Up to 117k potentially lethal cars could be back on the road

More than 100,000 classic cars that aren't fit for the road could be back on our streets thanks to a new MOT rule that comes into force at the weekend. The ruling will mean that approximately 1.5 per cent of the total 31.7 million cars currently used on British roads will be MOT exempt from this weekend, the DfT estimated last year. Some 116,927 of the total cars in the UK between 40 and 58 years old are off the road currently Kwik Fit says there are around 7,800 Minis still in existence that are declared off the road but are now MOT exempt According to its data review, Kwik Fit said owners of classic MG, Triumph, VW, Ford and Morris cars are going to benefit the most from the rule changes as it is these marques which have the greatest number of 40 to 58-year-old vehicles currently registered off the road. Data shows that 12,997 are off the road at the moment Eric Smith, MOT scheme manager at the car servicing and repairs company said owners of these cars that have been off the road - potentially for years - on a SORN still need to make thorough checks before using them - or risk hefty fines. Majority of drivers were against a rolling 40-year MOT exemption Some 56% of drivers who took part in a DfT consultation opposed plans to allow cars over 40 years old to be exempt from the MOT test Ahead of the DfT's decision to change the ruling on MOT exemption, more than 2,000 members of the public took part in a consultation to discuss whether the move would be safe or not.