Can I (legally) get away without a cat convertor?
Discussion
It's insurance renewal time so I've been hunting around to see what it's going to cost this year. One company identified that if my car (registered May 1996) had been built in 1995 then I'd be eligible for Classic insurance and a £200 saving (£220 comp!!)
The club archivist has confirmed that mine is one of the first customer cars and that it was built during December 1995 and January 1996, therefore, other than a decent saving on my insurance I wondered whether I could legally get away with not using cats? My understanding was that it was only from Jan 96 that cats became obligatory to fit - and who knows whether TVR would have fitted them in December 1995 eh
Any MOT / VOSA type experts on here who could clarify?
The club archivist has confirmed that mine is one of the first customer cars and that it was built during December 1995 and January 1996, therefore, other than a decent saving on my insurance I wondered whether I could legally get away with not using cats? My understanding was that it was only from Jan 96 that cats became obligatory to fit - and who knows whether TVR would have fitted them in December 1995 eh
Any MOT / VOSA type experts on here who could clarify?
This link explains it.
As a 1996 car, you have to have a Cat test.
If your car was first used between Aug 92 and July 1995 then there is a very slim chance it does not need a cat test - it depends on if VOSA have specific info for that car - and they do have a pretty comprehensive list!
As a 1996 car, you have to have a Cat test.
If your car was first used between Aug 92 and July 1995 then there is a very slim chance it does not need a cat test - it depends on if VOSA have specific info for that car - and they do have a pretty comprehensive list!
Johnyanorak said:
Had many performance and none performance with straight throughs decatted never got a bother
skylines evos audis defender 300tdi range rover v8
never a problem mate
Most vehicles will not pass the emissions test without a Cat fitted or operational.skylines evos audis defender 300tdi range rover v8
never a problem mate
How much money do you leave on the floor?
Very modern vehicles might achieve the cat test results without the cat present, but I would not want to bet on it, especially a TVR!
Just to clear up - you dont have to have the cat fitted, but you do have to undergo the cat test!
Edited by Rollcage on Wednesday 23 December 00:15
Rollcage said:
Johnyanorak said:
Had many performance and none performance with straight throughs decatted never got a bother
skylines evos audis defender 300tdi range rover v8
never a problem mate
Most vehicles will not pass the emissions test without a Cat fitted or operational.skylines evos audis defender 300tdi range rover v8
never a problem mate
How much money do you leave on the floor?
Very modern vehicles might achieve the cat test results without the cat present, but I would not want to bet on it, especially a TVR!
Just to clear up - you dont have to have the cat fitted, but you do have to undergo the cat test!
Edited by Rollcage on Wednesday 23 December 00:15
Johnyanorak said:
Rollcage said:
There is nothing in the MOT guidelines that says the cat has to be present - it just stipulates the pass criteria, which will be pretty difficult to achieve with no cat!
The only one i have failed was a cosworth mk1 ! unknown garage you see 
(I take it you mean Sierra Cossie)
I took my cerb for its MOT with out the cats in, it failed big time on the emisions test, i tryed to argue it was kitt car due to the fact they were built by hand in small numbers, test station was having non of it, Took it back a week later with cats in place and it passed no probs,
Its only a 2 hour job from lifting the car up to putting the cats back in anyway...
have them out for a whole year then next year change the cats back in again!!!!
I taken my cats out... one had no insides to it other was fine... So for next MOT i'm planning to put the good can the left hand bank see what happeneds then!!!
have them out for a whole year then next year change the cats back in again!!!!
I taken my cats out... one had no insides to it other was fine... So for next MOT i'm planning to put the good can the left hand bank see what happeneds then!!!
ridds said:
You don't legally need a Cat on any car.
What you need to do is achieve the emissions target.
Try doing it without the Cat/Cats though.
Technically, if you change any part of the emission control system (i.e. exhaust) you are breaking the law but know one ever follows it up.
Well, not quite, otherwise we wouldn't be able to put any exhaust system on other than factory.What you need to do is achieve the emissions target.
Try doing it without the Cat/Cats though.
Technically, if you change any part of the emission control system (i.e. exhaust) you are breaking the law but know one ever follows it up.
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