With effect from 2021, the MOT requirement will lapse for cars that reach the age of 50 or older. That means that a lot of classics in the Netherlands no longer have to go to the judge. Time to highlight some of the ‘lucky ones’.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle has been the most popular old-timer in the Netherlands for many years. Not surprising, when you consider how many were made and you could never go out without encountering one. Figures from RDC and Bovag showed last year that barely 9,000 Beetles are driving around in the Netherlands. Of course, a significant part of it will not yet be 50 years old, but for all Beetles from January 1971 or before, the MOT will expire next month. That will also be quite a fair share of the Beetles. Incidentally, the Beetles from the 1950s are already exempt from MOT, but they are of course a lot rarer.
Citroën 2CV
With no fewer than 6,663 copies, the 2CV was the second most widely represented classic car in the Netherlands after the Beetle. With the 2CV, however, there are also a lot of them that for now simply have to be inspected every two years. After all, ‘ducks’ from the 1960s are relatively sparse. For comparison; we find 27 Beetles in the occassion range from the 60s and only 4 2CVs. Most Ducks will therefore receive an invitation from the RDW for the time being, but that number will decrease rapidly in the coming years.
Opel Kadett
Most of the classic Kadettjes in the Netherlands will probably have to wait until they are 50 years old, but a wide range of Kadetts A and B in our country will no longer be called up for the periodic inspection next year. For Kadett B, if the legislation remains that way, it will end in its entirety in two years. The Kadett C, the most widely represented classic Kadett, will simply be reviewed every two years until at least 2023.
Fiat 500
Anyone who has a very early Fiat 500 no longer has to pass the judge. However, the center of gravity of 500 production was in the 1960s and so the majority of roughly 2,800 500s on the country’s roads will also be MOT-free from 2021. Well, the 500 is really a bit of a ‘nice engine’ with often very passionate enthusiasts as owners, so you can bet that without the MOT inspection they will not just lapse into bad condition. Maintenance is also relatively simple, so that makes a difference.
Citroën DS
The times when the Citroën DS were still driven in large numbers for daily use are now largely behind us. The ones that could barely get through with a bit of extra help now seem quite in the minority. The MOT will have played a part in that. Of the roughly 1,900 that are still driving around in the Netherlands, a large part will undoubtedly come from the 1960s and for those ‘Pikes’ the MOT is now over. Given the enormous number of enthusiasts, they will certainly be well looked after, although it can certainly never hurt to be extra sharp on matters that the judge would rather not have seen in a fairly sensitive car like the DS.