MOT/DVLA law changes regarding modified cars

[stevieturbo]

Maybe not the correct forum, but TBH I dont use any of the general ones on PH.
But as it does related to engine and drivetrain swaps within modified cars, it is relevent.
Will also add info on new insurance/extortion laws from the government.
Parts copied from other forums to save typing.

There were new laws passed recently about insurance.

Surprised this hasnt come up. I thought I heard it on the news the other day.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4295834.stm

Basically, if you own a car, or its registered in your name, it must be insured, or else you will be fined. The fact a car isnt on the road, and doesnt require 3rd party road risks as required by law, doesnt seem to have caught their attention.

Yet another law passed, to extort more money from motorists.

The government need to wise up. Motorists virtually fund the running of the entire country. Its about time they fought back. How is another matter.

But what this post is about. I'll copy and paste it from the Forum where I seen it.

Not sure if anybody here closely follows the current regulations and DVLA process, but there is a new juggernaut of legislation being processed as we speak that will in due course make it almost impossible to modify vehicles, swap engines, modify chassis/body shell etc, without going through some very tough re-registation processes. Of course, these very regulations have actually been in place for several years now, but the DVLA is starting to get real serious, and wants to basically close all the loopholes up pretty soon.

It's pretty heavy reading, but if you want to see exactly what they have planned have a look here. It's linked to the NSRA site but is on the main DVLA site if you can find it:

http://www.nsra.org.uk/downloads/Summary%20of%20Inspection%20Review%20-%20DVLA%20Sept%202005.pdf

The NSRA are in heavy discussion with DVLA to try and agree on some more lenient rules for 'proper' car modifiers, as most of the rules are supposedly being brought in to stop car thefts and 'ringing' of stolen cars. Sure looks like Big Brother just wants to stop a guy having fun though.

Basically speaking, no more chassis or bodyshell mods, no axle swapping. No re-engineering of old sports cars into modern, well handling, well performing rocket ships.

More information about the devious coniving that DVLA has been doing behind closed doors.

http://www.nsra.org.uk/legislation.htm

[love machine]

Oh really........

DVLA are completely letting people getting away with flogging reg documents/vin plates on ebay, despite their heavy handed laws. Another load of bollox that they ain't going to enforce.

Better get the twin engined mini on the road pronto then

[flossythepig]

stevieturbo said:

Basically, if you own a car, or its registered in your name, it must be insured, or else you will be fined. The fact a car isnt on the road, and doesnt require 3rd party road risks as required by law, doesnt seem to have caught their attention.

BBC Said said:

But the new powers will make it illegal to own a car without insuring it or declaring that it is not being used.

I read that to mean that if the car is declared SORN then no insurance is required.

Hugh

[stevieturbo]

Correct....but if the car is taxed, you cannot declare it SORN. These laws say it must be insured, whether it is even capable of being driven on the roads or not.

Its a f**king joke.

[dern]

stevieturbo said:

Correct....but if the car is taxed, you cannot declare it SORN.

Cash the tax in then.

Mark

[GreenV8S]

stevieturbo said:

if the car is taxed, you cannot declare it SORN.

I've never done it, but I thought you could surrender the remaining tax (for a pro-rata refund) and declare it SORN.

[Andrew Noakes]

GreenV8S said:

I've never done it, but I thought you could surrender the remaining tax (for a pro-rata refund) and declare it SORN.

stevieturbo said:

...if the car is taxed, you cannot declare it SORN. These laws say it must be insured, whether it is even capable of being driven on the roads or not.

But to get a tax disc you need to prove the vehicle is insured. And surely if you tax a vehicle it implies you want to use it on the road - otherwise why bother?

[stevieturbo]

Say your car blows up, and it may be off the road for a few weeks. You transfer your insurance to another car so you are mobile, for work etc. That now leaves the other car, which is parked off road and poses no risk to anyone with no insurance. That also leaves its owner with a fine.

Say you take car off road for winter, but want to remain legal for dry days. Insurance companies can give you temporary cover with only a simple phone call.. Do you also want the hassle of having to try and tax it for those few days too ? Ive never been able to tax a car for a few days with a simple phone call. Its hassle going to the tax office, finding somewhere to park, then waiting in a queue for over an hour. Its a minimum of 6 months, or go to the hassle of cashing it in again.
That process takes weeks, meantime you are out of pocket.

A car that is parked off the road and not being CANNOT possibly require to have 3rd party road risks cover applied to it, as it isnt on the road bein driven.

The government are intent on passing laws so they can extort more money from law abiding people. If they seriously wanted to ged rid of all uninsured drivers, they would add basic 3rd party road risks cover as required by law, to the cost of fuel. Then EVERYONE would be covered. Uninsured drivers sorted in one easy step, and everyone would profit from it.

>> Edited by stevieturbo on Sunday 2nd October 19:51

[Andrew Noakes]

stevieturbo said:

Say your car blows up, and it may be off the road for a few weeks.

Declare SORN.

stevieturbo said:

Say you take car off road for winter, but want to remain legal for dry days...

You tax and insure it for the whole year and, sorry, it costs you more. Should the government spend time and resources setting up systems which are only of benefit to a tiny group of people who want to do something unusual like this? Most people would say no.

stevieturbo said:

If they seriously wanted to ged rid of all uninsured drivers, they would add basic 3rd party road risks cover as required by law, to the cost of fuel. Then EVERYONE would be covered. Uninsured drivers sorted in one easy step, and everyone would profit from it.

Agreed. Add an amount equivalent to road tax and get rid of tax discs, too. But the trouble is the government would get crucified by all those people who delight in whinging about the amount of tax on fuel.

[stevieturbo]

Obviously you only own 1 car, which costs you very little to insure.

These new laws amount to nothing more than extortion. If you own a car, pay me £££

They will not solve uninsured cars at all. It will yet again criminalise people simply for owning a car. What next ??? As if the TV License isnt bad enough. You have to pay up, simply for owning a TV.

Sooner or later they will find a way to tax the very air we breathe.

[GreenV8S]

I agree it does sound very strange, I don't see why anyone should be penalised for having an uninsured car which happens to be taxed while off the road.

[ifc63]

love machine said:

Oh really........ DVLA are completely letting people getting away with flogging reg documents/vin plates on ebay, despite their heavy handed laws. Another load of bollox that they ain't going to enforce. Better get the twin engined mini on the road pronto then

I saw the sale of VIN plates and V5C's on ebay and emailed DVLA to get their views, quoting one item number as an example. A personal reply was soon forthcoming explaining they cannot realistically police external websites, but if specific cases are brought to their attention, they can act upon this information. I then checked on the item I had mentioned, and lo and behold, it had been withdrawn with no trace of it at all. If you have the time, report these items and hopefully the dodgy guys will get the message. Don't expect ebay to bother, every item on there is a nice little earner for them.