We are in danger of this important thread being hi jacked for political ideology again, but trying to stick to the initial point, with a degree of relevant thread drift, I agree with Chris.
We also have the problem in that many on here like Frank are extremely competent mechanics many and I include myself are not. I get my MOT exempt 1935 car MOT’d every year as a basic safety check, they have picked up things that I have missed or got used to whilst driving and compensated for.
I have seen some of the pictures of cars admitted for the IVA tests that have failed and it is frightening that some would think there cars would pass with things like brake pedal boxes and seat-belts bolted to fibreglass panels etc.. These are the same people that may very well be stuffing a 500hp V8 in a 1950’s ford popular and then not having to get it MOT’d again frightening.
I read an article in a classic car magazine that said when they introduced the pre 1960 MOT exemption sales of normal service items such as brake pads / shoes etc dropped dramatically. They are now talking of extending this to cars over 40 years old, if so we are getting into the likes of early Lamborghini Countach supercars not requiring a basic MOT safety check once a year.
To reiterate I am not talking about the competent professional or amateur engineers but for the rest of us and having gone through IVA I do not think subjecting a car for an annual MOT test is particularly onerous and I will continue to do so for my 1935 car. It’s only going to take a few high profile accidents in un MOT’d cars before they at the least will be hiking our insurance premiums dramatically, or at the worst will be looking for an excuse to legislate us off the roads.
The federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs appear to be looking into this as well
AHC FBHVC Report
Also worth noting although straying into the political and it is important to keep an eye on it whilst lobbying, as an EU directive "Directives normally leave member states with a certain amount of leeway as to the exact rules to be adopted. Directives can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter."