Nine Classic Cars Exempt from MOT and Tax as New VED Rates Loom
Under new government regulations, most cars registered after April 2017 will face an annual rate increase on Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) starting next week. However, nine specific car models are exempt from both MOT tests and car tax ahead of these April hikes.
VED Increases for Modern Vehicles
The Labour Party government has introduced new tax bands that will see Vehicle Excise Duty rise from April. For most cars registered after April 2017, the annual rate will increase from £195 to £200. Some of the most highly polluting vehicles could face staggering bills of up to £5,690 in car tax and VED under the new system.
Historic Vehicle Exemptions
According to Department for Transport (DfT) rules, cars, motorcycles and other vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago can be classed as vehicles of historic interest, making them eligible for exemptions.
A DfT spokesperson clarified: "Vehicles that have been substantially changed in the previous 30 years are not considered vehicles of historic interest and therefore cannot be MOT exempt."
The spokesperson added: "An alteration is considered substantial if the technical characteristics of the main components have changed in the previous 30 years."
Specific Exemptions Confirmed
The Labour Party government has confirmed several categories of exemptions:
- Cars built or first registered more than 40 years ago, provided no substantial changes have been made
- Classic cars that have changes made during production or commercial use
- Classic cars where axles are no longer available (including some Alfa Romeo models)
- Classic cars where running gear to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance are no longer available
- Classic cars where the chassis is no longer available (examples include Morris Minor)
- Historic cars where a monocoque bodyshell (including sub-frames) are no longer available
- Classic cars where the engine is no longer available
- Spark-ignition (petrol) cars that are exempt (includes some Ford EcoBoost engines)
These exemptions provide significant financial relief for owners of qualifying historic vehicles, while most modern car owners prepare for increased tax burdens under the new VED system.
