MOT's for exempt cars

[BaileyMex]

Just out of curiosity, for those of us who's cars are classified as MOT exempt.

Who actually MOT's their car still?. and what are peoples general thoughts?

I do, I've got mine tomorrow morning, for me, £35 a year to get a qualified MOT tester to give it a once over is worth the money. PLUS....... I don't fully trust an insurance company to try to wriggle out of any potential claim by claiming it didn't have an MOT

Thoughts?

[Vista]

Yes I do, but not every year. Generally every second year. For the same reasons as you.

[BaileyMex]

44 minutes ago, Vista said:

Yes I do, but not every year. Generally every second year. For the same reasons as you.

Fair enough.

I guess I just think it's better to have one and not need one, than need one and not have one!

 

[Vista Estate]

I have always had mine done every year. If the car is used a lot it's not a problem to miss a year, but if not then brake seals do dry out so the brake test is crucial. I had two rear cylinders blow on an MOT as the car had not been used much.

I know its a snapshot once a year but considering what we spend on our Classics, the cost of an MOT is not that much and can you put a cost on your life?

On another point, has anyone had an insurer not pay out when a car has been self MOT'd? From my reading of the exemption rules the car has to be completely stock. Thoughts?

[BaileyMex]

12 minutes ago, Vista Estate said:

On another point, has anyone had an insurer not pay out when a car has been self MOT'd? From my reading of the exemption rules the car has to be completely stock. Thoughts?

That is the other part of concern.

[Vista Estate]

I agree it's worth just doing it.

It will fly through as mine does.

[Monza]

Will continue to mot mine every year. As above, an independent check by someone qualified to do so, will hopefully spot something I might've missed. Also, for me, it adds to the history of the car....[emoji106]

Sent from my Hammer_Energy_18x9 using Tapatalk

[Vista]

1 hour ago, BaileyMex said:

Fair enough.

I guess I just think it's better to have one and not need one, than need one and not have one!

 

Mate, I have three of them and for the last few years they've barely being doing a few hundred miles each. That's why I do it every other year at present.

[Vista]

1 hour ago, Vista Estate said:

From my reading of the exemption rules the car has to be completely stock. Thoughts?

No, that's not the case. Only "substantial changes" as defined in the guidance Here disqualify the car from MOT exemption

 

[Xp197777]

I do both mine every year for same reasons 

[BaileyMex]

50 minutes ago, Monza said:

Will continue to mot mine every year. As above, an independent check by someone qualified to do so, will hopefully spot something I might've missed.

Also, for me, it adds to the history of the car....
 

Everything in this reply 👍

[BaileyMex]

21 minutes ago, Vista said:

Mate, I have three of them and for the last few years they've barely being doing a few hundred miles each. That's why I do it every other year at present.

Show off 😁

[katana]

3 hours ago, Vista said:

No, that's not the case. Only "substantial changes" as defined in the guidance Here disqualify the car from MOT exemption

That document is soooo loosely written and full of 'grey' areas, I don't doubt even the DVLA have problems interpreting its meaning!

[BaileyMex]

Well another year done, the guy is an older fella who knows the score 

Mentioned slight deficiency in rear hand brake, but it's always been poor, I don't like the ratchet type system they put in the rear drums on early cars, pain in the arse 

Apart from that all good 👌🏻

Car looked tiny next to a Polo...... a POLO!!! 🤣

[Vista Estate]

👍🏆

[Monza]

Mine couple of months ago [emoji106]

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[DT36]

Good result on the pass 👍

Applied for tax on the Escort yesterday and also put an MOT on the T5 van, so we can use it a bit now the weather's getting better for a bit of camping. 

[meXEco]

Even if it's exempt from an MOT, isn't it an offence to drive with a dangerous fault (same as with MOT able cars)?

 

If so why do people thing it's ok to not bother? Just to save a few quid-it's mental really.

[katana]

Same reason people are always 'surprised' when their vehicle fails its MOT! If they can't be bothered to maintain it when the test is mandatory, allowing it to be optional won't change things. The idea behind it is, generally classic cars are maintained better by their owners and do lower mileages so less chances of bad faults occurring BUT IMO whilst most things are owner checkable, brakes can be moody at the best of times so should be annually checked!

[Xp197777]

Agreed

[Rally Pack 2000]

Your MOT inspectors are probably more professional than ours but one reason for me is they can sometimes be vindictive or downright stupid. I was failed once on the Mk2 because the tester stuck a screwdriver in the rear spring bush and levered it around and said its not solid. I tried telling him they were triangle shaped from the factory in the centre and of course he could get his screwdriver in there and lever it around but he wouldn't hear of it and told me to replace them. He also knocked me back on my Momo steering wheel as he said they were illegal. They arent of course only that the horn button has to be able to activate the original horn. Again I explained to him the horn button was on the stalk as standard so in no way could it be illegal but as well he wouldn't hear of it. Solution? I spayed some cleaner on the rear bushes and scrubbed them with a brush to look new and the Momo wheel I added a UK RS centre cap removing the momo one and making it look like a near original wheel. Passed without further comment. Its still there to this day. It just takes one to cause you grief.

[Johnny Boy]

Give someone a a bit of power...............................................

[BaileyMex]

17 hours ago, katana said:

BUT IMO whilst most things are owner checkable, brakes can be moody at the best of times so should be annually checked!

Agreed, and getting it up in the air on proper ramps could reveal something you may not notice otherwise.

 

[Ken B]

On 08/04/2022 at 18:14, katana said:

That document is soooo loosely written and full of 'grey' areas, I don't doubt even the DVLA have problems interpreting its meaning!

No but the DVSA/police are at the enforcement end of it so its them you have to worry about. With the police and DVSA having the power to impound your car if they see fit, I'd rather pay for an MoT and not get in that situation/argument. 

[skeeter]

I wonder what happens if the MoT exempt car fails? Can you drive it legally knowing it is deemed unroadworthy?