M.O.T TEST

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Classic and historic vehicles are to be exempted from yearly MoT tests, the government has announced.

Vehicles manufactured before 1960 will no longer have to have to pass an MoT from 18 November 2012, Roads Minister Mike Penning said.

The vehicles make up about 0.6% of the total number of licensed vehicles in Britain but are involved in just 0.03% of road casualties and accidents.

"Owners of classic vehicles will still be legally required to ensure that they are safe and in a proper condition to be on the road but scrapping the MoT test for these vehicles will save motorists money."

The campaign was led by East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight, who said he was "delighted" by the announcement.

"Accidents involving historic vehicles are extremely rare and the majority of owners are meticulous in keeping their vehicles in good condition. Having to have an annual MoT test for a vehicle which may only travel a few hundred miles in a year was costly and absurd."

AA president Edmund King said: "Cutting the red tape of an MoT requirement for classic pre-1960 cars is a victory for common sense."

At present vehicles must undergo their first MoT once they have been on the road for three years and then be retested annually.

Earlier this year, the government dropped plans to reduce the frequency of MoT tests, which would have involved delaying a car's first MoT from three years to four, and then having tests every two years instead of each year.

Road safety campaigners argued reducing the frequency of MoT tests for cars could lead to an increase in road deaths.

So dose that mean motorcycles aswell .and will all the vehicles be SAFE with NO m.o.t on the road

[Oliverreilly]

I'm assuming it it motorcycles too as they are not tested any differently on mot basics, such as testing the brakes and lights etc. the only thing they dont do with bikes which is different to cars is test exhaust emissions. I saw the article in classic motorcycle magazines so I assume it applies to bikes. Best to check though. Wish they made it 1970 instead! Would make a lot more people happier.

The only thing is, you will get people who want cheap transport buying them as they get tax free too, but the prices of these vehicles are constantly on the climb. It's an interesting one.

Another thing is, they say that these classics are only involved in 0.03% of accidents on the road. Well duh!! That's because there's less of them on the road! That's like saying more motorcycles crash than trikes!