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New MoT regulations – your opinions urgently needed

The Government is proposing to exempt vehicles of historic interest (vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1960) from statutory MoT test, as allowed under Article 4(2) of the EU Directive 2009/40/EC, and bring the age of vehicles requiring the statutory MoT test in line with The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988.

Now while many of us might initially think, 'Yippee! That'll save us £30 or so every other year!' such a proposal comes with a potential dark side – and it has nothing to do with automatic scooters...

While in hard times every penny counts, is £30 really that much? After all, a good MoT inspector should spot a balding tyre, worn bearings, fading brakes and a mulitude of other potentially dangerous aspects, let alone those that stop death trap imports from even getting on the roads to start with.

So consider this:

How much of a field day will the press have when the first pre-1960 vehicle is involved in a fatal accident? 

What are the chances of new, more restrictive legislation being imposed on owners of classic vehicles as a result?

And how likely are insurance companies to take such an opportunity to sting us as well?

The current MoT system works well enough, employing thousands of testers around the country to carry out annual examinations.

Many of us are more than capable of maintaing our own vehicles, but for those that are not (and even those that can need a second opinion from time to time), I reckon the MoT test should remain annual for all vehicles, whatever their age. You have until January 26, 2012 to register your opinion here; www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-27