DHC Free Road Tax 2021

[busheytrader]

I’ll be applying for free historic road tax this January as my 7V8 DHC turned 40 in Spring 2020. (It’s been mine for 34 years)

Has anyone here applied for MOT exemption as well? The only material change on my 7V8 conversion according to DVLC / DVLA guidance is a change from 4 cylinders to 8. Everything else is the same basic design even if uprated. I still intend to subject mine to an MOT as I can’t test the brakes or emissions from home.

They’ll be several DHC’s eligible for this now. Anyone done this or planning to do this with a V8?

[alc59]

I think you will find you only become exempt from April 1.

As for MOT exemption, not something I would consider.

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles

[Howard_B]

"As for MOT exemption, not something I would consider. "

I totally agree - its not worth the saving of a few pounds for a necessary safety check when driving a car that cruises at over 100mph (legally on the Autobahn!)

[busheytrader]

Hi,

I agree about making sure it’s safe and up to MOT standard. I wouldn’t drive it without an MOT unless it’s to the MOT station to be tested and for the last ten years at least, I’ve used the MOT station close to where Robsport originated, so they know our cars.

The attraction is not having to faff about with SORN notices and taxing the car at the beginning of the existing month if I miss the MOT renewal date due to work commitments etc. The V8’s been in the car and on the V5 for over 30 years.

[Hasbeen]

Never felt the need for a safety check on my Lotus or Brabham F2 cars.
The Brabham won every race it started in the 20 month period I owned it, either it's class in F1 races, or outright in F2 races, so I must have been putting it together right.

Yes if you don't have the experience or gear to check the car yourself, but m 7 & 8 have not been tested by anyone but us in the last 18 years.

Hasbeen

[FI Spyder]

We used to have safety checks a number of years back, then they disappeared except for emissions test, then those disappeared as cars became more reliable and more smog free and the expense seemed more and more unnecessary. Distant memory now.

[seven]

I'd be fairly certain ruby won't pass for exemption when it is finally on the road, though I will have a good try at saving £250 odd a year Although all her changes are towards efficiency and safety, but not in the last 10 years before the end of production

[jeffremj]

TR7 V8s might come under acceptable changes? Check here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria#acceptable-changes

[busheytrader]

As per my earlier post, that’s my view...

[CamGTS]

Whilst you do need need to apply for MOT exemption - it's a simple declaration and it is not examined by anyone. If you are concerned about your ability to make the MOT exempt declaration I would be inclined to take the car to a MOT test station that knows and cares about classics and get their opinion - so no going to Half**** . As I say no one examines it for historic status/MOT exemption and as TR7s with V8s were called TR8s it's the same car just using a different engine from that which was available in other models in the TR7/8 model range. A change of engine from another model in the range is acceptable and looking at the MOT guidelines it appears the change to the number of cylinders is explicitly allowed for -

"If the number of cylinders in an engine is different from the original, it is likely to be, but not necessarily, , the case that the current engine is not alternative original equipment."

To be able to apply for Historic class and thus road tax exemption all you need to have is confirmation that your car was built more than 40 years ago as at 1st April in the relevant year (not registered as that could be years later for TR7s) which will be on your V5 and DVLA will be able to check that. If however it was an import then your V5 will state the date of first registration in the UK but this isn't the relevant date for tax exemption in which case a British Heritage certificate will do the job. In some cases however the V5 for an import may also show the build date as in the case of my Sunbeam Lotus (which was imported from the Isle of Man) and will be tax & MOT exempt from 1st April - yipee. Got to wait until next year for my TR8 though

[saabfast]

I may have misread your post but the BUILD date is not on the V5 (not for any of my cars anyway), only the first REGISTRATION date. It is the build date that you need to get the Heritage Certificate for.

My 7 is MOT free this year (it is MOT'd through to November anyway despite not having been on the road for the past year apart from driving for the MOT). As said, MOT exemption is by declaration on form V112.

The Tax free date is based on the build date, if you have it, or the registration date if not. It is the age (ie over 40 years) on 1st January of the year and applies after 1st April of that year. My car was registered on 9th March 1981 so, unless I get a Heritage Certificate that shows it was built before 1st Jan 1981, it will not be tax free until 1st January 2022, applying from 1st April 2022. If the certificate shows it was built before 1st January 1981 (ie in 1980) it will be tax free from 1st April 2021.

I need to get my finger out and get the certificate if there is any chance of it being tax free this year (assuming there is somewhere to go in it this year).

EDIT: Just done it while it is in my mind, fingers crossed it was in the dealers showroom for 4 months!

[CamGTS]

Yep sorry just checked and my V5 for TR8 doesn't have build date but V5 for my Sunbeam Lotus does. Odd!

[Howard_B]

For what its worth my 7 was built in Sept '81, but not registered until April '82 so you may be lucky.

[jeffremj]

Mine was built June '81 and registered Feb. '82. I bought it in 1990 with the V8 already fitted and with the details registered with the DVLA.

[jeffremj]

I'd be fairly certain ruby won't pass for exemption when it is finally on the road, though I will have a good try at saving £250 odd a year Although all her changes are towards efficiency and safety, but not in the last 10 years before the end of production

What about the 'environmental performance' part? If you fit a V8 with a full 3 way catalyst system the substantial change 'seems' to become 'acceptable'?