I know this is going to affect some members, so here are the changes.

Electronic parking brake

Electronic parking brake controls are now included and must be present and not inappropriately repaired or modified - repair obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or modification that has seriously weakened the component.

(The 'inappropriately repaired or modified' check is to be applied to a wide range of systems and components throughout the vehicle.)

The car will fail if an Electronic Parking Brake warning lamp is illuminated to indicate a malfunction.

Electronic Stability Control

Checks of antilock brakes will be extended to include Electronic Stability Control if fitted. The tester will check for the presence and correct operation of the ESC malfunction warning light together with looking for obviously missing, excessively damaged or inappropriately repaired or modified components and electrical wiring, as well as an ESC switch missing, insecure or faulty.

Warning lights

As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light

Electronic power steering warning light

Brake fluid level warning light

Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light

Steering & suspension

The new test includes a check on the presence and correct function of the steering lock where fitted as standard.

Missing, or split/damaged dust covers on steering and suspension ball-joints will result in failure if they will allow dirt to enter the joint.

Power steering fluid level must be above the minimum level indicated on the reservoir.

Lighting

Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high, so they are generally (if light output exceeds 2000 lumens) fitted in conjunction with headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted the tester will switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

The car will fail if a headlamp levelling or cleaning device is inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

Electrical wiring and battery

An insecure battery will be a reason for failure as will a battery that is leaking electrolyte.

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Trailer/caravan electrical socket

There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets,

13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in failure.

Tyres

Tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction.

Supplementary restraints

The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.

Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.

The vehicle will also fail if a Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp indicates a system malfunction.

Speedometer

The car will fail if a speedometer is not fitted, is incomplete, inoperative, has a dial glass broken/missing or cannot be illuminated.

Seats

It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors

A rear door that cannot be opened from the outside using the relevant control is a new reason for failure.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

Towbars

Inappropriate repair or modification to the towbar assembly will be a reason for failure if judged likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer.

Exhaust

A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

Fuel system

Damaged or chafed fuel pipes will result in failure.

Suplementary restraints and Exhaust are the main ones I can see,

where airbags if fitted from new must be present. This will affect those with aftermarket steering wheels.

where a catalytic converter is fitted but missing is also a failure, no mention of diesel or petrol so assume all.

Lighting

Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high, so they are generally (if light output exceeds 2000 lumens) fitted in conjunction with headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted the tester will switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

The car will fail if a headlamp levelling or cleaning device is inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

That's going to upset a few, and please a lot more

Here is the official PDF

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/CHANGES%20TO%20THE%20MOT%20TEST%20EFFECTIVE%20FROM%2020%20MARCH%202013.pdf

MOT, I think it needs a real shake up and not just a few add ons.

My Yeti has done 72,000 miles in 18 months and has another 18 months before an MOT is needed, our Fabia has done 6,000 miles in 2 years and will have done 9,000 ish miles when an MOT is needed, so you tell me if the MOT is necessary or fair test?

I would suggest an MOT every 20,000 miles instead of annually WDYT?

That's going to upset a few, and please a lot more

If anything that clarifies the position in favour of people wanting aftermarket HIDs.

It clearly states that washers and levelling must work *if* fitted, so they aren't actually required.

The only time kits will fail if the beam pattern is wrong, which is as it should be.

My colleague had a Jaguar XK on headlamp washers today.

There's going to be a lot of cars without functioning SRS lights.

On high mileage cars, I had a Jaguar XJ for its first test at 193,000 miles and it flew through without any advisories. If a car is looked after, then it shouldn't have any problems.

I can't remember on which car(s), but I have read a test on a least one high-end performance road car recently that had a movable pedal box but fixed seat position (to maintain load balance).

10p & a toffee apple to anyone who can name the car(s) concerned.

I wonder if such cars will no longer get approval and/or have to be modified to pass the M.O.T?

Don't forget that passing the MoT does not imply road legality. You can pass an MoT but still fall foul of the Construction and Use legislation or the Road Vehicle Lighting legislation.

It is my understanding that HIDs, to be road legal, must be fitted to type-approved headlights. Retro-fitting HIDs into lights designed for halogen bulbs does not fulfil this requirement.

I can't remember on which car(s), but I have read a test on a least one high-end performance road car recently that had a movable pedal box but fixed seat position (to maintain load balance).

10p & a toffee apple to anyone who can name the car(s) concerned.

I wonder if such cars will no longer get approval and/or have to be modified to pass the M.O.T?

I know there's at least one current production model which this applies to, but my first thought was of the Marcos 2500 and 3000.

It is my understanding that HIDs, to be road legal, must be fitted to type-approved headlights. Retro-fitting HIDs into lights designed for halogen bulbs does not fulfil this requirement.

This is the point Id like clarification on as I know of three people that run these cheap aftermarket kits (inc. the mother in law!) and they have no issues with MOT's or police. After I mentioned it the other halfs mum she took it to the local police station and asked (as her MOT was due in a fortnights time). They said 'there was no issue with fitting them as long as they werent blue in colour'. They did however say she would need to speak to someone in the traffic division to confirm 100%! (she didnt as no one was available at the time). Her kit was £30 online and its fitted to the latest shape Fiesta - a car that never had Xenons as an option so surely the lenses and unit wont be designed for HID output?

This is the point Id like clarification on

I'd 1st add that I'm not qualified in the subject, nor am I privy to any special information but, based on my own (internet ) research, I don't think actual clarification is possible, just 2 possible stances that people take to confirm their own bias:

Stance 1

There is no current UK law that specifically prohibits them, ergo they are 'legal' (as long as they're white enough & 'properly' aimed)

Stance 2

Current * UK regulation does not allow HID lamps of any type **, ergo after-market kits are illegal

* Current UK regulations pre-date HID lamps &, therefore, do not provide for their use

** Under european law, the UK cannot refuse to register a new vehicle on the basis of its headlights not complying with UK regulations if it has been fitted with european-approved (e-marked) headlamps.

It would be interesting to see the full M.O.T. specifications to see whether they have tightened up on the beam pattern tests.

This is the point Id like clarification on ...

My view, based on a much quoted DoT circular, is that plasma discharge units are legal as long as they don't dazzle, although the DoT would like you to think that you need headlight washers and auto-aim units or self-levelling suspension. The critical point is that the letter says "...aftermarket PDs should conform with the same standards as OEM units..." In a statement such as this, the word "should" has a specific meaning of "this is recommended but not mandatory".

Current C & U Regulations had an EU Directive added as an Addendum a couple of years ago that seems to imply that aftermarket HID's can be fitted to any E-marked lens, and not a specific HID type. The Vehicle Lighting Regulations were changed at the same time.

I spoke to the MOT place we use and asked about the new regs...

Catalytic convertor: They have already failed a Passat Diesel that has a decat.

HIDs: They are waiting for clarification, but have been told by VOSA 'for now, if it quacks like a duck, treat it like a duck'

Fordfan is right. My second car is a 99 Octavia Diesel. I have no problems with the MOT because it is well maintained and I don't rely on the MOT to find faults for me.

I spoke to the MOT place we use and asked about the new regs...

Catalytic convertor: They have already failed a Passat Diesel that has a decat.

HIDs: They are waiting for clarification, but have been told by VOSA 'for now, if it quacks like a duck, treat it like a duck'

Fordfan is right. My second car is a 99 Octavia Diesel. I have no problems with the MOT because it is well maintained and I don't rely on the MOT to find faults for me.

So now DPF removals are a failure then?.

So now DPF removals are a failure then?.

Don't know.

I guess it's obvious when a cat it removed, as you have a straight pipe running through a cat shaped space with a heatshield above it.

If it's just the insides of the DPF that have been removed, it would be difficult to tell.

DPF removals that are visible (decat pipe fitted in place of catalyst) would be a failure under new rules, but until diesel emission test limits change for much stricter values, a gutted original DPF with a remap will still pass quite happily as long as it passes smoke test.

HIDs will not fail for reasons other than beam shape (or damaged housing/loose bulb).

In fact, despite 3 sets of HIDs on my car (all projectors), I would like to see a lot more retrofit HID in reflector style lamp failures, as these inevitably produce strong glare. Working projector style HIDs (factory or retrofit) will pass. No need to retrofit washers/self levelling, but if the car has them they must work.

Edited 21 March, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Cant find anything to say the cat check is for diesels? Even in that link its not listed, the last change only added it for petrols.

Cant find anything to say the cat check is for diesels? Even in that link its not listed, the last change only added it for petrols.

I thought that the test is 'On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter.', but maybe something has changed.

The car will fail if a headlamp levelling or cleaning device is inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

What does this mean for Felicias? Both of mine and every other felly ive seen, the dial to adjust headlight level do not work..

What does this mean for Felicias? Both of mine and every other felly ive seen, the dial to adjust headlight level do not work..

I think that point only applies with plasma discharge headlights, and then only if you've fitted automatic beam aiming.

HIDs will not fail for reasons other than beam shape (or damaged housing/loose bulb).

In fact, despite 3 sets of HIDs on my car (all projectors), I would like to see a lot more retrofit HID in reflector style lamp failures, as these inevitably produce strong glare. Working projector style HIDs (factory or retrofit) will pass. No need to retrofit washers/self levelling, but if the car has them they must work.

As a few other people has mentioned in this subject before, those that retro-fit into reflectors usually know that the light is scattered and produces a non-compliant answer. Their answer is: is only takes 5 minutes to swap the bulbs back for halogen when it goes in for it's test. This is also applicable if you end up with a VDRS on the car too.

Stance 1

There is no current UK law that specifically prohibits them, ergo they are 'legal' (as long as they're white enough & 'properly' aimed)

Whilst there is no direct prohibition, RVLR (amongst others) does state that the units and bulbs have to be E-Marked and approved. This does imply that if they're not marked and approved they're not legal. The same with 100w halogen bulbs.

To be pedantic, Piaa actually do produce a 100w E-marked bulb, but it is mega expensive.

Agreed about the E-marking for everything else. The problem is that it isn't part of the MOT, and since no dismantling is allowed to check nothing can be done about it.

I'm a little worried about the speedometer bit.......given that old landrovers speedo's tend to not kick in till about 30mph......

Also, how will they check this? Take it out for a spin? Are garages therefore going to ask me to sign when taking a car in to authorise them to drive my car on the public highway? What about any damages/accidents as a result of their driving it?

Catalytic convertor: They have already failed a Passat Diesel that has a decat.

That is highly suspect and if it it went to appeal VOSA will find in favour of the vehicle presenter. The method of inspection is:

On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter.

Diesels do not have a cat emissions test, they have a smoke test which is carried out in a totally different way.