bobtail legalities

right im now in the position where I can bobtail my 3dr disco (now got a new daily driver)

But before I get the grinder saw welder, big hammer, bigger hammer out I want to try and find out what the legalities of bobtails are and your experiences.

iv read that because the chassis is being altered that it needs to go for VIC SIC check, and if you get a nasty Mr tester there is a chance that
A) you will never get it back on road:fighting:
B) you'll need to take loads of pics showing it on an altered chassis and register it as an armature build and get it on a Q plate
C) you may get lucky and just pass.

now I know there's quite a few out there and im assuming that not all have been checked by VOSA etc. so have any of the bobtails going ever been involved in an accident? and had checks etc.

My insurance will cover any mod so long as its not engine performance changing, but im sure that IF anything were to ever happen and they finds the chassis altered that they will get out of it if they can ..IE no proof of vehicle check.

help

a) Q plates haven't existed for years, it'll be an age related if u do the sva route

legally you have radically altered the chassis so it does need sva by the letter of the law

however..... did u build it or 'was it like it when bought' honest guv

pre 1996 no sva needed but your on dodgy ground if you cant prove beyond doubt it was done pre 96

I have built 2 bobtails and never sva'd however it is all fine and good up to the point you have a fatal accident....

minor bump it'll prob never get looked at but if u have a serious prang they will throw the book at you if you have modded to that extent... any excuse

they will and have (in one case) gone to the point of asking someone why he changed brake pads when having no certificated mechanic qual??? and used every tiny point to convict and jail.....

no sva on a radically modded vehicle may see u locked up if you are unlucky enough to have a very serious accident

roll the dice and take a chance as I have (but no longer I might add) or sva correctly... up to you

cheers steve

mine was done before 96

There still is a Q reg,


Type approval and ‘Q’ registration numbers

You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if 1 of the following applies:

it has fewer than 8 points
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame
there’s evidence that 2 vehicles have been welded together to form 1 (eg ‘cut and shut&#8217


From here

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles

I would have thought that they would need to prove that the alteration to your vehicle added to or directly caused the accident and being you are only removing the overhang then you should be okay obviously this is only my opinion!

Mick

ebbadger said:

a) Q plates haven't existed for years, it'll be an age related if u do the sva route

Click to expand...

Q plates still exist now if the ID of a Vehicle is in doubt.