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I've just taken my renovated 50/60's unique camping trailer into trailor specialist to fit new suspension units.  I was informed that it would need to conform to new forthcoming MOT regulations and I could not use original Mini wheels and tyres, that I would need to fit a fog lamp to rear and various other mods to comply.  As it isn't yet in force i vetoed the new wheels and tyres and opted only for suspension and new jockeywheel.

I then surfed the internet for inforamtion on this subject but could find little of use.  For instance, will there be excemptions for antique/vintage trailers/caravan/TT etc or will this be the death knell of older interesting trailers?   Anyone with any knowledge of this? 

Frank

Unless anyone knows different there are no plans for a trailer MOT. There are construction and use regulations but as far as I'm aware these are not applied retrospectively, i.e. if it was legal when the trailer was built it's legal now.

Glen

Not sure about any MOT thing, but as far as I know, the bit about the Mini wheels is probably to do with the brakes. If a trailer is fitted with brakes, they must work, even if it is below the 750kg limit for requiring brakes.

If yours is unbraked, but fitted with Mini wheels, it's technically illegal I believe, but as glen_p points out, the rules may not be applied retrospectively.

Or have a delve through this:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/contents/made

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/4/made

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/15/made

These seem to suggest that, as your trailer was manufactured significantly before 1983, the braking regs don't apply, but there's far to much legalese there for me to be sure...

Came across this on the 'net:

http://www.betterregulation.gov.uk/ideas/viewidea.cfm?proposalid=4486975cfab5492791cbd00a9139fa28

Pretty definitive answer that there won't be an MOT!

Glen