Question about historic MOT & VED exemption

Jules59 · Nov 1, 2022

From the Gov website
Eligibility: "You do not need to get an MOT if the vehicle was first registered more than 40 years ago and no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years."

"A vehicle alteration is a ‘substantial change’ if the technical characteristics of the main components have changed in the previous 30 years, unless these fall into the acceptable alterations category."

"Engine
Alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered to be a substantial change."

My question is, if the vehicle was converted from petrol to diesel by installing an alternative original equipment engine of the same size and number of cylinders (ie 10J - same basic engine ), is that considered an acceptable change?
I can find no specific information regarding fuel types.

Kev12 · Nov 1, 2022

You will be fine, even if you fitted a completely different engine as long as the rest of the vehicle is basically original spec then you'd still be over the points needed

Jules59 · Nov 1, 2022

That great - thank you.

Nodge68 · Nov 1, 2022

If the change happened more than 30 years ago, then there's not a problem.

Jules59 · Nov 2, 2022

Nodge68 said:
If the change happened more than 30 years ago, then there's not a problem.

Hi Nodge Yes indeed. Unfortunately the I don't know when the change took place and have no evidence, but I'm sure it was within the last 30 years. Despite obviously being a diesel, the V5c was never updated and it passed many MOTs as a diesel (Its not checked as part of the MOT test). I have updated the V5c.
Anyway as it has a bona fide alternative original engine I now realise its not going to be a problem.
The only irritating thing is that although its now 40 years old, tax exemption cannot be applied until after April 2023.

Nodge68 · Nov 2, 2022

Jules59 said:
Unfortunately the I don't know when the change took place and have no evidence, but I'm sure it was within the last 30 years.

Unless the engine number is for an engine made less than 30 years ago, there's no proof either way, in which case it was changed over 30 years ago.

I must admit that I'd have any vehicle of mine pass an MOT anyway, even if it was exempt, as its piece of mind for under £50.

Zed. · Nov 2, 2022

Nodge68 said:
I must admit that I'd have any vehicle of mine pass an MOT anyway, even if it was exempt, as its piece of mind for under £50.

^^This

Rich.

Zed. · Nov 2, 2022

I'd say that this is your get-around for engine / fuel changes...

any old LR diesel MUST be sLiGhTlY more efficient than an old LR petrol

Rich.

kermit_rr · Nov 2, 2022

Zed. said:
I'd say that this is your get-around for engine / fuel changes...

any old LR diesel MUST be sLiGhTlY more efficient than an old LR petrol

Rich.

The 2.25 petrol is more efficient and more powerful than the 2.25 diesel. I used to get 22-3mpg on a decent run

Firebobby1 · Nov 3, 2022

kermit_rr said:
The 2.25 petrol is more efficient and more powerful than the 2.25 diesel. I used to get 22-3mpg on a decent run

My old series petrol 2.14 were bloody thirsty old things cute but thirsty. Mid teens at best.
Never had diesel version, but followed one once, smokey and slow was the impression I got.

lynall · Nov 3, 2022

Firebobby1 said:
My old series petrol 2.14 were bloody thirsty old things cute but thirsty. Mid teens at best.
Never had diesel version, but followed one once, smokey and slow was the impression I got.

Slow is an understatement, okay on the flat, hills kill them.

Kev12 · Nov 3, 2022

lynall said:
Slow is an understatement, okay on the flat, hills kill them.

"The only thing slower than a series Land Rover is a diesel series Land Rover"

lynall · Nov 3, 2022

Kev12 said:
"The only thing slower than a series Land Rover is a diesel series Land Rover"

Only thing slower than a 2.25 diesel land rover is a 2.0 litre diesel land rover.

Shippers · Nov 3, 2022

lynall said:
Only thing slower than a 2.25 diesel land rover is a 2.0 litre diesel land rover.

Ha when I've finished the chassis body resto on clients S2 got to rebuild his 2l diesel thats got a 2.25 head fitted to it...he does have a 90 tilt and a 90 hardtop and a RR hybrid along with others so speed is not an issue...lol..

lynall · Nov 3, 2022

Shippers said:
Ha when I've finished the chassis body resto on clients S2 got to rebuild his 2l diesel thats got a 2.25 head fitted to it...he does have a 90 tilt and a 90 hardtop and a RR hybrid along with others so speed is not an issue...lol..

2.25 composite head gasket fits the 2.0, but Iirc there was an extra hole I had to make so it fitted correctly.

Shippers · Nov 3, 2022

lynall said:
2.25 composite head gasket fits the 2.0, but Iirc there was an extra hole I had to make so it fitted correctly.

Thanks for that noted...already found the waterpump has a sheared bolt that they hid with filler but at least theres enough left to extract it but it's not the normal pump it's got the extra bolt so can't do a cheap replacement and will have to make a gasket as not available...

Jules59 · Nov 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Unless the engine number is for an engine made less than 30 years ago, there's no proof either way, in which case it was changed over 30 years ago.

I must admit that I'd have any vehicle of mine pass an MOT anyway, even if it was exempt, as its piece of mind for under £50.

Agree- its MOT'd till Feb 2023 - local garage has just put the MOTs up to £40 - but still worth it, IMO

lynall · Nov 6, 2022

Jules59 said:
Agree- its MOT'd till Feb 2023 - local garage has just put the MOTs up to £40 - but still worth it, IMO

Not motd mine since 2015, might be longer cannot remember!

50 quid where I take the rest of our cars, the price does not concern me, I just hate the stupid advisories/failures for petty crap.

brianp38dse · Nov 6, 2022

If you take a classic motor to a mot station make sure they do not do it on one of the new machines that smacks the steering from lock to lock and and pulls the joints a round, they are brutal on old motors.

Rougharse Racing · Nov 6, 2022

The MOT exemption rules aren't meant to be a strict and inflexable set of rules, they seem to be aimed at hotrods, eg Ford Pops with Jag rear axles and big V8's.
If you look at it in this context the rules and guidannce seem to make more sense.
If you replace the original engine with an engine that is broadly similar to the one originally fitted or offered as an alternative at the time then I suggest that you are well within the spirit of the regulations.

Question about historic MOT & VED exemption

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