Explanatory note

The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 (“the 1981 Regulations”) make provision about the testing of motor vehicles other than good vehicles.

These Regulations amend the 1981 Regulations to give effect to the requirements of Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and come into force on 20th May 2018.

The Regulations amend the 1981 Regulations to bring American pickups and Class VII vans used on the Isle of Bute within scope of the testing regime, and to exclude vehicles with a design speed of no more than 15.5 miles per hour, and vehicles of historical interest from that regime. They amend Schedule 2 of the 1981 Regulations which specifies the requirements to be complied with in relation to a vehicle on testing.

An impact assessment of the effect of exempting vehicles of historical interest from periodic testing on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR. A copy may be obtained from the Department for Transport website (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport). An Explanatory Memorandum and a Transposition Note are published alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. The Directive referred to above is published at http://eur-lex.europa.eu.