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[ORNJKR8]

OK, I got some questions about the way you do things in Jolly ole England.I started reading Ultra VW about a year ago.And I've noticed some differences in the way things are.

1.What is an MOT? Some kind of regularly scheduled safety inspection?
In Canada, the only time one needs an inspection is when a vehicle 15 years or older is assigned plates or if s vehicle has been unregistered for more than 5 years.

2.Tax exempt? You have to pay more besides registration and insurance?

3.1972 1200 beetle? They made a different type 1 engine other than a twin port 1600 after 67?

[Rachel]

Hi!  Welcome to ODA.  Right I'll see if I can answer those questions for you...

1.  MOT.  Every car over 3 years old has to be tested once a year to make sure that it is roadworthy.  The test includes an inspection of the structural bits of the car plus suspension, brake lines, etc.  They check that the lights and windscreen wipers all work correctly and test the brakes and emissions (depending on the type and age of the car).

2.  All cars must display a tax disc in the windscreen.  To obtain a tax disc you need a valid MOT certificate, insurance and vehicle registration document.  Tax costs between £0.00 and £405.00 per year depending on the age, emissions and engine size of the car.  Any car built before 1st January 1973 gets free tax regardless of the engine size.

3.  Beetles were sold with 1200, 1300 and 1600 engines in the 1970s.

[ORNJKR8]

It sounds expensive to run a vehicle over there.

The different engine sizes was news to me. Only the 1600 was found in Beetles in North America after 67.But the swing axle was made till 75 in Canada too, my car is a 71 with swing axle.

We only need to pay registration and insurance on a regular basis.My Beetle has only needed one inspection ever.

[andysorangebeetle]

i think we all need to move to canada! i live in holland and the vehicle test for cars older than 25 years is evry 2 years, same checks as in the UK. also if the car is over 25 years old its tax free and its a rolling 25 years.

[ORNJKR8]

We only have to have vehicles inspected if they are bought or if they go unregistered or uninsured for more than 3 years.Our fuel is reasonable too($.75/L) and no emissions testing or anything

[andysorangebeetle]

i think i should have moved to canada instead of holland!