MOT on tax exempt vehicles.

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Bernhard

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Motorcycles and motorists canbe fined £1000 for failing to get their vehicle MOT when it becomes tax exempt.
Due to a little know rule, your vehicle is only mot exempt when it has had no modifications from standard.
See Daily Express tax exempt motors.
 
As Eddie says it isn't as black and white as the Daily Express say. All these newspapers sensationalise these things, often just to get people to click on a link.
 
one interpretation might be that a (more or less) 'standard' Triumph or Norton wouldn't need an MOT, but a Triton would need one.

My Commando has a Norvil fork leg with a 12" 'floating' disc and an alloy caliper. On the basis that tnese are 'period' parts (according to the guidance), I haven't MOT'd it. Similarly, my T140 has twin discs for the front brake, but this was a Triumph kit at the time, so I haven't MOT'd that either.
 
daveforty said:
one interpretation might be that a (more or less) 'standard' Triumph or Norton wouldn't need an MOT, but a Triton would need one.
Click to expand...

From Fast Eddie’s linked Govt. Guidance:

Acceptable changes
Click to expand...

It does not count as a ‘substantial change’ if:

...they are changes of a type which can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or within 10 years of the end of production
Click to expand...
 
from the pdf detailing substantial alterations;

.....In addition if a vehicle (including a motorcycle): • has been issued with a registration number with a ‘Q’ prefix; or • is a kit car assembled from components from different makes and model of vehicle; or • is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance; or • is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque bodyshell changing the general appearance of the vehicle; it will be considered to have been substantially changed and will not be exempt from MOT testing....

the formatting has been lost in the cut and paste, but I would interpret a Triton as being assembled from diferent makes and model of vehicle. No axe to grind on this, my featherbedded Commando will require testing.
 
daveforty said:
but I would interpret a Triton as being assembled from diferent makes and model of vehicle.
Click to expand...

You’re a pessimist!
That’s a valid personal interpretation, though.

I ride a Triton, on free tax and no annual test, because, for one reason, they don’t ask for a test certificate.

There’s safety in numbers too. There are at least hundreds of Tritons in the U.K. If someone is ever convicted in a test case, it’s unlikely to be me!

I’ve never seen riding without a current MoT test cert. as a very serious offence anyway.
 
daveforty said:
the formatting has been lost in the cut and paste, but I would interpret a Triton as being assembled from diferent makes and model of vehicle. No axe to grind on this, my featherbedded Commando will require testing.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure it would. I think you could drive a bus through the gaps in this wording!

A Norton twin engine in a Norton frame that Norton fitted twin engines into would seem to be ok without MOT by my reckoning.

Still, an mot is hardly a big deal, so probably sensible to err on the cautious side.
 
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Just to play Devil's advocate here (Sorry, washing's in and little else to do!) Ford made four cylinder engines from 38-360bhp.
So 'just' an engine swap from same manufacturer might throw up issues elsewhere???
 
I've kept the old MoTs from before they were not required to sort of prove each bike was ok at that time.
But obviously they do not prove I have made a change since the last MoT.

See you guys in the Tower of London awaiting our fate by the DVLA :oops:
 
Triton Thrasher said:
You’re a pessimist!
That’s a valid personal interpretation, though.

I ride a Triton, on free tax and no annual test, because, for one reason, they don’t ask for a test certificate.

There’s safety in numbers too. There are at least hundreds of Tritons in the U.K. If someone is ever convicted in a test case, it’s unlikely to be me!

I’ve never seen riding without a current MoT test cert. as a very serious offence anyway.
Click to expand...
Typical leather clad Triton riding hoodlum !
 

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