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

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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