CLASSIC car owners Jason and Tania Field could be quids in when their 1970s Minis become exempt from needing MoTs.

But the motoring enthusiasts from Headington who collect cars and keep 20 vehicles say they plan to continue paying out to get their cars tested every year to ensure all road users are safe.

In the next two years the Department for Transport plans to change the cut-off point for MoTs, from cars built before 1960 to those manufactured before 1977.

The move would mean Mr and Mrs Field would no longer have to get annual MoTs for their yellow 1275 GT Mini from 1970, and their white Mk3 Cooper S from 1971.

But the couple who own a variety of Minis, Maestros, Montegos and Metros, say they have no plans to take advantage of the proposed change.

Father-of-three Mr Field, 44, who lives with wife Tania, Kieran, 21, and twins Jamie and Daniel, 19, said: "With a 20-car fleet it costs about £1,000 for the MoTs to keep them on the road.

"Lots of enthusiasts are more than capable of maintaining old cars but I still think it is worth getting our cars checked every year.

"Once your car has had an MoT from a qualified mechanic you know it is roadworthy - for about £50 every year you can have peace of mind.

"I'm taking the Mk3 Cooper S to Italy next month for a charity run which has an Italian Job theme so I need to know that the car is roadworthy and ready to go.

"This will cause a lot of debate among classic car owners and some concern because you can pick up a £500 jalopy but they need to be taken off the road and properly restored."

The move will lead to 331,000 cars registered between 1960 and 1977 being newly exempted from annual testing unless they have been heavily modified.

They will include popular models made at Cowley including the Mini, Morris Marina and Austin 1100 and 1300.

Mrs Field added: "We will keep taking our cars for MoTs because it's vital to have that annual check-up.

"Neither of us are experts and I think there should be a degree of safety testing for every vehicle and then you protect yourself and other road users - personally I am not in favour of the current exemption pre-1960.

"There must be thousands of classic car owners and it's a growing hobby so this will affect lots of drivers.

"From £500 Maestros to high-end Porsches there's a classic car for everyone."

In 2012 all vehicles manufactured before 1960 were exempted from the MOT test, following a public consultation which showed high levels of support for the proposal.

The Department for Transport, which is consulting on the proposed change, said on its website: "Classic and historic vehicles are often very well maintained by their owners and have a much lower accident and MoT failure rate than newer vehicles."