Cars you can't use for a driving test...

[BFleming]

I've been doing some research for my son regarding using cars with electric handbrakes / hill start for the driving test (both of which are now fully acceptable by the way) and I found the following information on gov.uk, which surprised me...

Cars you can’t use
Some cars can’t be used in the test because they don’t give the examiner all-round vision.

You can’t use any of the following:

BMW Mini convertible
Ford KA convertible
Toyota iQ
VW Beetle convertible

Check with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) before you book your test if you want to use a:
convertible car
panel van

Hire cars
You can take your test in a hire car if it’s fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules.

And...

Cars with known safety faults
You can’t use one of the cars shown in the table unless you have proof that it’s safe. This is because these cars have been recalled for a safety reason.

You must bring the proof that it’s safe with you when you take your test.

Model Reason for recall Vehicles affected Recall issue date
Citroen C1 Steering failure Vehicles built between 9 Sep 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) between wF7xxxxxxER516105 and VF7xxxxxxER523367 28 Jun 2016
Peugeot 108 Steering failure Vehicles built between 9 Jun 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with VINs between VF3xxxxxxER256527 and F3xxxxxxER017078 28 Jun 2016
Toyota Aygo Steering failure Vehicles built between 9 Jun 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with VINs between JTDJGNEC#0N022080 and 0N026438, JTDJPNEC#0N002099 and 0N002100, JTDKGNEC#0N022186 and 0N031372, and JTDKPNEC#0N002083 and 0N002102 28 Jun 2016
Toyota Yaris Potentially defective seat rail track and/or steering column mounting Some models built between Jun 2005 and May 2010 (‘05’ to ‘10’ registration plates) 9 Apr 2014
Vauxhall ADAM Potential steering problem VINs with last 8 digits between E6077301 to E6113446, and F6000001 to F6006544 29 Sep 2014
Vauxhall Corsa D Potential steering problem VINs with last 8 digits between E6071016 and E6118738, and E4181031 and E4308122 29 Sep 2014

Source: https://www.gov.uk/driving-test/using-your-own-car

Apart from the surprisingly specific information about the non-acceptable cars, the statement that most baffles me is that a hire car can be used if it has dual controls. But it's not a requirement for a 'regular car' to have dual controls during a test, so why a hire car I wonder. Maybe its aimed at driving school cars, but if so why not just say 'driving school cars'?

[strain]

You can hire a dual controlled car from the likes of arnold clark at an hourly rate.

Baffled as to hire cars needing dualled, possibly for their own insurance reasons?

Funnily enough the examiners have no legal reason to use the pedals if they don't want to. I work for a driving school and had the same car crashed on test twice within a few months, one was the pupils fault and easily avoided (reversed down a post) the second was unavoidable but neither time the examiner tried to intervene

[Decky_Q]

It doesn't mention it in your list but a guy I work with found out he couldn't do his test in a 2 seater. He was told it was in case the examiner had to be observed during his test. He asked "are you going to be observed?" "no, but we still cant use this car for the test"

[Krikkit]

Decky_Q said:

It doesn't mention it in your list but a guy I work with found out he couldn't do his test in a 2 seater. He was told it was in case the examiner had to be observed during his test. He asked "are you going to be observed?" "no, but we still cant use this car for the test"

Maybe that's the reason for the excluded cars in the OP then - even though they have back seats, they're not sufficiently roomy for observers to be able to function. Certainly the back seats in a BINI convertible are a joke.

[mradam]

A friend of mine got caught out with the Mini Convertible and was refused a test.....which is probably just as well as his driving is atrocious.

So he borrowed his sisters car for his resit, which had illegal (bald) tyres. Suffice to say two test fees down the drain and the rest of us can breathe easily for a couple more weeks.

Does beg the questions though, why can't you just do the test with the top down (weather permitting). Then you'd have infinitely better vision than everyone else.

Edit - perhaps because it may be too noisy to hear the instructor?

[WilliamWoollard]

The insurance on a normal hire car won't cover a provisional licence holder to drive, to combat this dual controls must be fitted for the test, which would be an indication that learners are expected/covered to drive. It's to stop certain elements of society with no driving experience trying their luck, hiring a car and trying to kill the examiner and everyone around them on their test.

[Funkycoldribena]

Is the IQ that bad for vision then?
Never driven one.

[HTP99]

Funkycoldribena said:

Is the IQ that bad for vision then?
Never driven one.

Nope, no worse than any other car in that sector, they are ridiculously tight in the back so maybe it is due to lack of space.

[HTP99]

Regarding cars which needed proof that a safety recall had been carried out, Clio 2 needs proof that the bonnet catch re-call had been carried out.

[DoctorX]

HTP99 said:

Regarding cars which needed proof that a safety recall had been carried out, Clio 2 needs proof that the bonnet catch re-call had been carried out.

Ours was seen to during that recall. The bonnet subsequently hit the windscreen at 70 mph on the M6...

[Funkycoldribena]

HTP99 said:

Nope, no worse than any other car in that sector, they are ridiculously tight in the back so maybe it is due to lack of space.

I'm not seeing Smart cars mentioned though?

[98elise]

HTP99 said:

Funkycoldribena said:

Is the IQ that bad for vision then?
Never driven one.

Nope, no worse than any other car in that sector, they are ridiculously tight in the back so maybe it is due to lack of space.

Surely that would exclude all 2 seaters then?

[anonymous-user]

Rear 3/4 vision on a New Beetle convertible is not good. With the top down you have a big pile of folded roof to look over.

[Funkycoldribena]

Stupid I know,but could you turn up in a Hummer?

[riskyj]

For the specifically excluded cars, I was under the impression it was because visibility out of the car was deemed to be poor.

[Jimmy Recard]

Funkycoldribena said:

Stupid I know,but could you turn up in a Hummer?

I don't see why not. You could even get the H3 with a manual gearbox

[CRA1G]

Iirc Tom Hartley jr was in the press when he passed his test on his 17th birthday in a new red Ferrari 360..

Edited by CRA1G on Wednesday 16th August 19:27

[FakeConcern]

HTP99 said:

Regarding cars which needed proof that a safety recall had been carried out, Clio 2 needs proof that the bonnet catch re-call had been carried out.

Not any more. When my daughter took her test in hers 6 years ago she needed the MOT certificate with her to prove it was safe.
When her boyfriend took his test in the same car a few weeks ago it was not needed. Presumably all Mk2 Clios now must have been MOTd.

[Truckosaurus]

Funkycoldribena said:

Is the IQ that bad for vision then?
Never driven one.

The iQ has a weird interior where the passenger seat is slightly in front of the drivers seat to give one of the rear passengers some more legroom.

[HTP99]

Truckosaurus said:

Funkycoldribena said:

Is the IQ that bad for vision then?
Never driven one.

The iQ has a weird interior where the passenger seat is slightly in front of the drivers seat to give one of the rear passengers some more legroom.

I remember the Toyota tv advert from a few years ago where all of the models were showcased, when it came to the IQ, 4 rugby players were shown getting out; no chance!

However I do think the IQ is a great car.