"Road Legal" track car MOT

[Struggler]

I am planning on having my track car completed by sometime late spring, it has been about 10 years since I have had a road legal track car and it seems that the MOTs have gotten a lot stricter with more binary rules like "factor safety equipment must be retained".

Now I know a number of people on here will likely be in a similar position to me, having built a near dedicated track car but want to be able to drive it on the road for getting too/from track, shake down sessions and the occasional B-road blast on a nice afternoon.

The way I see it, there are a couple of justifications for an MOT on a car that would clearly never pass a normal MOT should they end up getting attention from the police:

1. Exploit the fact that cars are tested on the equipment they are presented with. Suggesting that any removed safety equipment was removed again after the MOT - quite hard to justify when the car is an all out weapon with a recent MOT.
2. Exploit the loophole that "purpose built competition vehicles can be tested on merit alone" - But the car is not a competition vehicle, and the keen eye could probably see that with the lack of fire extinguishers and (probably) out of FIA date harness etc.

Has anyone with a road legal track car had any problems with police on these matters?

 

[Darryl_1983]

I've just MOT'ed my Z4, it's not a track car, but has bucket seats and aftermarket steering wheel, I spoke with the guy mot'ing it before hand, and he said the bucket seat was fine, but the steering wheel with the airbag removed would be a problem, so I just fitted the original steering wheel before taking it for an MOT.

I imagine with the other airbag locations covered, as long as the warning light isn't on you should be fine.

Best thing to do is speak to the tester beforehand, might be worth trying a few different places.

 

[Cub.]

When you say track car, what is it missing exactly that will cause an MOT fail?

 

[charltjr]

Guidelines haven’t changed in quite a while, and a lot depends on how flexible your MoT tester is. If the car is caged and has harnesses then you can try to present it as a rally car and then it doesn’t need airbags etc.

 

[Struggler]

When you say track car, what is it missing exactly that will cause an MOT fail?

I'm thinking airbags, original seatbelts ABS etc. More that you could reasonably put back in just for an MOT.

Guidelines haven’t changed in quite a while, and a lot depends on how flexible your MoT tester is. If the car is caged and has harnesses then you can try to present it as a rally car and then it doesn’t need airbags etc.

View attachment 1780593

It's been about 15 years since I've driven my clio on the road, this all came in since them. But this demonstrates my point. Is there any responsibility to prove that its a competition vehicle? I a car conforms to the above but still has a brake servo is it a fail? It seems just woolly wording to catch out the max power boy racer that probably in his 50s now.

Or is this just giving the freedom to the tester to define what is "extensively modified", and if they do then everything is just tested on merit? If so it seems the changes basically do nothing as long as friendly MOT testers exist.

 

[Cub.]

I'm thinking airbags, original seatbelts ABS etc.



It's been about 15 years since I've driven my clio on the road, this all came in since them. But this demonstrates my point. Is there any responsibility to prove that its a competition vehicle? I a car conforms to the above but still has a brake servo is it a fail? It seems just woolly wording to catch out the max power boy racer that probably in his 50s now.

If it’s caged, it will all be fine, as long as whatever has come out has come out fully, and there are no warning lights on dash (I.e. ABS). My personal experience, is uncaged and you can’t argue it’s competition. Caged, much easier.

As flagged above, you want the MOT’er to know their stuff and refer them to section 13.

 

[Struggler]

Thanks, I guess I was just wondering, even with the friendliest of testers how it is justified if you get pulled over by the police. but it seems like the loophole is all above board so its all OK technically.

 

[Cub.]

Thanks, I guess I was just wondering, even with the friendliest of testers how it is justified if you get pulled over by the police. but it seems like the loophole is all above board so its all OK technically.

It’s not a loophole. It’s an exemption related to modified cars. If you get pulled over by the police, and since MOT’ing it you’ve made the car illegal in some way, you’ll be in trouble.

 

[shiftspark]

Guidelines haven’t changed in quite a while, and a lot depends on how flexible your MoT tester is. If the car is caged and has harnesses then you can try to present it as a rally car and then it doesn’t need airbags etc.

View attachment 1780593

Hi where is that from ? As i have been trying to get my local mot station to mot my rally Mini and said I need to find the guidance in the mot guide. He said any warning lamps like abs, airbags ,traction control need to be off which if I take the lamps out is fine he just needs to see where the “guidance notes” are.

 

[charltjr]

Hi where is that from ? As i have been trying to get my local mot station to mot my rally Mini and said I need to find the guidance in the mot guide. He said any warning lamps like abs, airbags ,traction control need to be off which if I take the lamps out is fine he just needs to see where the “guidance notes” are.

Section 13 of the introduction to the tester’s guide. 👍

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

 

[Struggler]

Hi where is that from ? As i have been trying to get my local mot station to mot my rally Mini and said I need to find the guidance in the mot guide. He said any warning lamps like abs, airbags ,traction control need to be off which if I take the lamps out is fine he just needs to see where the “guidance notes” are.

Your MOT tester is telling you to find the guidance on the MOT guide? Sorry but it's that their job?

It does seem like not all testers are created equal, and finding those more familiar with the niche rules is key.

 

[TheBandit]

Your MOT tester is telling you to find the guidance on the MOT guide? Sorry but it's that their job?

It does seem like not all testers are created equal, and finding those more familiar with the niche rules is key.

My MOT centre shrugged and said "bring it in and we will find out...." Thanks pal

I think it needs to be caged with harnesses minimum as they replace the airbag, bonus points if it's stripped as nobody sane does that to a road car

 

[shiftspark]

Your MOT tester is telling you to find the guidance on the MOT guide? Sorry but it's that their job?

It does seem like not all testers are created equal, and finding those more familiar with the niche rules is key.

I don’t think he really wanted to do it. I will take it to the builder in Stafford as probably quicker and easier than getting the dash and tacho out to blank off the lamps.