New MOT rules to affect thousands of drivers with cars this age
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has introduced a new update for 2025 that will affect owners of certain cars.
The upcoming changes will reportedly impact 340,000 older cars older than 40 which are still under the care of their registered keepers, according to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Until this change, these type of cars have been exempt from an annual MOT check due to a law which stipulates cars more than 40 years old do not need the test. It's been assumed that careful maintenance and infrequent means inspections are unnecessary.
READ MORE: State Pension uprating in April will not be paid to nearly half a million older people
READ MORE: New call for changes to free bus travel scheme for people over 60
Questions have now been raised by a consultation by the Department of Transport about whether classic cars should now have to undergo yearly checks as newer motors have to.
According to the Mirror, The proposition was met with a positive reception, with two in five respondents said they agreed with the plan for older models to be tested.
The survey received a sizable 1,083 responses, with a majority of comments suggesting that “a new type of check is needed” for the older cars. With regards to how the check should be carried out 18% of those surveyed said that the check should be the same or similar to the full MOT.
One survey respondent said, “Yes an age and status-related ‘sympathetic’ style MOT would be useful, particularly for classic cars that are driven fairly regularly.” A further 10% shared this more lenient view, and said that classic cars should undergo a more basic check to ensure their safety.
A somewhat smaller percentage, 8%, said they wanted to see older vehicles go through the full MOT so long as it was appropriate for the car’s age. However, even those in this camp stated that there was no need for classic cars to undergo an emissions test, since older cars
One surveyed motorist noted: “A one-off safety check following major restoration or repair work would be appropriate. Individual Vehicle Approval is not suitable in this context.” Only 5% backed the introduction of an “ad-hoc inspection when vehicle is used on the road or following major restoration”, making it the least popular option.
The largest proportion, 36%, thought there was no need for the introduction of new MOT safety inspections for classic vehicles.
However, this isn’t the only time that the issue of classic car inspections has been raised. The Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has previously suggested that older cars should go through safety checks. In particular, they urged that models that have undergone "major restoration or repair" should be checked by mechanics before being allowed on the road.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
