deposit then a big sum at the end ?

 

[CXRAndy]

Hmm, PCP ? £200 a month, but £5k deposit then a big sum at the end ?

Give it back, move onto your net new vehicle. That's is how 90+% of all new UK cars are financed