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Returning to the road DVLA


Ian Cooper

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Hi.

I've just been on the DVLA website, trying to return my GT6 to the road after many years restoration.

The site tells me I don't need an MOT but it asks me for £280 Road Tax.

Obviously a car first registered in 1970 does not require Road Tax so does anyone know if this charge is just a 'glitch' or if my Credit Card will be hit if I send the card details requested??

Any help/advice greatfully received.

Thanks

Ian

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The car remains as 'No MOT' until you tell them otherwise; it's not automatic where tax is concerned. If you tax it at a Post Office (which might be easier!) complete form V112 'Declaration of Exemption from MOT', this takes the place of an MOT Certificate and allows them to tax it without an MOT on record. I don't know if you have to use this every time, or only on first tax renewal to allow the records to be changed, but after a period off-road it might be the easiest way.

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As Colin (and Pete's link) said you need to tax the car at the Post Office and fill in form V112 for MOT exemption. Sadly ,if you want to put the car in the road immediately you will have to pay up and you will get a refund when exemption is approved. Don't hold your breath , DVLA are miles behind with everything ,even farming some classic car work out to private groups to try to catch up.I've now been waiting over two months for approval and tax refund for my 1980 Spitfire.

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No, after all it just means they have your money until the refund is processed.

However, I question the wisdom of returning a car to the road without getting an MoT done. It would be rather reassuring that everything, including brake balance, is as it should be. 

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For what it's worth I put my application for the Historic Vehicle Status in at our local post office as soon as I could in April, the guy did warn me that there was a backlog back then. It actually took over 12 weeks to come through and the refund arrived a few days later. Apparently the DVLA are experiencing a perfect storm and it's not the people "on the shop floor" there's fault, they are trying to catch up... As for MOT's, I'm definitely on the side of it HAS to be done as an independent safety check. I wouldn't like to be standing in a court of law in front of a barrister trying to convince him that the brakes were fine, honestly... Previously my MOT was due in February ( for March ) and I've just had it re-done this week to move it to a time of year where it's more comfortable for working on. Also, should you decide to sell, isn't a MOT trail a plus-point?

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I was aiming to take it straight to a classic car specialist locally, that I trust, to be 'safety checked' as it's very first drive, my logic being he would certainly be more thorough than the average 'mot specialist/tyre dealer'.

But I do agree, in principal.

Thanks

Ian

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1 hour ago, Ian Cooper said:

I was aiming to take it straight to a classic car specialist locally, that I trust, to be 'safety checked' as it's very first drive, my logic being he would certainly be more thorough than the average 'mot specialist/tyre dealer'.

But I do agree, in principal.

Thanks

Ian

Does he have a brake balance machine? I have not seen one outside an MoT test centre. But an MoT tester has a legal requirement, and a test "certificate" is universally accepted as evidence the car was correctly checked in all the safety critical areas. A specialist will have other skills, many will overlap. 

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HI

Throw my hat in the ring?, NOT having the vehicle MOT`d, would be in my veiw an act of the most irresponsible nature. Having spent some near 20 years of my life certifying pressure vessels, and acting on several occasions as technical witness in court cases. I can catagorically state YOU DO NOT want to be facing some Barrister, who WILL cut you in half. These guys ( and girls) have NO morals, Just the desire to WIN.

As a layman, you can at least rely on the "defence" of having taken the advice of a "proffesional" if something susequently goes wrong, which is why insurers employed guy`s like me!. How your conscience feels is another issue,

Pete

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Absolutely Pete, at risk of nagging on the subject, I spent the best part of my working life in the chemical industry ( including working on a plant that generated and processed hydrogen at 300 bar pressure but that's thread drift... ) and the expression used - introduced by the trade unions- was  CYBAT!

Cover Your Back at All Times!

Derek.

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54 minutes ago, PeteH said:

Throw my hat in the ring?, NOT having the vehicle MOT`d, would be in my veiw an act of the most irresponsible nature.

So: just to do the same - why the did the GOV feel it necessary or desirable to allow historic vehicles to be MOT-exempt? As it's a paying service they're not losing any money. We're not all fully qualified mechanics, few owners are fully qualified engineers, so if it's so dangerous why on Earth was it permitted in the first place?

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think it was based on the very few accidents are caused by classics 

we all look after the cars well

there is less mileage used 

and the rules of a modern test dont suit old cars techy

if we all look after so well why are forums full of problems  ???

the whole idea is NUTS to me 

Having a third party to run an eye over what you dont see and a brake test is a very valid and responsible appoach 

those who wish to duck out generally have something to hide but still drive at 60mph or more    

Pete

 

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10 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

Having a third party to run an eye over what you dont see and a brake test is a very valid and responsible appoach 

I quite agree. I can spot an oil leak, tell if the car is running too rich from its performance, tell if the brakes work when I press the pedal. BUT, rust on the chassis, bits underneath coming loose etc. No, I need someone to put it on a lift and have a good look from time to time.

My classic here has to have the french equivalent every 5 years, I can take it for voluntary tests of course as well. A classic put on the road before 01/01/1960 is totally exempt though. Mind you that date is fixed. These rules do only apply to cars registered as 'Collection' which means pretty much standard in terms of engine.

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It’s important to find a garage that understands our classics . I MOT mine at Cracknells in Thurston nr Bury St Edmunds . The mechanic gives me a verbal  commentary and advice. Perhaps we need a list . My next door neighbour had a TR4 went to a local garage and they wrote a MOT without inspection 🤕. This was 5 years ago . 
Paul 

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Hey folks.

I'm not trying to get away with anything here, I've carried out a full nut and bolt restoration and the DVLA have told me the GT6 is MOT exempt.

I never had the slightest intention of running it on the road without a thorough safety check by a specialist I trust who has the equipment and experience of working on my vehicle; and if the DVLA hadn't told me my vehicle was exempt, it would have had an MOT.

Being MOT exempt surely doesn't mean I can't have it MOT'd does it?

For me it's all about safety and there is no way I'm driving on today's roads unless I feel I've done everything I can to be safe.

Don't shoot me, shoot DVLA!

Ian

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58 minutes ago, Paul H said:

 My next door neighbour had a TR4 went to a local garage and they wrote a MOT without inspection 🤕

So effectively it had a certificate but no inspection... which would illustrate the fact that a well-maintained car with no MOT could be safer than one with a Certificate that has not actually been checked. Makes you think, doesn't it?

1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said:

those who wish to duck out generally have something to hide but still drive at 60mph or more    

Given that I have Boy-Racer 'Heaven' a quarter mile along my road, where the local youth gather round a mate's shed to have their cars lowered, widened, tinted and whatever, and have the doughnut marks on the tarmac at the entrance, I wonder which is truly safer: a Herald with no MOT that's well maintained and drives at a max of 60, or a modern VW Bora or Honda that comes straight from the MOT Centre with a certificate, then replaces the standard springs and wheels for souped-up versions for the next 12 months, and has speed tests on a main road... 

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3 hours ago, Ian Cooper said:

Don't shoot me, shoot DVLA!

No intention!. It was a generic statement and totally non specific. The dropping of an MOT requirement for "our" cars was in my considered opinion yet another bad move by DVLA. Such that even one of our local MP`s (Sir Greg Knight) voiced his concern, and he has a large collection of classics!. There is no TSCC group locally, but the EYCC run monthly "gatherings" and many have voiced concern, mainly from the standpoint that ONE major incident could see the whole issue on the front page of the SUN (other trashy media available) and give us ALL a bad name.

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45 minutes ago, PeteH said:

The dropping of an MOT requirement for "our" cars was in my considered opinion yet another bad move by DVLA. 

Am I remembering incorrectly that it was at the request of, and under pressure from, 'Classic' Car Clubs / Historic Car Clubs, whichever you wish to call them?

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28 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

Am I remembering incorrectly that it was at the request of, and under pressure from, 'Classic' Car Clubs / Historic Car Clubs, whichever you wish to call them?

Very likley, I know that prior to it happening there was some debate at grass root level not universally wellcomed. I imagine loved by the "fringe" who see a need to cut corners everywhere, even on safety !.

Pete

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2 hours ago, PeteH said:

Such that even one of our local MP`s (Sir Greg Knight) voiced his concern, and he has a large collection of classics!

Interesting, given that back in 2016 he was supposedly one of those advocating for the forty-year exemption.

https://blog.heritagepartscentre.com/blog/2016/08/24/calls-for-rolling-mot-exemption/

I wonder if he's now changed his mind?

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1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said:

Interesting, given that back in 2016 he was supposedly one of those advocating for the forty-year exemption.

https://blog.heritagepartscentre.com/blog/2016/08/24/calls-for-rolling-mot-exemption/

I wonder if he's now changed his mind?

I suspect that might be close to the truth?. It`s definitely one of those 50/50 issues which can divide?. I know he like most welcomed the re instatement of the rolling 40year TAX exemption but I wasn`t aware of that particular blog post?. I don`t dislike him, he is quite personable, and knowledgable about his own cars but one cannot forget he IS an MP!.

I do agree that the current MOT is overkill for the vast majority of classics, especially with it`s greater emphasis on "emisions", most if not all, of which older vehicles can never meet. But a basic check of the safety critical area`s like braking, steering and structure. Is In my view essential, even if taken out to 3 years (say). Tyres are another often overlooked area, how many "classics" are on "classic" (out of date) tyres I wonder?. eg; the ones on my 13/60 are in excess of 10 years old, they would have been 5+ years old when it came to me!, and IMV then due changing. I see their only journey in my ownership being onto the trailer that takes it for final paint!!

Pete.

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