5 yr MOT!

[nigel bickle]

Yes really. From 01. 01. 09 all French vehicles over 25 years old need a C.T (their much lighter MOT) every 5 years.Add that to 10 euro Annual Insurance -through the State- on such vehicles and it begins to feel like we're getting a raw deal.Discuss?

[Mash]

Not sure it's the best idea in the world but on the other side of the coin 90% of the cars will be in good condition and cover low annual mileages. It's the remaining 10% I'd be concerned about!Whilst the vast majority of people who own cars of over 25 years old tend to be responsible enthusiasts with an amount of practical knowhow and an enthusiasm to keep their cars roadworthy, this does rather make the onus for keeping the cars safe fall even more so on the owner and I'm not too sure I would trust everyone to do that in the correct manner. Just look at some of the heaps that appear on eBay.For me, I'd say 5 years was too long. I've just done a load of work to my Accord to get it another year's ticket but if I was a tightwad or irresponsible twat I could have left the front wing flapping in the breeze, holes in the sill and other grot unattended.

[nigel bickle]

Tend to agree- but it does seem to highlight the more 'benevolent' attitudes to #old cars# taken overseas.We did lead the charge- back in 93 -with the 'historic tax' band. Now we seem to lag further behind than anywhere else.No vested interest here- you understand..

[wuvvum]

Under the old régime, if your car was over 25 years old you could put it on a "carte grise collection", which meant that if you only used it locally (in your county and neighbouring counties) it didn't need an MoT at all. So I suppose needing one every five years has got to be better in terms of safety.

[Owain-328i]

No offence here, but ive visted france quite a lot, and in my experience (what ive seen) they dont seem to take the greatest care of their vehicles anyway. So an MOT every 5 years on older heaps is asking for trouble really

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Whats this about 10 euro state insurance? I've never heard that before. Maybe its a €10 insurance levy for when you take your classic car out of your departement? When i used to live there classic car policies were available from 'specialist' insurers just like in the UK, and the cost depepnded on the age of the car - the older the car, the cheaper the poilcy. About the most you could pay was €100.

[maxustaxus]

I would be okay about having MOTs every 5 years for older cars of limited annual milage. While I recognise that this may increase the risk of accidents, it also decreases 100% the risk of over regulation and unnecessary repairs, which is something I value highly. After all, meeting the cost of such things takes time out of all out lives whether or not we are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident whatever the cause. And such funds, if spent on dual carraigeway crash barriers or other injury prevention features could well save more lives anyway. In essence, I think it boils down to your values. If dealing with all and any risk is a priority to you then 1 year is probably too long and even shows a reckless disregard for the lives of others (something which today is tantamount to heresy). On the other hand, If you are willing to accept greater risk then 2, 3, 4, or even 5 years may be okay.

[Justin Case]

As, according to so many self-appointed road safety experts, all accidents are caused by excessive speed and could be eliminated by even lower limits, more gatsos, and stiffer penalties even if you are only a little bit over the limit, the question of MOTs becomes irrelevant.End of discussion?

[VWPowered]

ive seen some shocking car here, my polo is on a carte gris normale meaning it still has to be CT'd every 2 years, and i can still drive it wherever i like but yes once its on a carte gris collection, you have to stay in your region and are only ment to take the vehicle out of your commune 15 times per annum, the local mairie stamps a sheet to say you've paid ya bit to go off...im lucky as i live in the arse of france so a rarely ever see the 'flics' which also means others pass their day like that too, mostly old folks in rennie 4's, 5's, AX'x and 205's after to many cognacs at 9am in the morning i personally think its a good idea a car can certainly go downhill fast in afew years....

[Pete-M]

I spend a lot of time in MOT stations and some of the disasters that come in aren't that old. The other day a Vx Combo van thing was in for its first MOT. 55 plate, 40k miles on the clock, ex-Royal mail. Utterly trashed. Rusty sills, no cv gaiters, brake and fuel pipes hanging off, leaky shocks, battered track rods, broken headlamps, loose battery, no washers, leaking wheel cylinders the whole lot. First MOTWhile the Combo was a very shagged out example, it didn't actually appear dangerous when it first rolled up, just a bit scruffy. There are a lot of badly repaired and maintained 'older' cars out there changing hands regularly and the new owners think they've got a shiny old motor when they're in reality driving around in a lump of filler and tiestraps. I'd be a lot more worried if the yearly MOT didn't show a lot of these up.

[michiel]

5 years?! Over 30 years old means every 2 years over here (since 2007 I think), and pre-1960 you don't ever need an MOT anymore... not too bad either.

[ashmicro]

I'm a big "fan" of the Northern Ireland MOT - it's conducted by the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency, which is a government body, therefore objective. The inspector blokes are always very friendly and ready with a word or two of advice if your car fails. Equally, I have been told many times "That's a well kept car, makes my job easy"As a youth, I had a Mk2 Mexico which unbeknownst to me had knackered track rod ends, and as such was dangerous. I didn't know, but the tester put me straight. Into the bargain, he was a civil servant and therefore not trying to sell me anything. I got the Mex fixed that same day, and retested in the same week.Sadly, disproportionately (sp?) high numbers of people are killed on the roads here in Ulster every year. Wee mickey mouse cars like Corsas, Saxos et al are in the main responsible, having been thrashed to within an inch their entire existence. Dickhead driving undoubtedly accounts for the majority of course, but knackered old cars with no MOT can't be good.

[nigel bickle]

The CG 'collection' didn't really work -did it?

Once on Collection -with no MOT hereon, you couldnt revert -so there was no incentive to keep it nice (read legal).

 

Although you could only travel ''locally'' (-local's a big area in France) you could travel outside with Council permission.

So -if its not safe locally -why the difference further away?

 

They've had 2 yr CTs for some time now on everything -clearly doesnt cause a rpoblem over there?

Going to 5 years feels a bit bold -but it does show a differing stance to the ''anti everything'' mentality we have here.

 

10 euro insurance seems to be a new idea -presumably to ensure everyone has 3rd party cover.

 

Only came up inconversation with my french mate -I'll get further details if it helps? here's a couple of pics of hs transporter:-

 

 

 

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/nigelbickle/citroen/dscarrier.jpg

 

 

8 mpg and the turning circle of the Ark Royal. Still makes a statement -doesnt it!

[lovejoy]

BONJOUR Mr Bickle - just LOVE your French mate's DS rig ! superb ...ps, its 30 degrees here, shall I send you some..... ?

[nigel bickle]

Hiya -got on here then - finally.You well? Time you posted a bit of 'local talent'....