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I thought i would share and show a recent article in a little classic car newspaper and beginning to appear on other modified car forums..
The DVLA and BIVA have been called to confirm and this story does indeed check out and guidelines to this effect will be sent out to all MOT stations aparently in the near future.
I Have copied the article out in its entirety.
CLASSIC CAR WEEKLY
(Wednesday February 17th 2010)
FREE TAX LOSS THREAT
Classic enthusiasts who modify their cars could face a £450 test, get a Q-Plate and lose free road tax, it emerged this week. Popular upgrades such as carburettor or gearbox swaps could make the car eligible for a six hour assessment ordeal.
(Inside Article)
Q-PLATE THREAT TO CLASSIC MODIFIERS
By Ian Seabrook
Every yea, thousands of classic car enthusiasts modify their vehicles to seek out improved reliability, performance, or comfort. But now, many of their activities could make their cars subject to £450 safety examination under a 27 year old regulation supervised by the DVLA
The rigorous test known as the BIVA (Basic Individual Vehicle Approval), takes between six and eight hours to conduct, and is held at only 21 test centres in the UK.
And unlike an MOT test, vehicles cant be driven to BIVA appointments they have to be transported there.
Popular modifications among classic owners include engine, carburettor and gearbox swaps, many of which could make the car subject to a BIVA ordeal if the work carried out involves cutting into the vehicles monocoque chassis.
Even if a car with a modified monocoque passes the BIVA test, it will be stripped of its original registration number and issued with a Q-plate a system originally devised for kit cars and specials.
Pre 1973 cars would lose their cherished historic Vehicle status, a rating that exempts owners from paying road tax.
The DVLA could decide that an owner who cuts into a Ford Escorts Transmission Tunnel to fit a five speed gearbox has modified the monocoque. Similarly working on a minis bulkhead to fit a Weber carburettor or adding a larger engine could count as a modification.
Many owners fit 5 speed gearboxes to classics, and may not even be aware that what theyre doing could be judged illegal. If a discrepancy shows up at the MOT, your car can be called in for inspection and if the DVLA officials dont like your work, they can cancel your V% registration and order your car off the road.
Stephen Wallace of the Association of Car Enthusiasts, who has been working closely with the DVLA on the issue, adds; Any cutting of the monocoque structure constitutes a modification and would, under the rules, lead to the loss of the V5C logbook. However, there are such things that can be done to the shell without this happening. Seam Welding or modifications to the arches, for instance, are not considered to be modifications. Nor are crash repairs necessitating cutting and removal of panels or chassis section, or restoration work providing this returns the structure to its original specification.
Theses specific rules apply only to cars with a monocoque chassis, an advantage that gained popularity in the fifties, and does not effect body modifications to older cars with a separate chassis.
The DVLA spokesperson told CCW, The guidelines issued by the DVLA for the registration of rebuilt, radically altered or kit cars are set out in the INF 26 information leaflet and are on the www.direct.go.uk
THE BIVA RULES
For the Last 27 Years, a points system has been in place to ensure that a car is what it claims to be. Points are earned for having original body, engine transmission and suspension components. Five points are awarded for an original body, but points are lost if the monocoque shell is modified in any way, and the car must undergo the BIVA assessment.
The Test is intended to ensure that radically modified or new vehicles made by low volume manufactures are safe. But even if a classic vehicle passes the test, it will be given a Q-plate and will lose its entitlement to free road tax if it is a pre-73 model.
WORKING WITH BIVA (FRONTLINE)
Some Specialists have found ways of working with the regulation. Ed Bracklick of Frontline Spridgets in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxon, said, We follow the regulations quite carefully, whereas historically, people would cut into the monocoque to fit a rover K series engine, we can supply a bolt-in kit that requires no cutting.
The DVLA and BIVA have been called to confirm and this story does indeed check out and guidelines to this effect will be sent out to all MOT stations aparently in the near future.
I Have copied the article out in its entirety.
CLASSIC CAR WEEKLY
(Wednesday February 17th 2010)
FREE TAX LOSS THREAT
Classic enthusiasts who modify their cars could face a £450 test, get a Q-Plate and lose free road tax, it emerged this week. Popular upgrades such as carburettor or gearbox swaps could make the car eligible for a six hour assessment ordeal.
(Inside Article)
Q-PLATE THREAT TO CLASSIC MODIFIERS
By Ian Seabrook
Every yea, thousands of classic car enthusiasts modify their vehicles to seek out improved reliability, performance, or comfort. But now, many of their activities could make their cars subject to £450 safety examination under a 27 year old regulation supervised by the DVLA
The rigorous test known as the BIVA (Basic Individual Vehicle Approval), takes between six and eight hours to conduct, and is held at only 21 test centres in the UK.
And unlike an MOT test, vehicles cant be driven to BIVA appointments they have to be transported there.
Popular modifications among classic owners include engine, carburettor and gearbox swaps, many of which could make the car subject to a BIVA ordeal if the work carried out involves cutting into the vehicles monocoque chassis.
Even if a car with a modified monocoque passes the BIVA test, it will be stripped of its original registration number and issued with a Q-plate a system originally devised for kit cars and specials.
Pre 1973 cars would lose their cherished historic Vehicle status, a rating that exempts owners from paying road tax.
The DVLA could decide that an owner who cuts into a Ford Escorts Transmission Tunnel to fit a five speed gearbox has modified the monocoque. Similarly working on a minis bulkhead to fit a Weber carburettor or adding a larger engine could count as a modification.
Many owners fit 5 speed gearboxes to classics, and may not even be aware that what theyre doing could be judged illegal. If a discrepancy shows up at the MOT, your car can be called in for inspection and if the DVLA officials dont like your work, they can cancel your V% registration and order your car off the road.
Stephen Wallace of the Association of Car Enthusiasts, who has been working closely with the DVLA on the issue, adds; Any cutting of the monocoque structure constitutes a modification and would, under the rules, lead to the loss of the V5C logbook. However, there are such things that can be done to the shell without this happening. Seam Welding or modifications to the arches, for instance, are not considered to be modifications. Nor are crash repairs necessitating cutting and removal of panels or chassis section, or restoration work providing this returns the structure to its original specification.
Theses specific rules apply only to cars with a monocoque chassis, an advantage that gained popularity in the fifties, and does not effect body modifications to older cars with a separate chassis.
The DVLA spokesperson told CCW, The guidelines issued by the DVLA for the registration of rebuilt, radically altered or kit cars are set out in the INF 26 information leaflet and are on the www.direct.go.uk
THE BIVA RULES
For the Last 27 Years, a points system has been in place to ensure that a car is what it claims to be. Points are earned for having original body, engine transmission and suspension components. Five points are awarded for an original body, but points are lost if the monocoque shell is modified in any way, and the car must undergo the BIVA assessment.
The Test is intended to ensure that radically modified or new vehicles made by low volume manufactures are safe. But even if a classic vehicle passes the test, it will be given a Q-plate and will lose its entitlement to free road tax if it is a pre-73 model.
WORKING WITH BIVA (FRONTLINE)
Some Specialists have found ways of working with the regulation. Ed Bracklick of Frontline Spridgets in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxon, said, We follow the regulations quite carefully, whereas historically, people would cut into the monocoque to fit a rover K series engine, we can supply a bolt-in kit that requires no cutting.
