Will the budget affect classic car road tax

[Hamish]

Can’t find a discussion on here about the possibility of the reintroduction of road tax (ved) on our classics 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-15167351/amp/Chancellor-target-classic-cars-Budget-scrapping-40-year-tax-exemption.html

 

Is there anything we can do ??

was the rolling 40 year rule a mistake ?

should it have been a fixed year like 1975 ? 

[AndyR100]

I suspect most things are up for discussion within the Treasury, however unless you are in the room it is all ifs, buts and maybes. We’ll all know soon enough.

[Steve-B]

There’s as many opinions as there are holes in the moon, and as Andy said above we’ll know soon enough. When I opened a thread about it on Pistonheads the responses were interesting. There’s an interesting suggestion from several if this does come to fruition then taxing a vintage car for  6  months then SORN for 6 might mitigate ££s. 

[harlequin]

7 hours ago, Steve-B said:

 There’s an interesting suggestion from several if this does come to fruition then taxing a vintage car for  6  months then SORN for 6 might mitigate ££s. 

That's what I do with my campervan 

George 

[trchris]

That’s labour for you if it happens they see the classic car owner as a well off taxable solution to help fill the “black hole” they’re always bleeping on about 

Chris

Edited October 21, 2025 by trchris

[Ecosse]

I suspect the government view is that generally 'Historics' are owned by 'Public Enemies No.1', namely well off pensioners, so prime target for a hit. Probably not the end of the world if only one Historic is in the garage, multiple Historics could be a different story, particularly if they are used all year round and not SORN'd for any period. 

Time shall tell.

Cliff

[Steve-B]

I have a dear friend with > ±20 classics in his barns, he keeps 'em all on SORN unless he knows he shall be using one for an upcoming event. They're all insured and road ready for when he does use them, but he sees no sense in doing it any other way. With the likelihood of another ££ grab I believe a number of us will do similarly!

[TR Rob]

24 minutes ago, Steve-B said:

I have a dear friend with > ±20 classics in his barns, he keeps 'em all on SORN unless he knows he shall be using one for an upcoming event. They're all insured and road ready for when he does use them, but he sees no sense in doing it any other way. With the likelihood of another ££ grab I believe a number of us will do similarly!

Already doing that with my x3 ‘classics’ Just unSORN them as and when I want to use them. Just needs a bit of planning and organising !!

 

 

[Ecosse]

I wonder why 'Historics' need to be on a SORN, currently it does not cost anything to have them un-SORN'd all year round. 

[Lebro]

Quite !

Bob

[Tim T]

2 hours ago, Ecosse said:

I wonder why 'Historics' need to be on a SORN, currently it does not cost anything to have them un-SORN'd all year round. 

I don’t think that they do if pre 1985 (date needs checking) When I bought my cars DVLA sent me a blunt letter saying SORN your car or else! When I spoke to them they confirmed that it wasn’t necessary. I did get it in writing as well!
Tim

[Charlie D]

TR Rob

4 hours ago, Ecosse said:

I wonder why 'Historics' need to be on a SORN, c

If you are querying what TR Rob said, he actually used the word "Classics" which I guess can refer to cars less than 40 year old which he may well have.

 

[Steve-B]

19 hours ago, Ecosse said:

I wonder why 'Historics' need to be on a SORN, currently it does not cost anything to have them un-SORN'd all year round. 

I'm skeptical given all the U-turns and mistruths by the current occupiers of No 10 & 11, I wouldn't put it past them to change the definitions of older vehicles. Yes that may sound bitter however many of us are retirees and it seems the current occupiers feel we're cash rich. I guess time will tell in the next 40ish days if we're right or wrong?

[Charlie D]

29 minutes ago, Steve-B said:

...I wouldn't put it past them to change the definitions of older vehicles...

I don't think that any car that has wind up side windows  should be classed as an "older vehicle", and would see no problem if they had to pay tax.

[Paul Hig]

As I use my 6 all year round (apart from when salt on roads), I don't even think of SORN as an option

My ony ever SORNed vehicle is my BSA Bantam, which is undergoing a very slow rebuild!

[Ecosse]

32 minutes ago, Charlie D said:

I don't think that any car that has wind up side windows  should be classed as an "older vehicle", and would see no problem if they had to pay tax.

My understanding is that 'Wind-up' windows started to be a feature in cars from the early 1920s and I believe that perhaps some pre-war and certainly all post-war Triumphs, with the exception of the 'Sidescreen' TRs, have 'Wind-up' windows so I guess it depends on what is classed as an 'Older vehicle'.

The term 'Older vehicle' is probably even more confusing than the current vague 'Classic Car' term.

 

[Chris1966]

The reason to SORN is because of the presumption of use on the road and therefore the need for insurance. I know some have bought cars and filled in the V5 (in the post) or had to apply when there was no possibility of using on the road and they then get a letter regarding insurance because either they did not/could not SORN and the vehicle did not have insurance.

 

P.S. As in the new V5 resets the status and presumption is use on the road so tax or SORN, and if not SORN insurance database is checked.

 

Edited October 22, 2025 by Chris1966

[harlequin]

3 hours ago, Ecosse said:

My understanding is that 'Wind-up' windows started to be a feature in cars from the early 1920s and I believe that perhaps some pre-war and certainly all post-war Triumphs, with the exception of the 'Sidescreen' TRs, have 'Wind-up' windows so I guess it depends on what is classed as an 'Older vehicle'.

The term 'Older vehicle' is probably even more confusing than the current vague 'Classic Car' term.

 

I have owned a 1936 Hillman and a 1937 Morris, both of which had wind up windows.

George 

[TR Rob]

20 hours ago, Charlie D said:

TR Rob

If you are querying what TR Rob said, he actually used the word "Classics" which I guess can refer to cars less than 40 year old which he may well have.

 

Yes, I was referring to my two BMW’s a 1988 635CSi and a 1990 BMW E30 325i 

[Trev Good]

This is what the FBHVC is for, they are the 'one voice' of all historic vehicle owners.

Currently, the conclusion is that keeping historic vehicles  on the road without too much beurocracy is good for government as we support many businesses unique to us and a lot would be lost if many historic vehicles are not used as would be the case if they were taxed. 

As most historic vehicle owners cherish their vehicles, these are judged to be kept in a more roadworthy condition than the average ten year old runaround. 

The MoT situation is more complex as most modern testing centres cannot test older vehicles. Just recently, a local tyre centre with MoT testing facilities were nonplussed with my starter button, and then couldn't get their heads around the fly off handbrake!

 

Edited October 22, 2025 by Trev Good
Addition

[stuart]

16 hours ago, Trev Good said:

This is what the FBHVC is for, they are the 'one voice' of all historic vehicle owners.

Currently, the conclusion is that keeping historic vehicles  on the road without too much beurocracy is good for government as we support many businesses unique to us and a lot would be lost if many historic vehicles are not used as would be the case if they were taxed. 

As most historic vehicle owners cherish their vehicles, these are judged to be kept in a more roadworthy condition than the average ten year old runaround. 

The MoT situation is more complex as most modern testing centres cannot test older vehicles. Just recently, a local tyre centre with MoT testing facilities were nonplussed with my starter button, and then couldn't get their heads around the fly off handbrake!

 

Yes but this government doesnt understand the value of farming so theyre definitely not going to care about the classic car industry.

Stuart.

[Ian Vincent]

1 hour ago, stuart said:

Yes but this government doesnt understand the value of farming so theyre definitely not going to care about the classic car industry.

Stuart.

On present form this government doesn’t understand a lot of things.

Rgds Ian

[Steve-B]

Have a read of what may be coming in the budget here .

It appears there could be some taxes a’coming…

[Cew]

The one eyed Chancellor Brown did away with the 25 year exemption, which p****d me off as I was restoring a series Land Rover that would have qualified a month later!.

My  1986 Bentley will be eligible in April 2027 so on past luck that I have it may well go the same way as the L.R. (i.e. scrapped for parts)  if this were to happen.

[tim hunt]

My current Historic 'Tax' expires on 31/1. It sounds like Rachel from Accounts is likely to go for the classic vehicle community's jugular. The budget statement is planned for 26/11 and AFAIK any changes to vehicle taxation announced in a budget are effective immediately.

I plan to declare SORN before 26/11 then 'Tax' the TR immediately for 12 months. If our fears are not realised I will be no worse off but if we lose tax-free status on 26/11then at least I will have an extra nine months tax-free TR driving.

Tim