New Checks Proposed in the U.K. for Classic Car Restorations and Restomods

Gabe Augustine

Classic cars in the U.K. that have undergone major renovation or modification should be subject to a comprehensive safety check, says the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs.

Responding to a call for evidence (an information-gathering inquiry designed to inform potential future regulations) from the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency on the subject of Registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles converted to electric, the FBHVC replied: “There may be circumstances, for example, following major restoration or repair work, when a one-off safety check would be appropriate. This may need to be a more in-depth inspection than the MOT, possibly including some degree of dismantling to permit full access to all parts of the vehicle but, in common with the MOT, should assess the vehicle with reference to the technical standards applicable when it was new.”

This inspection should be new, and designed to suit older vehicles, rather than trying apply Individual Vehicle Approval to restored or restomodded classic cars, said the FBHVC. “Individual Vehicle Approval which requires modern technical standards is entirely inappropriate and not suitable in this context.”

The FBHVC, a private organization that “exists to uphold the freedom to use historic vehicles on the road” said it doesn’t want to see changes to the 40-year exemption from MOT testing, however. “The existing periodic testing regime (MOT), with an exemption from compulsory testing for the majority of historic vehicles over 40 years old, but with the provision for voluntary tests if desired, is broadly satisfactory although there are issues with its application to historic HGVs. 

As we have previously reported, many British classic car enthusiasts have run afoul of the current rules when restoring or modifying cars, sometimes seemingly at the will of individual inspectors, so a clear new set of guidelines—including a test—may well be a sensible solution. Rules across the pond are often quite different than those that exist stateside, but it’s not inconceivable that as classics everywhere continue to age (and get modified in new ways, as with EV conversions), updated safety validations may become part of the process.

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Comments

    Owning and caring for a vintage car in England is both a challenge and expensive.

    The laws I have seen and followed are crazy.

    On top of that they want to charge you more to drive in some cities and to prevent you from driving at all in some areas.

    The ACE Cafe is in one of these areas and it is hurting buisness.

    Yeah, I’m sure some suit-wearing government official knows about classic cars and resto-mods. People who have these 6 and 7 figure vehicles built have no desire to drive one that is not safe. If anything, the client and builder will go out of their way to make sure they are beyond safe.

    Regarding what “suits” may know (or not know) about classic cars, some member(s) of the FBHVC, presumambly some of whom wear overalls and maybe even black T-shirts, agree that “a one-off safety check would be appropriate. This may need to be a more in-depth inspection than the MOT…”

    I would not trust the UK government who wants to ban ICE vehicles. Would not be surprised if they have their eyes on the classic cars too.

    I’m OK with a safety check, but it should be done by a chartered engineer or someone approved by a car club, not a government official or MoT tester.

    The UK government is raft with red tape, bureaucrats, and nonsensical requirements. Significantly amplified post- brexit. Awful.

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