Last week we had posted about the proposals for the UK to stop mandatory MOTs for cars over forty years old. Well our poll has told us that a massive 90% of people thought it was a bad idea! We agree. We have had a few emails in to us and they have all been along the same lines as this quote below which sums it all up, along with the frustrations.
“I guess the bigger issue for the classic car scene and Mustangs in particular is the issue of modifications….and the way the DFT (Department for Transport), will treat it. They still haven’t issued any guidelines and are saying that any modified car will possibly need MOTing and may need to be identified by a “Q” plate. The issues this raises are enormous…does that include a Holley carb rather than the standard Autolite, rack and pinion steering, disc brakes, LED rear lights and the list goes on and on. My car is pretty much stock, but I have added a servo and dual line brakes and LED lights so does that make me liable for a MOT and Q plate?”
The “Q” plate issue raised here will make a lot of unhappy classic car owners who will not be able to use the correct date plates for their cars. So if you improve a car’s safety by adding LED lights instead of the poor standard bulbs that is a modification and will need a modified reg plate! The government doesn’t seem to have thought this through. Some criteria for “Q” plates are listed here: Self-built constructions, Key Q-plate insurance points, Ex-military vehicles, Radically altered vehicles, Self-imported vehicles, Any car that doesn’t have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Single and Individual Vehicle Approval. The other point is here that the insurance for a “Q” plate car will go mental and we have found similar descriptions for most insurers;
Insuring a Q-registered vehicle:
Insurance coverage still poses more of a challenge than insuring a regular ‘off-the-production-line’ vehicle. This is because all insurance is about quantifying risk, and risk is much harder to determine with any Q-plated vehicle. Obtaining cover is by no means impossible, though. While some insurers refuse to cover any Q registrations, there are a number of providers who specialise in this side of the motor market and have a detailed knowledge of all types of Q registration (even tanks!). In order to assess the risk of any individual vehicle and calculate an appropriate premium they need specifics on every single aspect of the vehicle. We like to think that this will not be the case, but this last sentence in blue could make a huge difference to owning a classic car.
We have seen petitions on the forums to pass to the government to stop these mad proposals. If you see it, sign it and pass it on.
News:
Adam has added to his Mustang collection again, this time with a very nice virtually untouched ’67 Convertible.
Adam is particularly pleased with this little lady as there is a nice option extra that he has seen plenty off in the past, but not working properly. The “Tilt Away” steering wheel. We have taken a short video of it in action.
Customers Cars:
BRC has been worked on by Yogi and has some parts put refitted. The engine, the rear axle, Borgeson steering box and rear brakes are back in place. the front suspension needed new upper and lower control arms and then the brakes can be fitted.
Please keep your comments coming about the MOT debate. As we were preparing this post we have some more DeAgostini parts arrive for the Model, so we will have that updated for you soon.
Mustang Maniac 
Great blog as always. The motor with the white headers looks soooo cool! On the Q plate debate, our only hope in the classic car world is that the workload and resource required to identify individual classic cars with ‘minor upgrades’ so they still get MOT’d and allocated a Q plate will be enormous and it is certain to be filed in the ‘too difficult’ box at the DVLA…and as the driving force behind the MOT changes is resource – with numbers of new cars increasing rapidly the network of MOT stations will not be able to cope across Europe – hence the EU directive whether it makes sense or not.
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Thank you Gary. We are concerned about these off the cuff stupid ideas. We think you’re right that the DfT has not thought of the work load involved to reclassify all the classic cars. So if you replace a part with a third party and not OEM does that mean it’s been upgraded? The LEDs are a perfect example, the upgrade makes it safer and clearer, yet it’s not standard Nd will potentially need a Q plate. Absolutely ridiculous scenario. Perhaps a classic car rally to block the roads to London might make them think. Wecare just asking to retain legislation, not remove it after all. 😠🤔
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