As the consultation closed there were calls to remove the current system, where cars built before 1960 are exempt from MoT testing while all others require an annual test, and replace it with regular but less frequent testing for all classics. One supporter of such a system is the managing director of Remove My Car (a car scrapping network), Steve Queen, who would like to see a three-year test for all cars made before 1988 (that year is one of the cut-offs for making a ‘historic vehicle’ proposed by the DfT).
Mr Queen said that “many classic cars that could potentially escape the MoT test are likely to have faults and defects. Are we saying that cars left sitting around for 10 years do not require an MoT?” He added: “What we don't want to happen is that an un-roadworthy scrap car sits parked up in 2014 but once it becomes categorised as a classic, it suddenly becomes roadworthy again, without an MoT, and that is the danger we currently face.”
As the EU member nations overhaul their vehicle testing structures to conform with the new directive we are seeing some nations (like the UK) loosen their requirements, while others look set to tighten them. In Ireland, where cars made before 1980 are currently exempt from testing, the Road Safety Authority is currently carrying out its own consultation and it looks likely that the requirements for testing will be extended to older cars.
Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts below.
