MOT?

[jonow]

Can anyone advise if a broken odometer is a MOT failure?

Thanks

[cambiker71]

Speedometer is but the rules are vague, no mention of odometer in the manuals though.

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/b...

Section 6 (page 6.7) in the class IV manual, assuming it's a car you're asking about?

[felixlighter]

I'm not sure the speedo is a requirement for an MOT?

[niagra]

I've had a car pass no problems with both not working.

[jonow]

Thanks all for your replies!

[//j17]

No - speedo isn't an MOT requirement.

[cambiker71]

//j17 said:

No - speedo isn't an MOT requirement.

Unfortunately it is, click my link earlier in this thread navigate to page 6.7 in the car/van classes.
It was brought in last year

[williredale]

Which would explain why mine got through with the speedo working but the odometer not.

[Old Merc]

The Mot tester does not drive the car so how can he check to see if a speedo works??

[john2443]

Old Merc said:

The Mot tester does not drive the car so how can he check to see if a speedo works??

On the rollers?

[na]

I was told be a fellow PHer mate that the speedo has to indicate 30 mph

I've never seen them check the accuracy, how would they?

I do remember from my 1970 edition of the AA Book of the Car (excellent book especially for 60s and 70s classic car owner) that from 1930dot (ish) cars can have a 10% error but I think that's for manufacture rather than MoT

[56Lotus]

What happens when speedo’s were optional extras? My Lotus never had one fitted from new and I’ve always run off the rev counter.

Ignore me as I'm now MOT exempt.

Edited by 56Lotus on Tuesday 15th January 19:23

[na]

many regulations are not retrospective so probably nothing

ETA: I was wrong, see more later

Edited by na on Thursday 14th February 12:28

[anonymous-user]

The speedo will only fail if it is "clearly inoperative", it is incomplete, or the glass is broken. It also has to light up.

[cambiker71]

Old Merc said:

The Mot tester does not drive the car so how can he check to see if a speedo works??

You can include a short road test during the MOT test.
It has always been this way to use a decelerometer for vehicles that can't be used on a roller brake tester, vehicles with a LSD or some with permanent four wheel drive to name a couple of examples, the roadtest is now used to test speedometers too if needed which isn't very often.

[Old Merc]

john2443 said:

On the rollers?

The brake rollers are not a dyno!
The car is tested on the rollers in neutral and the tester only presses the brake pedal.
The rollers turn so slowly the speedo will not even register.
Yes,a speedo is a legal requirement but it is impossible to check it at a normal "inhouse" MOT.

Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 17th January 11:38

[smiffy220]

My old Talbot Sunbeam rally car used to go through the MOT each year without the speedo or odometer working. Never had it queried.

[na]

an update for this thread

I contacted VOSA as this also came up recently on the MG BBS

note the future requirement, which I've just asked about in my reply



Dear Nigel.

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 11th February 2013 concerning the MOT.

At present a speedometer is not tested as part of the MOT (although it will be introduced in the near future).

Modification of the odometer will have no bearing on the MOT and a change in the reading between two certificates will not cause any problems.

I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards

Mark * ****
Customer Service Centre
VOSA Operations Directorate
Tel: [phone]

[Slidingpillar]

56Lotus said:

What happens when speedo’s were optional extras? My Lotus never had one fitted from new and I’ve always run off the rev counter.

As Lotus were founded in 1952, I thought speedos were compulsory then. As far as I knew, it became a requirement in 1934.

But as said elsewhere, it's not MOT tested (yet) and some Lotus cars are now MOT exempt so the only thing one needs to concern oneself is:
a) will I get stopped and the car inspected
b) will the person who stops me have detailed knowledge of construction and use.

As meeting condition B is exceedingly unlikely, one is pretty safe.

General rule of thumb is, if fitted, it has to work. I took a broken speedo out of a vintage car for that reason for a MOT some years ago.

[na]

Vehicles first registered on or after 1 October 1937 are required to be fitted with a speedometer unless the vehicle is legally limited to a speed not exceeding 25mph or is one which is incapable by reason of its construction of exceeding 25mph.

from-

MOT-
'Speedometer not fitted / incomplete / cannot be illuminated / inoperative / cannot be readily seen by driver - (See Note 1) - (see Action 'IN')

(Note 1) – Vehicles first registered on or after 1 October 1937 are required to be fitted with a speedometer unless the vehicle is legally limited to a speed not exceeding 25mph or is one which is incapable by reason of its construction of exceeding 25mph.

(Action 'IN') – Advisory defects not considered serious enough to prohibit the vehicle. They are reported on a Vehicle Inspection Notice explained in the following paragraph –

Where Examiners find on a vehicle roadworthiness defects not serious enough to warrant prohibition, they will advise the user/ owner using a Vehicle Inspection Notice. This notice is advisory only and does not in itself prevent further use of the vehicle.

Even if not prohibitable, some of the defects may mean that the vehicle is unroadworthy and does not comply with the law. Continued use of a vehicle issued with either a Delayed Prohibition or a Vehicle Inspection Notice listing advisory defect(s) risks prosecution under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations or Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations and so it will be in the user’s interest to repair defects as soon as practicable after they are noticed.'