Similarly, vehicles manufactured more than 40 years ago are classed as ‘historic’ and aren’t officially required to be tested. However, they can still be deemed unsafe by the police and taken off the road.
To claim historic exemption, a vehicle must be largely in original condition, with no substantial modifications made to the bodywork, suspension or powertrain.
Many classic car owners choose to have their car tested anyway, just for peace of mind, which is generally accepted to be the best course of action.
What are the most common reasons for MOT failure?
It might surprise you to learn that the most common reason for MOT failure is also one of the cheapest faults to rectify. Official data from the DVSA shows that around 19% of vehicles fail for a lighting issue, which can usually be attributed to nothing more than a blown bulb. Best practice is to check that the indicators, headlights, brake lights and reverse lights all function correctly before the MOT test.
Suspension faults are the second most common but can be much more expensive to fix. Testers won’t like leaky shock absorbers, cracked springs or corroded mounting points, so get underneath with a torch and look for any signs of imminent failure. Also, keep an ear out over potholes and speedbumps, as worn bushings and loose top mounts will make a loud knocking noise.
