Mot

[p.mole1]

I'm due a Mot and I don't have a CAT however according to my chassis number I only have to pass a visible smoke test. Has anyone had any problems with Mot stations.

[Jonathan Kay]

Have you chosen where to take it?

I'd pop in and have a chat first.

Jonathan

[p.mole1]

Hi Jonathan,

Probably a good idea

[Drumster]

Mine's a '93 car but with a 2010 Zetec engine. I've never had an issue with not having a cat as I always go armed with the emissions flowchart from the MOT manual. Basically emissions must be tested in accordance with the age of the vehicle and not it's components

[Dave J]

mole - what date of first registration ?

[p.mole1]

Its 4/5/95 so following the dates it needs to pass an emissions test and requires a CAT however there does seem to be an amendment relating to chassis numbers. 

[Wrightpayne]

My car is a 98 pre SVA and only ever has a visual inspection. It is kit built (as opposed to factory built).

Ian

[p.mole1]

Just been to the Mot station and tester seems to think it needs to pass an emissions test! I'm stuffed there is no way it will pass, it was borderline last year with the CAT. I took the VOSA chassis amendment paper work but he had never heard of any such exemption. Could be off the road for a long time.

[Wrightpayne]

Whereabouts are you? You just need to find a caterham friendly garage that understands them. I've taken mine to the same place for 16 years - they're always impressed by how well the handbrake works

[Tazio]

As Ian says, if yours was a kit built car then emissions do not apply, if it was factory built they do.

[p.mole1]

Hi,

I'm in Whitley Bay, I don't think there any many if any Caterham specialists this far north.

I am waiting for a reply but I don't hold out much hope, if they say it need an emissions test there is not much I can do. I am sure I will be able to find someone, may take a bit of time.

[p.mole1]

Mot tester has just got back to me, he says that is correct they have never come across this problem before- result.

[Wrightpayne]

The MOT station I use isnt a caterham specialist, however, they used to MOT all the cars for Classic Carriage before it morphed into the now defunct Caterham Midlands. They know sevens and their quirks.

Sounds like you're sorted though, but as an alternative just find out where any locals take theirs.

Ian

 

[Paul McKenzie]

See p2 of this http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/542070/in-service-exhaust-emission-standards-for-road-vehicles-18th-edition.pdf

Kit cars and amateur built vehicles first used before 1 August 1998 are considered as first used before 1 August 1975 (Visual Test)

For vehicles first used before 1 August 1975 a visual test will be applied.

[John Vine]

Yes, that DVSA doc explains all. 

@p.mole1: For the sake of clarity (and to assist others), what is character #6 of your VIN?

JV

[p.mole1]

Its a bit of a mine field and I'm not surprised Mot testers have never heard of the Caterham exclusion. Character #6 is K.

My car was not amateur build,it was a knock down kit built by a dealer.

I am lucky as it has failed a few tests with the previous owner who was probably not aware of the exemption. 

[John Vine]

Well, "K" is very good news, and confirms a visual smoke test only for a 1995 car.  (Presumably, character #10 of your VIN is "S".)

I'm slightly puzzled by the K, however, as a complete knock-down kit would normally be C.

But you win either way as both C and K for a 1995 car qualify for a visual smoke test only.

JV

[Stridey]

My 6th digit is a K too... supplied as a kit to a Caterham dealer who assembled it in 1995

[Geoff Brown]

From the DVSA 'In Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicle' 19th Edition:

Caterham Cars

"The VIN code consists of the 6th letter of the VIN, then engine code is the 8th & 9th digit. Where the 6th digit is 'C' or 'K' & the 10th digit (year code) letter W or before the vehicle concerned should be considered as 'amateur' built' & as such should receive a visual smoke test only."

Taking this into account & the fact that emission tests for Sevens at the MoT are very 'grey' then the status of my Seven adds to the confusion:

R400D built from kit allegedly by an 'amateur' (me) delivered Nov 2012 first registered April 2013 meets all the priorities of the VIN code as above.........????

 

19th Edition is in consultatation but the Caterham figures are not changed, Find it here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/updating-in-service-exhaust-emission-standards-for-road-vehicles

[John Vine]

My understanding is that, after 2000 (=Y), character #10 runs from 1 (2001) to 9 (2009) and then goes alpha (2010=A, and so on).

If that's correct, your #10 should be "C"?  But how C=2012 is distinguished from C=1982 isn't immediately obvious (apart from the first reg date).

Btw, where did you find the 19th Edition?  I've never found anything later than the 18th.

JV

[Paul McKenzie]

The kit built thing will appear in section '3. Special Notes' of your V5C

[Drumster]

I wonder when the above was implemented. The V5C for my '93 car just says 'declared new at first registration'. I've been to 4 different MOT stations over the years and only once had to explain the 'kit car' emissions ruling with the flowchart that I previously linked to.

[Paul McKenzie]

I had it on my first V5 in '96 and on the replacement EU jobbie, but in those days it was even less clear and I mot'd it brand new ........it passed, but that was pre-emissions regs

By the way, we all played hell when the replacement EU V5C added 'Assembled from parts all of which may not be new', but to no avail   .....Brexit rules 

[Toby S]

Go and have a look on this:-

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/542070/in-service-exhaust-emission-standards-for-road-vehicles-18th-edition.pdf

Gives chapter and verse on requirements and also has details by vehicle.

Caterham is on page 35 of the adobe reader format (p19 of section 1) and reads

"The VIN Code consists of the 6th, 8th and 9th digit of the VIN number. Where the 10th digit of the VIN is equal to or less than 'W' and the 6th digit is 'C' or 'K', the vehicle concerned should be considered as 'amateur built' and as such should receive a visual smoke test only"

I went armed with the relevant pages for the first MOT when I bought the car (it hadn't been MOT'd for 9 years) and although it was a 1992 Supersport, it was only registered in 1997 and is on P plates (long story - but in fact it had been a factory built car for Silverstone) and I was expecting a problem - in the end I didn't need the pages as the MOT station just did a smoke test.

Good luck

Regards

Toby