Classic Car Weekly Magazine 22nd August 2018 Back Issue

CLASSIC MoTS DROP BY HALF
The number of MoTs taken by classics eligible for ‘Historic’ status has dropped by 49.8 per cent year on year, figures obtained by CCW from the Department for Transport (DfT) show. The figures cover June 2018, the first full month since exemption for tax-exempt classics was introduced in May, despite a mixed reception from classic owners across the UK. The year-on-year pass rate for these classics increased slightly, up from 74.79 per cent in 2017 to 77.76 per cent in June 2018, both of which were higher than the general Class 4 (car) pass rate of 68 per cent. Car SOS presenter Fuzz Townshend, who set up the Classic Aware campaign to promote the importance of regular testing, said he wasn’t surprised by the drop in the number of tests. He said: ‘I’ll bet that the figure falls to 30% of the 2017 figure or even lower by this time next year. If it doesn’t, I’ll donate £100 to charity. ‘If people don’t have to do something then they won’t do it, and this proves that’s the case with the MoT.’