Classic Vehicle MOT Exemption

[heli_madken]

Hi All,

Need a little help with this as I am confused by the .gov.uk website which isnt clear.

According to the VIN plate my CBX it was built in June 1981 but the American title document simply states it is a 1982 vehicle.

So Tax exemption looks ok as the site currently says - 'You can apply to stop paying for vehicle tax from 1 April 2021 if your vehicle was built before 1 January 1981.'  it hasnt been updated yet so I can assume as my bike was built before 1 January 1982 I will be able to apply for exemption from this April.

Now the MOT guidance site https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles starts out well - 'the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago' but then when you follow the link to look at the full guidance the statement changes to - 'You do not need to get an MOT if the vehicle was first registered more than 40 years ago'. The 'built' element seems to disappear.

Does anyone know the definitive answer?

I live in a remote location so getting the bike to an MOT station in order to register it for the first time will be a challenge so hopefully the 'built' clause will get me out of this if I wait until April

[Nurse Julie]

It is MOT exempt from its 40th birthday of registration. It is entitled to Historic registration on or after April 1st of its 41st year after manufacture or registration if you cannot prove the date of manufacture.

[heli_madken]

Thanks Julie,

I am assuming the June 1981 manufacture is shown on the VIN plate ? -
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I will use the VJMC dating service to get it qualified, assuming this is the case I should be ok

[Nurse Julie]

Yes, manufactured 6/81 and its a 1982 model year bike.

[Bryanj]

Believe it r not DVLA wont accept the vin plate only the dating letter, as its 6/81 it wont be Historic thill April 22 and its easier to say its mot exempt when historic, it confuses plod less! I registered a 500 historic last october and the new v5 saying so arrived last week

[Nurse Julie]

Believe it r not DVLA wont accept the vin plate only the dating letter, as its 6/81 it wont be Historic thill April 22 and its easier to say its mot exempt when historic, it confuses plod less! I registered a 500 historic last october and the new v5 saying so arrived last week

April 22 is only about 10 weeks away Bryan and by the sounds of it, the earlier you start the admin these days, the better 😁😁😁

[Sesman]

Hi, Bryanj.

I used VJMC….invaluable. Best £35 spent yet. I filled my pants when they sent the Vehicle Inspector to view it as I’d partially stripped the bike for more fiddling. He really wasn’t bothered an just wanted to check the frame and engine number were not altered, which they are not.

I needed to supply VIN, engine number and frame number.

Registration and V5 now in my hot sweaty hands. It only took 6 weeks.

[Seabeowner]

That's the snag. I have registered a couple of imports and one still to do. Got MOT although not required. I feel you are less likely to get an inspection if you get an MOT. Experience anyone?

[Sesman]

Personally I think an MOT is not a bad idea. I’m of the other so firm opinion that an insured vehicle with MOT is less vulnerable to querulous debates in the event of an accident…god forbid.

[Sesman]

….”not so firm opinion….”

[heli_madken]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I more than likely will get an MOT once I have the bike registered, it is just the logistics of getting the bike to an MOT centre. I know I can get insurance on the VIN and I believe technically I can ride to a booked MOT without a registration plate but I just dont fancy getting waved at furiously by other drivers (never see any police around here so that isnt a problem). Trying to get someone I can trust out here to trailer the bike at a reasonable cost is a none starter.

As for an inspector I cant imagine they will want to travel all the way to this remote spot, unless they are paid by the mile of course