I have up on getting MOTs as soon as I could after spending half an hour once explaining to a tester how torsion bar suspension worked, why taper roller wheel bearings and steering boxes needed a little play and why red rear and white front indicators and no seatbelts were fine on a pre 65 chassis. And paying for the privilege.

I have up on getting MOTs as soon as I could after spending half an hour once explaining to a tester how torsion bar suspension worked, why taper roller wheel bearings and steering boxes needed a little play and why red rear and white front indicators and no seatbelts were fine on a pre 65 chassis. And paying for the privilege.

Was offered a fail once as my catalytic converter wasn't working properly

I cannot believe how much time and effort is being put in to trying to understand this issue.

Amen to that one   

Agreed......   

It used to be simple...

Fewer than 8 points = IVA test

Registered 40+ years ago = free Historic tax

Historic tax and no substantial changes in the past 30 years = MOT exempt if you so choose.

Then they buggered everything up for the sake of simplicity     

I notice that overnight the part of the .gov website regarding MOT exemption has reverted back to how it was pre 10th March, ie vehicles with Historic tax class (so by default 40+ years old) and not been 'substantially changed' in the past 30 years can once again be considered to be MOT exempt if so desired.

"Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria - GOV.UK" https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria--2

Brilliant - even more confusion   

Ignore all the recent publicized stuff and you will probably be in the right ballpark...

Ignore all the recent publicized stuff and you will probably be in the right ballpark...

I'd sooner go by what is currently down in black and white on the .gov website thanks.