New MOT check could affect over 300,000 car owners

Credit Wales Online

Robert Dalling
Wed, 5 February 2025 at 7:00 pm GMT·2-min read
-Credit:SWNS
-Credit:SWNS

A major overhaul on the roads could affect hundred of thousands of classic car owners. There are 340,000 vehicles in the UK aged 40 years old which are still with their registered keepers, according to the DVLA.

Vintage cars have been exempt from the annual MOT roadworthiness test historically based on the assumption they are meticulously maintained by owners and not used frequently enough to warrant inspection. But now the Ministry of Transport has launched a consultation to re-evaluate whether these vehicles should be subject to yearly checks.

Out of the 1,083 responses received, there was a consensus that "a new type of check is needed" specifically designed for vintage vehicles. Regarding how this check should be conducted, 18% of respondents felt it should be akin to a full MOT or something similar. A more lenient view was held by 10%, who argued for a less rigorous test to ensure safety. A modest 8% of those surveyed expressed the opinion that older vehicles should be subject to a full MOT, tailored to the car's age. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

One driver wrote: "Yes an age and status-related 'sympathetic' style MOT would be useful, particularly for classic cars that are driven fairly regularly." But another added: "A one-off safety check following major restoration or repair work would be appropriate. Individual Vehicle Approval is not suitable in this context."

The Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs has previously suggested that older automobiles should be subjected to safety checks, especially after "major restoration or repair", and before being allowed back on the streets.