Modifying cars

The European Commission is drawing up plans for a “roadworthiness test” which would mean that all components had to conform with those which were on the car when it was first registered.

Motoring organisations have been warned by the Department for Transport that this “may prevent most modifications” and would apply to “many components and to all types of vehicle.”

It remained unclear last night whether this could extend to routine modifications such as fitting alloy wheels, for example, or bringing cars up to 21st century standards.

The move comes within months of the Government in Britain drawing up its own plans to exempt classic cars - those built before 1960 - from the MoT test altogether.

According to the latest official figures there are 162, 000 cars on the road which are more than 50 years old, equivalent to 0.6 per cent of the total.

The Department for Transport believed that exempting them from the MoT was justified because classic cars were normally lovingly maintained and had a lower accident rate than newer models.

However according to the EU document “Vehicles of historic interest are supposed to conserve heritage of the époque they have been built”.

At the same time, the EU appears to believe that member states should be given the power to set their own standards for “specialised” vehicles, which is understood to include classic cars.

It is understood the DfT is seeking clarification of the EU plans which appear to make it impossible for owners of older cars to modify their vehicles to bring them up to modern safety standards.