My tax renewal is due at the end of the month, and the renewal note says "appropriate MOT certificate" as a requirement. As my car was registered on 1/1/2005 I was under the understanding that it wouldn't need an MOT by law until 2008, even though it's on a Q plate.

So off to the website I pop to apply, click on the "MOT not applicable" option, put in the details and it says "MOT Test Certificate could not be found" and doesn't let me continue.

Okay the car does actually have an MOT (old style, the guy who built it got it MOT'd before I bought it) so I can go to the post office and tax it anyway, but what exactly is the deal regarding the 3 years MOT thing with Q plates, I haven't been able to find a definitive answer. Now that it's had one am I stuffed and HAVE to have one?

There's a load of DVLA/arse/elbow threads on here I've sifted through but can't really figure out what the real deal is!

If it's any help the special notes on my V5 say "rebuilt - assembled from parts some or all of which were not new". Is it this bit that devoids it from the 3 year rule? Is there a definitive document online somewhere that states exactly what the situation is?

Cheers, Sy

I'm on a Q plate registered in may 2004 and my renewal stated i need a valid MOT, i called swansea and they said it was an error and if i took my log book V5 to the post office and showed the 1st registration date all would be fine,which it was.

I have heard though that once you get an MOT and your in the system thats it, your scuppered for getting one every year even though the 3 year rule should apply.

If you have an MOT then no worries, and a yearly check up for £40 isnt too bad anyway, but yes the DVLA do sort of make it up as they go along dont they.

Hmm I thought that only applied to newly built vehicles. ie You build a kit from new parts, its a new vehicle, you get a New (06) reg, and it doesnt need an Mot for 3 years.

Build a kit from anything else ie secondhand, or its a Q plate, I would expect it to need a MoT test after a year, as the car is NOT made from new parts, and could be worn hence needing testing.

Thats common sense speaking.

I rung the DVLA about getting my reg, and they said I needed a "certificate of newness" as part of the documentation.
Thats only needed for a kit car made from New parts and if you have a reconditioned engine.

Do bear in Mind that your calls to DVLA are answered by a Call centre, and they are probably contractors reading from scripts. Its only when you actually get to speak with a Local DVLA person who actually does the job.

Thats my 2d worth.

Car was tested post-SVA (september 2005 before I bought it) so I guess it's the old "its in the system now" situation.

Oh well, as you say it's a good check-over once a year. Just have to cross my fingers that the Q-plate emissions thing still applies and I don't have to sort out a CAT/emissions every year! (the SVA test limits are on my V5)

Cheers all


Sy

[Edited on 17/4/06 by gingerprince]

quote:

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Originally posted by gingerprince
Oh well, as you say it's a good check-over once a year. Just have to cross my fingers that the Q-plate emissions thing still applies and I don't have to sort out a CAT/emissions every year! (the SVA test limits are on my V5)
Cheers all
Sy

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I agree with wilkingj, if the car is constructed from new or certificated reconditioned parts it can receive a new reg (06) and is exempt from MOT for three years as all parts are classed as new.
Anything else would need an MOT.
Sure I read that somewhere, and I must admit it makes sense.

you can still go into the local postoffice and argue, afterall, they only check the mot, they dont photocopy or record it. Hence you could still go in and tell them its new.

DVLA will want a MoT before they give you the Reg, then you are on the "system"

I'm afrad it depends on the luck of the draw.

You don't need an MOT to register the car, just SVA, whether it's old or new parts makes no difference. Trouble is not all DVLA offices work the same way!!

Mine is a Q plate and doesn;t need MOT for three years, bought tax online no problem without MOT.

Rich.

Just to get things straight....a kitcar (or any mainstream car) does not need an MOT for the first 3 years after it is registered for the first time regarless of whether it was built from new parts or donor parts. I suspect this is because mainstream cars can sit around for long periods of time before being sold by dealers, and trying to get them MOT tested three years after they are built would be very hard to do. So it's just easier for the DVLA to say MOT required 3 years after registration. It might be a loop hole for us but the number of kitcars on the road is small so not worth worrying about.

I had mot before sva (July 2004) done on chassis number, and haven't needed an mot to tax the car since.

Andy

just had all this out with the dvla any kit regardless off registration letter (q, age related, or new) is not subject to mot for three years after registration i pesonally have had 2 apology letters and a refund off mot test fee plus an amended v5 document mines a j plate as per the doner which was orignally declared new on 31/12/1992so needed mot this was amended to 25/02/2005 by dvla (new v5) after a letter was sent questioning mot requirement. well worth a letter and price off a stamp (ps cheers chris again for letter writeing mac1ZR)

Regardless of what registration the car is, if it has passed an sva, the dvla have no right to request an mot certificate for 3years. Do not give in to them!! write and complain. This is the law of the land