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what a load off
macnab - 12/1/07 at 09:28 PM

posted on 12/1/07 at 09:26 PM

I just can’t get it out my head that all the SVA, DVLA stuff is not just a load of nonsense.

After all you only need the logbook to get your road tax. Even then do they have a look at your car to check it matches the car in question? Nope.

Do you need a photo if your car to show them? Nope

Do you need the logbook to get an MOT? Nope

Does it make any difference to your insurance if your log book says Escort or Locost? Nope.

Indeed how many folk have sent their logbooks off obligingly, expecting to see their new car called something different to an Escort or Sierra. Only to find the sods haven’t change it at all? I know I have and yes I’m still annoyed at all the hassle I went through.

Even worse when its down as a 4 seater and I arrive at the MOT garage with 2 seats and not even a eyebrow is raised. I think to myself why oh why did I bother!

But then I should not be surprised really since I have had quite a few cars that I ditched the back seats to get better performance and never had any problems getting them tested either.

So yes I do wonder if I should just go and buy a £20 basket case and use its details for my car and forget this whole SVA testing lark altogether.

Oh well, sigh, that’s me had my rant now…right I’m off out to the garage to hit something.

iank - 12/1/07 at 09:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by macnab

Do you need the logbook to get an MOT? Nope

I believe the details come up on the computer as of last year - if they don't match the car bad things are supposed to happen. This was part of the point of introducing the computerised test. Hopefully one of our current MOT testers can tell us if this happens/if they take any notice.
quote:

Does it make any difference to your insurance if your log book says Escort or Locost? Nope.

It does if you have a prang and your car gets inspected. Costly++
quote:

So yes I do wonder if I should just go and buy a £20 basket case and use its details for my car and forget this whole SVA testing lark altogether.

Well you could risk it, but they can crush your shiney new 7 and potentially give you jail time if they catch you

Steve Morten - 12/1/07 at 09:58 PM

Slightly off subject, but my Sylva Striker is still registered as an Escort. It doesn't really matter as I don't use it on the road anymore. But could I put it back on the road if I wanted to? Legally that is.

bigrich - 12/1/07 at 09:59 PM

as a tester if i was presented with a locost that was listed on the database as an escort or ford etc ,i should amend the details to what i am presented with , this then flags a discrepency at dvla who should and are following them up. I have personally tested a Robin Hood s7 still registerd as a "cortina convertible", but don't know if dvla have been in touch with him (i did explain that they may follow it up)

jollygreengiant - 12/1/07 at 10:18 PM

Many years ago I tested a Sierra. I wrote out a failure on it and one of the things I failed it on was having TWO chassis numbers. The normal 17 digit number on the bonnet slam panel, AND an 18 digit number on the floor beside the drivers seat.
We never did see the car back in our depot ( I believe he got it tested elsewhere). Several months later I received a verbal bol-- Reprimand from the local area VI chap telling me that I should have just passed and advised, EVEN though it was clearly listed as reason for failure.

iank - 12/1/07 at 10:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Morten
Slightly off subject, but my Sylva Striker is still registered as an Escort. It doesn't really matter as I don't use it on the road anymore. But could I put it back on the road if I wanted to? Legally that is.


There are two ways as I understand it
1. Put it through an SVA test - safe, but probably rather involved and costly.
2. If there is evidence that the car has been on the road for more than 10 years and there is an old MOT certificate describing the vehicle as what it currently is rather than the donor vehicle, the DVLA will amend the registration document to correctly describe the vehicle.

See http://www.totalkitcar.com/reg_articles.php#1015

Steve Morten - 13/1/07 at 12:35 AM

Just a quick thanks to IanK. That link explained a lot, and I've just checked I've got MOT's back to 1993 describing my car a as a Silva Striker. So I'll give it a try. Cheers.

nitram38 - 13/1/07 at 06:18 AM

I got mine registered as a Bickell Designs, F1-2.
I just put myself down as the manufacturer and provided a reciept for the steel.
You need 8 points for an age related plate and a brand new chassis count as 5 points.

antonyg - 13/1/07 at 08:51 AM

surely it cant be any more difficult to get it through SVA and correctly registered than buying and old car and transfering the ID and having you kit car registed as an escort/cortina/dutton or whatever you buy

I see the SVA as another stage in the build and then at least i have piece of mind knowing that what i have built is roadworthy and safe to use

tyring to avoid SVA on a new build is wrong in my opinion as it was put in place for a reason

Thanks Antony

no offence meant to anyone this is just what i think

shortie - 13/1/07 at 09:29 AM

Something was wrong on my log book so I just ammended it, put a letter in with it and sent it to the dvla, came back with the details changed.

Rich.

MikeRJ - 18/1/07 at 11:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by antonyg
I see the SVA as another stage in the build and then at least i have piece of mind knowing that what i have built is roadworthy and safe to use


Personaly I don't believe the SVA test guarantees that at all.

Sure, you can be safe in the knowledge that you won't cut yourself on a sharp bit of the dashboard, but how do you know that your seat belts mountings won't just rip out or at least deform in the event of an accident? That's down to your own skill and judgement, the SVA doesn't test it other than a visual inspection.

The SVA is undoubtedly better than nothing, but I can't help feeling that the emphasis on trivialities when major safety/structural aspects are essentialy ignored limits it's usefulness as verifying a car is safe to drive.

[Edited on 18/1/07 by MikeRJ]

NS Dev - 18/1/07 at 11:56 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jollygreengiant
Many years ago I tested a Sierra. I wrote out a failure on it and one of the things I failed it on was having TWO chassis numbers. The normal 17 digit number on the bonnet slam panel, AND an 18 digit number on the floor beside the drivers seat.
We never did see the car back in our depot ( I believe he got it tested elsewhere). Several months later I received a verbal bol-- Reprimand from the local area VI chap telling me that I should have just passed and advised, EVEN though it was clearly listed as reason for failure.


all sierras have the number on the slam panel and on the floor by the seat, in fact i thought all fords did full stop.

iank - 18/1/07 at 12:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by jollygreengiant
Many years ago I tested a Sierra. I wrote out a failure on it and one of the things I failed it on was having TWO chassis numbers. The normal 17 digit number on the bonnet slam panel, AND an 18 digit number on the floor beside the drivers seat.
We never did see the car back in our depot ( I believe he got it tested elsewhere). Several months later I received a verbal bol-- Reprimand from the local area VI chap telling me that I should have just passed and advised, EVEN though it was clearly listed as reason for failure.


all sierras have the number on the slam panel and on the floor by the seat, in fact i thought all fords did full stop.


Yes, but they have to be the same don't they?

NS Dev - 18/1/07 at 04:22 PM

well yes obviously, but there was no implication that they were different was there.....

ar yes, now I see, 18 digit and 17digit!!

wilkingj - 20/1/07 at 02:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by antonyg
I see the SVA as another stage in the build and then at least i have piece of mind knowing that what i have built is roadworthy and safe to use

tyring to avoid SVA on a new build is wrong in my opinion as it was put in place for a reason

The SVA guarantees it Meets the Construction and Use Regulations. Its a Regulatory test. This test is designed out on the drawing board by people like Ford, Renault, Saab etc etc. Home built and altered cars are usually designed on the back of a fag packet whilst you are sitting on the Bog

The SVA is NO guarantee that it is safe!.
The MoT is more about roadworthyness and safety, as the regulations have already been met at manufacture or by a SVA.

After all, you can Pass a SVA with no Hooter, and then Fail the Mot test the same day.
The two tests have different functions.
My car passed its Mot before the SVA (I wanted to make sure it was reasonably safe to do the 120 mile round trip to the SVA place)
It failed the SVA on back to front brake balance, despite being able to stick you through the windscreen. This is a perfect example, of something working but not meeting the regulations.

ie the backs locked up before the fronts.

Its horses for courses, and Each has its part to play.