Reader Rob Fitzgerald dropped us a line over the weekend about an update to MOT regulation relating to the ‘Historic Vehicle’ category.
Historic Exemption – what has changed
The updates took place on 10 March 2026. Prior to this date, guidance from the Department of Transport on the official .gov website for MOT exemption eligibility stated that, a vehicle does not need an MOT if:
- it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
- no substantial changes have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years.
However, the website now states that a vehicle does not need an MOT if:
- it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
- no substantial changes have been made to the vehicle
What Does This Mean?
Such vehicles are known as vehicles of historical interest (VHI) and are subject to a rolling 40 years exemption from MOT testing and paying vehicle tax (aka Vehicle Excise Duty). Therefore vehicles built before 1 January 1985 are exempt from paying VED from 1 April 2025 and potentially from having an annual MOT test from then as well (if you do not know when your vehicle was built but it was registered before 8 January 1985, then you do not need to pay vehicle tax from 1 April 2025 either).
As such, if your classic vehicle is fairly standard then nothing has really changed. It is still MOT and tax free, unless you choose to get it MOT tested annually for your own peace of mind.
Prior to the latest change, the ’30 years’ rule would in theory have meant that vehicles modified with ‘substantial changes’ prior to 1996 would also not need an MOT test, but that has now changed. According to the Government website, such ‘substantial changes’ made to a vehicle are for example, replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works.
In layman’s terms – no substantial changes, full stop.
Are there Exceptions?
There are exceptions and as such many classic scooter riders will not be affected by the new ruling.
The first exception is if changes that can be shown to have been made to vehicles of that type during production or within 10 years of production. So if you have a genuine Lambretta or Vespa factory racer for example, then that will continue to be MOT exempt.
There are also exceptions if parts are no longer available. The rules state, “Changes made to preserve a vehicle where original‑type parts are no longer reasonably available are acceptable. This includes changes to:
- axles or running gear to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance
- the chassis – replacements of the same pattern as the original
- a monocoque bodyshell (including sub‑frames) – replacements of the same pattern as the original
- engine – alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine, or alternative original equipment engines – if the number of cylinders is different, it is typically (but not always) non‑original equipment
So What Are Substantial Changes?
Reading the .gov website, the wording of which is written very much with cars in mind, in our opinion this translates for scooters as:
- axles/running gear – uprated disc brakes, remade forks and uprated suspension will probably be okay. However extended forks and probably motorcycle/ modern scooter forks too are likely to be considered ‘substantial changes’.
- chassis…
- … and body shell – replacement floor sections for Vespa scooters and replacement standard-type body panels for all classics is fine. Cutdowns on the other hand might possibly be considered as ‘substantial changes’.
- engine – This is probably the section open to the largest amount of interpretation, but for example we would expect fitting a 150, 175 or 200 OEM Lambretta engine into a Lambretta Li 125, or a 150, 180 or 200 OEM Vespa engine into a similar largeframe Vespa 125 chassis should pose no problems.
The phrase “alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine” is where it could get tricky. While a Casa Performance 333cc Sledgehammer motor is arguably an, “alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine,” it will likely boil down to how much you have pissed off the copper that stopped you at 90mph along a 50mph road whether they deem it a ‘substantial change’. If you are planning such engine upgrades, our advice is to ask your local MOT tester for their opinion.
Can I still modify my scooter?
Yes, you can do what you want. The Government and Ministry of Transport are not banning vehicle engineering, they are just saying that if you have a vehicle that is 40 years or older with ‘substantial changes’ then you need to get it MOT tested annually.
We reckon this means if you have a Yamaha engine in your Lambretta, have built yourself a trike, or own a chopper with long forks, raked frame, centre bar and tank, then there is a good chance that it needs to have an annual MOT test. Of course you also need to tell your insurance company too, but you do that already, right?
If you are in any doubt about your scooter we recommend you ask your local friendly MOT station. It is better to have it tested in advance than to find out at the side of the road that a policeman’s idea of ‘substantial changes’ differs from yours.
What about tax?
If your scooter is 40 years or older and qualifies as a ‘Historic Vehicle’ regarding the taxation class, then once registered as such you don’t need to pay VED/ road tax, whether it needs a MOT test or not.
Finally, please do remember that your scooter must be roadworthy, whether it is MOT exempt or not. Having a professional give it a once over is never a bad idea…
For more information we strongly advise you read the Government website pages relating to MOT and vehicle tax for historic vehicles here: https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles
