I stand to be corrected but I am somewhat amazed that a PSV can be used commercially without an MOT. I think this needs further investigation.
Yes you can. https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...toric-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteriaIf you use the exemption, you most certainly can’t use it ‘commercially’ (i.e. hire and reward). The limit on the number of passengers doesn’t apply as that’s a restriction on the driving licence but anyone sensible would surely put their bus through a voluntary test if they were planning to run with seventy people on board. If they didn’t and there was an accident, I can imagine the opposing counsel eating you for breakfast at the ensuing court case.
The reasoning for allowing this was because of changes to MOT requirements, particularly (but not only) braking, which meant that Historic vehicles would never be able to pass the more stringent rules, which were aimed at modern vehicles travelling at 62mph. There is still a requirement to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition. A commercial operator would have to show that the vehicle was being regularly inspected and maintained as part of their Operator Licensing regime.
It was thought unlikely that this relaxation would result in a rash of Historic vehicle accidents (which it hasn't, so far), but if it did I am sure it would be looked at again.
Aside from the tiny, niche, Wedding Hire and similar type market, no-one is going to be operating 40+ year old vehicles regularly in commercial use. None will be PSVAR compliant and the ordinary private hire/tours and excursion market would not tolerate such elderly vehicles, quite apart from the large maintenance bill that regular use would soon rack up.
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