Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms UK MOT consultation

So it's sunny summer weekends which are dangerous then. No risk from old classics if its raining..........

I've filled in the survey as well (felt a bit of a fraud doing that from the wrong side of the Atlantic, but it didn't ask me where I was...). I also noted the mileage-limit bit. My comment was words to the effect that it would be desperately unfair to owners of historic vehicles to exempt them from roadworthiness testing on the one hand, but then prevent them from driving their vehicles as often or as far as they wish.

I think either option 1 or option 2 make the most sense. There's a significant difference in purpose between the VED (for which the rolling 40-year exemption makes some sort of sense) and the MOT, for which I've never quite understood the rational for any exemption - except where items are not required to be tested (such as windscreen wipers for a folding or opening windscreen).

If anyone fancies a bit of bedtime reading... the directive is here: EU roadworthyness directive

And the bit that leads to the fun (?) is this:


As you can see, the assertion that the date on the V5c would do is correct but the UK even now seems to be gold plating things.

Point two could rule out most trad Morgans ,as historical.

Surely the criteria for an MOT/roadworthiness certification should apply to any vehicle used on a public road? I imagine the insurers and lawyers would have a field day if a "historic" was involved in a (serious) incident and found to have significant faults?
Invalidated insurance, public liability claims etc..
I would imagine a slightly lesser risk at car events too, even if on private land or track?
I would be interested in the reaction when a historic does get involved and be found to have faults. I reckon politicians/officials trying to claim that a consultation occured as a cop-out, "not our fault for poor legislation".
Perhaps there are lawyers lurking/lobbying to push things through to create opportunities?

I would have also thought it would make all sorts of cars open to mileage "corrections" and other falsified history, at least on the MOT you now get a view of the previous mileage and its recorded online.

If no MOT is required, then you have absolutely no way of defining what the mileage could be or whether it adds up with servicing and other history, far far easier to falsifying documents, ownership...etc.