News Published on : 28-Mar-2022 16:39:44

A recent survey shows 84 per cent of classic and specialist car owners are against the Department for Transport s anti-tampering proposals that would outlaw tampering with a system part or component of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on the road. The poll by classic and enthusiast vehicle insurance specialist Footman James shows that 84 per cent of the 4 500 respondents are opposed to this proposal which if implemented could have a detrimental impact on the UK classic car motorsport and custom aftermarket industry. Nearly six months after the planned legislation announcement the classic car industry is still not clear on what the future has in store for their cars should they be adapted updated or tampered with as the regulations state. Said Government consultation report entitled Future of transport regulatory review: modernising vehicle standards was published on 12 November 2021 and it has had the classic vehicle community worried ever since. The goals that the Government describes have the best of intentions however it is when you read deeper into the Tackling Tampering section that each paragraph and future offence could easily be applied to the classic vehicle industry. These offences include: Supplying installing or advertising a tampering product for a vehicle or Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) Removing reducing the effectiveness of or rendering inoperative a system part or component for a vehicle/NRMM and advertising such services Allowing for use or providing a vehicle or NRMM that has had the operations described in the previous two points performed on it Managing Director of Footman James David Bond said: The proposals by the Government are hopefully in their infancy as they appear somewhat ill-thought-out. The offences described in this report could be applied to all vehicle restoration modification and competition preparation services with potential to jeopardise not only the economic benefits we feel from the classic vehicle scene but the immense cultural and historical record that enthusiasts inadvertently look after and display.