South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

How old does a bike have to be to qualify for this and what are the perks?

Does anyone know?

Thanks

You do not need to MOT it or pay for tax , it has to be 40 years old , at present that means built before 31st december 1977 but they will accept vehicles registered before 7th January 1978 where built before 31st December 1977, fill out the V5 to change taxation class to historic vehicle class, and form V112 to prove your vehicle is exempt from MOT https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... n-from-mot take it to a post office with your tax reminder if you have one , you then pay nothing they send it off and you get a new V5 back and never pay tax again

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

40 years!

I did read it was 25 and then it was 30, they just keep extending it don't they.

Cheers Mervin

It was 1962 i think up until last april , 25/30 yearold have never been tax / mot free you may get classic insurance on that age

Mervin wrote: ↑Nov 10th, '18, 11:36 It was 1962 i think up until last april , 25/30 yearold have never been tax / mot free you may get classic insurance on that age

For as long as I can remember, 1972 for no tax, then changed to 40 years for no tax about 3 years ago. The no mot for 40 year old vehicles was added more recently.
Vehicles just happened to be 25 years old when the year 1972 was set.
1997 was when the first tax free vehicle were allowed, and were called "Historic vehicles" by the tax man as already stated by Mervin.

There is a difference between "classic" and "historic".

The former is used by insurance companies, and is generally for vehicles 20+ years old. Usually allows agreed values and cheaper premiums but lower annual mileage thresholds.

The latter is used by the DVLA for vehicle tax & MOT exemption and is for vehicles over 40yrs old on a rolling basis. Although exempt from MOT testing, such vehicles still need to be roadworthy, and not contravene construction and use regulations appropriate to the construction date of the machine. Vehicles must remain fundamentally standard manufacturers specification to qualify for MOT exemption. Vehicles with different motors, altered suspension, chassis, etc., will still be required to undergo annual not tests.
Both tax & MOT exemption have to be applied for. You cannot just assume because it is over 40 you will be ok - if caught using a vehicle in such circumstances you will be treated as anyone else using an untaxed or MOT'd vehicle on the public highway.

I can't see why the old nails don't need an MOT? Granted many are cherished and rebuilt/restored to a very high standard but a lot are left with what is euphemistically called "age related patina" and together with the inherent old technology are very dodgy for use on the road. Same goes for older riders, us greybeards should be MOTed for roadworthiness too



And , no, a cloth cap or pudding basin is not adequate headgear.......though pipe and slippers can be quite fetching on the old flat tank

ptolemyx wrote: ↑Nov 13th, '18, 06:43 I can't see why the old nails don't need an MOT? Granted many are cherished and rebuilt/restored to a very high standard but a lot are left with what is euphemistically called "age related patina" and together with the inherent old technology are very dodgy for use on the road. Same goes for older riders, us greybeards should be MOTed for roadworthiness too



And , no, a cloth cap or pudding basin is not adequate headgear.......though pipe and slippers can be quite fetching on the old flat tank

you do every 5 years if you have a HGV license