how old does a car have to be before it is tax exempt?

max

to my knowledge its anything registered previous to 1979. have a pal with a VW Bug powered trike which is tax exempt bcoz its got a '78 bug engine

Its much earlier than 1979, Its more around 1972.

I've had alot of classic cars and the rule is any car registered before the 31st of december 1972.

yeah Heg is right, when the regulations first started, it was any car over 25 years old, but as loads of older cars suddenly appeared on the roads again, they changed that to cars first registered before 1973.

I think fire engines are exempt too, but not sure if they have to be on active service

so regardless of how old your car will be in years to come, you can never be tax exempt if your not regestered before 1973?

surely this will be changed at some point to accomodate for car generally getting older as years go by..

why should it, as I said earlier, originally cars were tax exempt when they were 25 years old, and the regulations changed to it being cars made/registered before the beginning of 1973, and I think that regulation was with the cut off date was introduced about 8 years ago

I think at the time loads of old cars suddenly re-appeared on the roads, which may also be one reason why the SORN regulations were introduced, as previously nothing was done if the cars wernt taxed, so the authorities didnt know who owned them etc.

and these days I think the authorities wont want people driving about in older cars as they arnt as "safe" and cause more pollution than modern cars.

I am sure there is a service vehicle for heavy machinery that is one of, if not the only, vehicle on Brittish roads without an MOT, legally. I am guessing tax as well.

Edited 9 August, 200620 yr by joerog

agricultural tractors dont need MOT's either

sure its before 1973 too.

but some 74 cars get away with it if you have proof it was a late registed one etc. usually by getting a heritage certificate ( for BMC stuff anyways). thing like that are important if you own a 1974 rover p6 v8 etc could save a good few bob.

if you can prove a car was manufactured in 1972 eg from vin number and records you can apply to be tax exempt

I've got a 1940 ford ex military vehicle and it dont need tax or mot still have to display a tax disc tho just dont cost anything.

fire engines are also MOT exempt