Keep
TABS on your MOT exempt MGBGTV8
Support
voluntary testing Personal safety for both the driver and any passenger,
together with other road users, is an essential responsibility for any classic
car owner. Even if your car is MOT exempt continuing to get a voluntary
MOT or a voluntary TABS inspection and report is a prudent step. So it's TABS
- test and be safer.
MOT
exemption From 20th May 2018, vehicles more than 40 years old will be eligible
for exemption from the annual MOT test. When this was announced in September,
it proved to be a controversial move. A survey of more than 2,000 members of the
public revealed that most thought it was a bad idea as it could result in an increase
in unroadworthy cars on the roads, and even classic car owners have been disapproving.
The rolling classic car MOT exemption (meaning all cars will become eligible
for exemption when they hit 40 years old) is optional - you can still take
your car for an MOT test even if it doesn't require it.
MOT
exemption and substantially modified cars See our NEWS item released today.
More
Check the MOT
history of a vehicle You can check the past results of MOT tests for a
vehicle on the GOV.UK website. You can only get the MOT test results in England,
Scotland and Wales since 2005. The information disclosed is whether the vehicle
passed or failed the test, the mileage recorded when it was tested, what parts
failed at each test and if any parts had minor problems, and also when the next
MOT is due. MOT check
Highlighting
concerns supporting a voluntary annual test for a classic car See our series
of articles highlighting concerns and safety issues that could easily be missed
without an an annual voluntary inspection, even by a diligent classic car enthusiast.
Concerns
with MOT exemption Nic Houslip highlights some of the areas of concern
an owner of an MOT exempt car might miss without the benefit of an annual MOT
test or inspection. More
Further
articles Any contributions from fellow members will be welcome. Contact
V8 Webmaster
Updated:
180107 Posted: 180104 | So
it's TABS - test and be safer | From
20th May 2018 vehicles more than 40 years old will be eligible for exemption from
the annual MOT test. However many classic car enthusiasts feel continuing to have
an MOT test or a voluntary test by an experienced MOT tester will be a useful
check to ensure the car is roadworthy and safe.
Classic car owners must
maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition. You can be fined up to £2,500
and get 3 penalty points on your driving licence for using a vehicle on public
roads which is in a dangerous condition. Equally important, motor insurance policies
include conditions requiring the policyholder to maintain the car in a roadworthy
condition. If, following a major claim, an assessor acting for the insurer should
find evidence during his inspection of the vehicle that it has not been maintained
in a roadworthy condition, the insurer may limit the payout to the minimum third
party liabilities that may be payable. The benefits of any comprehensive cover
may be denied and possibly the insurer might also seek the recovery of the third
party payout from the policyholder.
| Personal
safety for both the driver and any passenger, together with other road users,
is an essential responsibility for any classic car owner. Even if your car is
MOT exempt continuing to get a voluntary MOT or a voluntary TABS inspection
and report is a prudent step.
Voluntary annual
test of an MOT exempt vehicle Owners of MOT exempt classic cars
can either continue to have an annual MOT test with a licensed MOT tester
or an annual inspection by a specialist service provider who knows the
model well. In both cases it is worth retaining the MOT test certificate issued
by the MOT tester or the inspection report issued by the vehicle inspector. Those
documents are a valuable part of the documented history file for the vehicle.
That could make a sale easier.
What
could be covered by a voluntary TABS vehicle inspection? The
scope of a voluntary test will be similar to the MOT test as it has been applied
to older vehicles. Experienced testers with a close knowledge of older cars will
be aware of the mechanical and lighting standards of older cars and how they should
be applied during the test. For example when testing the front wheel bearings
on an MGB with a distance piece and shims on a taper roller bearing, there is
end float that is detectable by feel. To many modern testers that movement might
be seen as a fail so it is important classic car owners seek out experienced testers
aware of classic car features for a voluntary vehicle inspection. Our TABS proposal
is simply to encourage voluntary testing of MOT exempt cars and suggest the test
is based on the current MOT test as it is applied to classic cars by an experienced
tester. The MOT Inspection Manual is well worth examining for the scope and detail
of an MOT test. MOT
Inspection Manual
| It's
an annual test, not a continuing confirmation of safety for the year An
MOT test report confirms that at the time of test the vehicle has met the
minimum acceptable environmental and road safety standards. It does not mean
that the vehicle is roadworthy for the life of the test report or certificate
so continuing servicing and prudent checks will be necessary. A report of a voluntary
inspection of a classic car also covers the condition of the car at the date
of the inspection, so continuing care and maintenance will be necessary until
the next test or inspection.
| MOT
test The MOT test, often referred to simply as an MOT, is an annual test
of vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required in the
United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old. The name derives from the
Ministry of Transport, a defunct UK Government department, which was one of several
ancestors of the current Department for Transport (DfT), but is still officially
used. The MOT test certificates are currently issued in the UK under the auspices
of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which was formed as a result
of the merger between the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Vehicle and Operator
Services Agency (VOSA). DVSA is an executive agency of the DfT.
In Great
Britain MOT testing centres are regulated and licensed by the DfT and DVSA for
the purpose, and the individual testers carrying out the inspections also have
to be trained and certified. The decision to pass or fail each presented vehicle
comes down to the discretion of the tester following the guidelines issued by
the DVSA.
The MOT test
covers the following aspects: lighting and signalling equipment, steering including
suspension, brakes, tyres and wheels, seats and seat belts, body, structure and
general items (includes body and components such as spoilers, bumpers and mirror
housings), exhaust, fuel and emissions and driver's view of the road.
| DVSA
MOT inspection checklist Download a copy | MOT
Inspection Manual is well worth examining for the scope and detail of an MOT
test. MOT
Inspection Manual |
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