Car seats and MOT's

[Si 330]

Our 3dr hatch is due it's 1st MOT. The catch that tilts the seat forward to allow access to the rear seats has snapped. Obviously it needs fixing but can it wait until after the MOT or would it fail.

[Amused2death]

When you say "broken", do you mean it is unable to be tilted forward? Or that the seat cannot be fixed in the upright position?

From http://www.motester.co.uk/CarOwnersGuidetoTheMOT/W...

"The driver's and the front passenger's seats must be secure.
All seat backs must be securable in the upright position."

So from that I would say that as long as seat is secure and upright then it would pass. Presumerably the other seat still operates in the normal manner?

ETA linky..

Edited by Amused2death on Sunday 30th May 14:26

[Si 330]

The seat holds it's selected position and can recline to your required driving position. The catch that is broken is on the back of the seat that tilts the whole seat forward so you can get in to the back.

From what you have quoted it should be OK.

[martin mrt]

Yes you will have no issues with that

[netherfield]

I bet it's a VW.

[s3fella]

martin mrt said:

Yes you will have no issues with that

That surprises me. Surely in an accident it limits rear seat passengers' ability to alight the car?

[jagracer]

Worse case is you may get a stty tester who could refuse to test it or abandon it half way through if he can't get into the rear of the car to check the seat belts.

[Si 330]

netherfield said:

I bet it's a VW.

How much you betting?

[Funky Town]

s3fella said:

martin mrt said:

Yes you will have no issues with that

That surprises me. Surely in an accident it limits rear seat passengers' ability to alight the car?

not really taken into consideration, otherwise systems that lock the doors once you get moving would be banned. and if they got into the back, they can get out, just via the other seat.

[tog]

Amused2death said:

From http://www.motester.co.uk/CarOwnersGuidetoTheMOT/W...

"The driver's and the front passenger's seats must be secure.
All seat backs must be securable in the upright position."

I don't know when they brought that rule in – my 1969 car has seats that cannot, by design, be secured in the upright position, and it has never been mentioned in the MoT.

[jagracer]

tog said:

Amused2death said:

From http://www.motester.co.uk/CarOwnersGuidetoTheMOT/W...

"The driver's and the front passenger's seats must be secure.
All seat backs must be securable in the upright position."

I don't know when they brought that rule in – my 1969 car has seats that cannot, by design, be secured in the upright position, and it has never been mentioned in the MoT.

Good point, from memory the early mini front seats don't lock down.

[GKP]

Certain MOT rules are not retrospective. I used to own a Land Rover with no seat belts fitted. As the car had never had any from new (it was very old!) they weren't - or the lack of them - a testable item.

[jagracer]

Just checked and this applies to seats as well, original design is accepted.

[Rich_W]

To the OP, you'll be Ok. Front seats must be locked upright. Access to the rear is a legal issue not a MOT one.

tog said:

I don't know when they brought that rule in – my 1969 car has seats that cannot, by design, be secured in the upright position, and it has never been mentioned in the MoT.

So when you drive how come you don't flail around the interior when accelerating? I think you may be understanding the term "upright position"

[tog]

Rich_W said:

To the OP, you'll be Ok. Front seats must be locked upright. Access to the rear is a legal issue not a MOT one.

tog said:

I don't know when they brought that rule in – my 1969 car has seats that cannot, by design, be secured in the upright position, and it has never been mentioned in the MoT.

So when you drive how come you don't flail around the interior when accelerating? I think you may be understanding the term "upright position"

They have a stop that prevents them falling backwards, but when I brake hard the seat backs tip forward with me, so although they are in an upright position, they are not locked upright.