wildebus
Forum Member
The free retest thing option is a standard part of the MOT testing. My Council MOT centre does free retests, what can they make from labour and parts charges?
maingate
Forum Member
I would not say a retest is a standard procedure. It sounds good practise when the Council do it because they have no financial interest in repairs as they do not offer that facility.
My point is that the more dubious Garages enticed customers with a free retest to drum up trade.
It looks like nobody pays the maximum MOT Test Fee, all seem discounted. This link surprised me, look at the cost for a Motorhome (these are Official figures).
Getting an MOT - GOV.UK
Although a free retest are commonly offered, there can be a charge. More info here.
Getting an MOT - GOV.UK
delicagirl
The article about seat belts featured here does not mention lap belts. My van, Mitsubishi Delica J300 built in 1993, has 4 lap belts on 2 front facing and on 2 rear facing seats in the hab area. Are these legal or not ? I will not carry passengers in the back at the moment because the original fitted lap belts are rusted into immobility, but i have got some new belts ones and so don't know whether to fit them or not .. the forums' thoughts would be much appreciated
Up to now i have carried no one in the back whilst moving, but the time may come ......
Thank you
Up to now i have carried no one in the back whilst moving, but the time may come ......
Thank you
wildebus
Forum Member
I usually pay the full rate as I think it is more likely the more suspect garages offer discounted MOTs to entice customers in.
Whilst free or partial retesting is not obligitory (hence why I put free retest OPTION
), I am not sure I can recall a garage I have visited that has not offered this in their published and posted schedule in line with the MOT "guideline"/"suggestion"/call it what you like.channa
The conversation was more in respect of side facing seats. Rear facing are seen as the safer option, ( military aircraft configured that way) As for the legality of lap belts i don't think there is a problem but 3 point are safer on forward facing eliminate the risk of submarining.....Also if the occupant is violently thrown forward in an impact the forces are spread across the body potentially reducing the risk of damage to internal organs
Channa
channa
I understand your cynicism, and no doubt some garages do operate less than transparent. Equally with reduced service times etc, having empty ramps costs money so discounted MOT's attract customers and contribute towards overheads. The system is open to abuse so it is a matter of dealing with someone you trust. There is sound business reasons for offering discounted MOTs not all skullduggeryI usually pay the full rate as I think it is more likely the more suspect garages offer discounted MOTs to entice customers in.
Whilst free or partial retesting is not obligitory (hence why I put free retest OPTION
Channa
maingate
Forum Member
I think you need Professional advice about your seatbelts. I say this as your Delica may be a 'Grey import' and be non standard as regards seatbelt configuration. It might be better to let someone see it. However, it must have a current MOT, so must be road legal. It should not have passed an MOT if (in your words) "the original fitted lap belts have rusted into immobility".
trevskoda
Forum Member
Yes a vh can come with 9 seats but campers cannot by makers and its the rules and not by ins co but by v construction and use for campers here in n/i and england.Quite right about the seats regarding belts, but if there is a simple way to avoid the needless discussion about it at the pertinent times, why not take it, unless one is of the bloody-minded arguement for the sake of it persuasion?
The 8 seats maximum is a common confusion, but it is actually incorrect. The cut off between car and minibus in terms of seats is actually 10 seats in total, which would classify it as a mini-bus, that being 9 passengers plus driver.
This has got confused amongst many insurance companies as being 9 seats in total as they often don't think passenger and driver, just occupants, so when you come to get quotes for a shuttle, some will hike it up as on their system it is (incorrectly) a minibus, others will insure but not for business use, and others will insure it as the vehicle it is - i.e. An MPV.
What is quite funny is that TfL with their CC like the 9 seater Shuttle MPV and they can be exempt from the CC on payment of an annual £10 registration (similar to a minibus I suppose?)
I find it easier to not argue with an insurance co. if they have the wrong info as if they get that wrong, then they will get other things wrong as well in all probability, and will prefer to go with ones which have the correct info.
FYI for anyone interested, this is a photo of my own V5C showing that I have a 9 seater MPV
If i find my paper work on this i will post up.
trevskoda
Forum Member
Hi if belts are removed the mot cannot test as your vh is before cut of date,you will not require them being on the lonesome trail,unless you find a handsome chap like me running loose.:wave:
trevskoda
Forum Member
Thank goodness mot stations here have no vested interest as there gov run and tight rules to.
Here is mallusk station behind my cave.
delicagirl
Thanks for this sound advice. I hadn't realised that there were rear seat belts at all until after its last MOT. Whilst getting ready for my trip and looking for more storage i was ferreting about in the lockers under the rear dining seats and found them coiled up, rusty and neatly contained with string, clearly having not been used for a long long time. i guess because the MOT tester could not see the belts themselves, nor could he see the mountings (under the seats) he assumed there were none.
Having now been given new un-used lap belts bought for another delica, i'm researching the legalities. As you say, its a complex area. I may go to my local commercial MOT place and have a chat with them.
Whats a Grey Import ?
delicagirl
channa
Thanks a lot ,feeling the love NOT lol ....Grey imports are just that, imports where the history is unknown. minimal info re a vehicles history eg First regd in Japan 1993 hit our shores 1997 the intervening period very little if anything is known. The dark side is the vehicles could have been written off and repaired, stolen etc ...I use the word could...it is difficult to establish provenance conversley a uK vehicle is tracked on databases all its life .I'd give you a lift in my van any day Trev !!!
Channa
delicagirl
I'd give You a lift in my van any day also Channa ..... i'd even let you feed me some of your amazing receipes !!!!:wacko:
Are you still cheffing by the way ? if so hows it going ?
maingate
Forum Member
It is a vehicle imported from a foreign country, usually Japan. They are usually fairly new cars and there is no big demand for them in Japan due to local traffic regulations. Something like that anyway. As Japanese cars are right hand drive like ours, there is a limited overseas market for them.
Some criminal gangs used to steal them or buy write offs and do them up. They were then shipped to the UK.
trevskoda
Forum Member
When i worked for toyota we found that all cars/vans etc must have the compleat braking sys replaced at 4 years and if engine failed emissions test that to had to be replaced,so in fact it was much easyer to just change to new and old ones were sold of to other countrys,india i think took most of them and other third world countrys as well.
vwalan
thats one of the reasons australia and uk get loads of mazda bongo,s and other japanese vehicles . we all are r.h. drive so we are ideal for remarketing them.
as it is and as been for years uk mot is stricter than germany ,france and most eu mot,s . doesnt seem like it to many . but part of my work years ago was bringing in eu vehicles . many that passed in the eu required work to pass uk test.
but the japanese system was incredibly hard for vehicles a few years old to pass there.
as it is and as been for years uk mot is stricter than germany ,france and most eu mot,s . doesnt seem like it to many . but part of my work years ago was bringing in eu vehicles . many that passed in the eu required work to pass uk test.
but the japanese system was incredibly hard for vehicles a few years old to pass there.
vwalan
body work was a main thing . they allow much more corrosion or poor work repairs .
sharp bits on body etc . plus seem to allow more play on bearings and ball joints .
in some ways mainland eu is stricter like what tyres and size you have . but on others more lenient.
the other one was bad light patterns . uk is much more stricter.
sharp bits on body etc . plus seem to allow more play on bearings and ball joints .
in some ways mainland eu is stricter like what tyres and size you have . but on others more lenient.
the other one was bad light patterns . uk is much more stricter.
delicagirl
David could you explain what beam benders are please - are they legally required on European roads ? thanks
hairydog
Black tape is a bad idea. Use white tape instead.