Are cars with modifications legal to be on the road

[Jonsv8]

There's a different slant to this: there are mods which leave the car roadworthy, and there are mods that dont (or at least not in a condition where they would pass an mot, I understand road worthy and mot are different things)

Notification of your insurance aside, if your car is not technically fit to be on the road, what then? Lots of cars end up in this state through wear and tear and things failing, but to knowingly do it? A tyre place wouldn't let you leave with illegal tyres. Why should they not take responsibility and not let you leave with an illegal exhaust? And why should an insurance company cover you if you've done it? An exhaust is not the end of the world, but it's a principal thing. And I don't know the answer.

[bogie]

Jonsv8 said:

There's a different slant to this: there are mods which leave the car roadworthy, and there are mods that dont (or at least not in a condition where they would pass an mot, I understand road worthy and mot are different things)

Notification of your insurance aside, if your car is not technically fit to be on the road, what then? Lots of cars end up in this state through wear and tear and things failing, but to knowingly do it? A tyre place wouldn't let you leave with illegal tyres. Why should they not take responsibility and not let you leave with an illegal exhaust? And why should an insurance company cover you if you've done it? An exhaust is not the end of the world, but it's a principal thing. And I don't know the answer.

I understand the logic. Its the same with motorcycles too. How many bikes are out there running illegal noisy exhausts or decatted...either by owners or "tuning" companies. The penalties In the UK are a 14 day note from the nice Policeman to turn up with it fixed (you put your standard pipe on) and a £60 FPN....many owners obviously consider this an acceptable risk for having a loud exhaust

Insurance is slightly different to illegality and you really have to read your policy small print carefully and always notify insurer so they dont have any excuses to wriggle out of a payout or worse, they claim you are driving/riding uninsured because you never told them of this huge list of modifications

Most insurers ive dealt with in the last 15 years are mod friendly and seem to ignore the removal of cats, fitting of noisy exhausts etc, almost as if its a civil issue rather than criminal, so its not their job to care about emissions or noise. They are of course interested in raising your premium to cover it but wont turn away business because your CO2 emissions dont comply

Its a different ball game in other Eu countries though....in some, running an illegal noisy exhaust or decat will get your vehicle impounded and a very large fine. You can read stories online of people losing the vehicle registration doc and being declared illegal for road use, just for 10dB over the limit. Some countries may stop you at the border and not let you in. Watch out if you are going abroad, check the laws in each country and what the potential penalty is before you go.....

[AMDBSNick]

handyman 1417 said:

Tony is asking a straight forward question that's turned into just what BR will or won't do.

I thought Tony asked a question about motor insurance not vehicle warranty

[handyman 1417]

He did but asked about warranties as well. You'll have to go back a page to read it.

[Speculatore]

AMDBSNick said:

handyman 1417 said:

Tony is asking a straight forward question that's turned into just what BR will or won't do.

I thought Tony asked a question about motor insurance not vehicle warranty

AMDBSTony said:

It would be good if the garages could offer their own warranty

In answer to Tony's direct question I just pointed out that some garages do offer warranty on cars that they carry out extensive work on. I quoted BR because they are the ones that I used for my car and was aware that they provided warranty. I am sure if other members have had work carried out by other garages that provide a warranty service then they will post accordingly.

As an owner of a 2007 car it is good to know that my car has a full warranty with no additional annual cost apart from having it serviced.

[tonyhall38]

Dave.....I think you will find the only thing warren tied on your car are the bits they did....not a full warrenty as described ..if instance if a wheel bearing goes...is that covered even if not touched by them....

[JS1500]

RichB said:

Ooh, scratch your eyes out, two, three, four.

Haha! Excellent.