MOT/TAX exemption 40 years old. Confused

castle96

Hi, am considering buying a 1985 modified 110 Landrover
First regd 21/6/85
Last MOT 17/4/25
"Tax due 1/11/25"

Advertised as "tax/mot free from 2026"

OK so 40 yrs old on 21/6/26 but I read
"Cars generally become MOT-exempt when they reach 40 years old, provided they meet the following conditions:

• The vehicle was first registered more than 40 years ago.
• No substantial modifications have been made in the last 30 years (e.g., engine changes).

For vehicles sold new in the UK and first registered in the UK it is the ‘first registration’ date that is used to determine eligibility.

Vehicles are exempt from paying vehicle tax if they were built before 1 January 1984. This means that from 1 April 2024, owners of such vehicles can apply to stop paying vehicle tax"

Also - Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT and vehicle tax: Eligibility - GOV.UK   mentions regd before

8/1/85.

Has original V8, drums on rear axle Landr, discs on front RangeR (how does this work?!), not sure about g/box.

Engine seems to falll between 1984 (Strombergs and 1965 SU),  91 and 135bhp so .....? which  B872PPV

So when does MOT or tax or both, cease??  TIA

 

HHarry

1st April 2026 by my reckoning.  Anything registered / built before 1st Jan 1986 would be exempt from the 1/4/26.

If the MOT runs to the 16th April 2026 then it won’t need another one.

The V5c will need updating to ‘historic’ vehicle.

sparklymarkly

With ‘historic vehicles’ you do still have to ‘tax’ them but the rate is zero. 

It seems daft but if you don’t ‘tax’ one, you can be fined for having no tax even though it’s actually free anyway!
Also, you need to SORN it if you don’t tax it.

MOT is not compulsory on historics but many people still do an MOT either before selling (mainly to prove it’s roadworthiness to potential buyers) and some owners just do it for their own peace of mind.

castle96

Thanks all - appreciate the above as so, but its the dates/eligibility that I need clarity on

paul_c123

castle96 said:

Thanks all - appreciate the above as so, but its the dates/eligibility that I need clarity on

Clarified in post 2

flaneurs_lobster

What's the thinking behind vehicles not needing an MOT post-40yo?

Isn't the MOT there to make sure the car is safe to be on the road? Can see how the driver might choose to drive a deathtrap but seems unfair on other road users if/when the brakes fail or the engine falls out.

castle96

'Usually' many historic vehicles are better maintained than newer ones (possibly)

Aretnap

flaneurs_lobster said:

What's the thinking behind vehicles not needing an MOT post-40yo?

Isn't the MOT there to make sure the car is safe to be on the road? Can see how the driver might choose to drive a deathtrap but seems unfair on other road users if/when the brakes fail or the engine falls out.

The MOT is mainly designed to catch the drivers who never get their car serviced, never check their tyres, never look under the bonnet, never get round to dealing with that rattling noise coming from the back... It's fair to say that not many classic car owners fall into that category.

Cars that are 40+ years old tend to be lovingly maintained by definition - if they weren't they would have rusted to dust decades ago. 

There's also the practical issue of the small number of mechanics experienced in dealing with cars that old: not ask MOT stations would be able to correctly deal with them.

Mildly_Miffed

castle96 said:

Hi, am considering buying a 1985 modified 110 Landrover
First regd 21/6/85
Last MOT 17/4/25
"Tax due 1/11/25"

So when does MOT or tax or both, cease??

It's already MOT exempt on age.

This is the fullest published explanation of what changes render the car outside of MOT exemption.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/670431/vehicles-of-historical-interest-substantial-change-guidance.pdf

Ultimately, the decider of whether a particular vehicle is MOT exempt or not would be a court in deciding if you were guilty or not guilty of driving without a required MOT...

As with all vehicles, tax is due immediately on change of keeper.

That tax becomes free from April 2026, when you can change it to Historic Vehicle tax class. You still need to tax it, and continuous insurance/SORN still apply.
https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

If you can prove it was built in 1984, not 85, then it'd be eligible to be changed now.

jimjames

flaneurs_lobster said:

What's the thinking behind vehicles not needing an MOT post-40yo?

Isn't the MOT there to make sure the car is safe to be on the road? Can see how the driver might choose to drive a deathtrap but seems unfair on other road users if/when the brakes fail or the engine falls out.

As already mentioned there is the assumption that classic cars will be maintained by an enthusiast. It's equally possible that someone could pull a barn find out and if it starts then drive it home. Might not need an MOT but would probably fail the roadworthiness checks