News - black and silver numberplates, a change of law

 Of interest to UK readers only this one.

Here's a snippet of news that has come out in the last few days and clarifies a law that, personally, I wasn't aware of. I had thought that the black and silver style of numberplate was only legal for pre-1973 vehicles, however apparently there was conflicting legislation that said that historic vehicles are in fact allowed to sport the black and silver number plate too. This means that any vehicle up to 1980 and registered as historic may currently carry the black and silver number plate.

Apparently DVLA are now aware of the loophole and are closing it. In closing it they are allowing any vehicle constructed (that's constructed, not registered) before 1980 to wear the black and silver number plate.

For the official word from the DVLA refer to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs news page.

Ultra Low Emissions Zone London - historics get exemption.

Details of the new Ultra Low Emissions Zone in London have been announced today. The ULEZ will come in to effect from 7 September 2020.

Thankfully after lobbying by historic vehicle groups and interested individuals the policy makers have seen sense and allowed an exemption for those vehicles classified by DVLA as 'historic' Currently the historic classification is on a 40 year rolling basis so that currently means vehicles manufactured 1975 or earlier are historic.

There's no denying that we need low emissions vehicles but the historics are in such a minority as to make no difference. It would have been fairly tragic to think that we would never see veteran, vintage and classic vehicles on the streets of London again, they're part of the culture of the city.

Thankfully this will still be a site we can see after 2020.
Picture c/o Wall Street Journal.

We're rolling again!

There's not often you get good news from the annual budget but this year the Chancellor has announced that the rolling road tax exemption for classic / vintage vehicles is back.

This means that essentially from now on vehicles over 40 years old will be exempt from paying road tax. From 1st April 2015 vehicles over 40 years old will be exempt. Currently the cut-off date for exemption is pre 1 January 1973. From 1 April 2014 vehicles pre 1 Jan 1974 will be exempt and from 1 April 2015 the date is officially rolling.

No real idea why this has happened, perhaps someone in government just likes old vehicles...

Also still unclear is what will happen when tax discs disappear later on this year. With no need for MOTs for pre 1960 vehicles and no tax discs will we have to declare our intention to use on the road or can we just go out at will with insurance the only bureaucracy we have to deal with? The truth will out in good time.