Hey i'm just wondering what the legality's of engine conversions that are not registered are. Say i was to buy a Peugeot 306 1.4 but it had a 2.0 engine in could it fail its MOT or something for not being the same engine that is registered ? Or any other problems which could arise? thanks
Legalitys of Engine Conversions
- Thread starter sanaxe1
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Soldato
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Obviously insure it as a 2.0 not a 1.4, the rest isnt as important
L337 LooX said:
Yep, which would be taken into account on the insurance. Anyone who doesn't insure a car with an engine swap with the new engine is a muppet.
Registering the new engine with the DVLA isn't as important, I don't think there are any fines or anything - and you see plenty of Novas/Corsas for sale: "2.0 16v engine swap, still registered as 1.2".
I can't find any info to back me up at the moment, but I'm pretty sure that you are required to inform the DVLA after an engine swap - but have never bothered to check to see if there was any fine / other consequence if you didn't.
Generally the only reason that you see cars advertised as: "2.0 16v engine swap, still registered as 1.2" is because the idiot selling it has probably not told his insurance either under the (misguided) idea that 'if it is still registered as a 1.2, then my insurers / the police will never find out'. Yes, you may get away with it, but if you are in an accident (and I would have thought that the kind of people who think that this is a good idea are slightly more prone to them) then they will find out and then you will find yourself in a lot of trouble and with an insurance policy which is no longer worth the paper it is printed on.
Generally the only reason that you see cars advertised as: "2.0 16v engine swap, still registered as 1.2" is because the idiot selling it has probably not told his insurance either under the (misguided) idea that 'if it is still registered as a 1.2, then my insurers / the police will never find out'. Yes, you may get away with it, but if you are in an accident (and I would have thought that the kind of people who think that this is a good idea are slightly more prone to them) then they will find out and then you will find yourself in a lot of trouble and with an insurance policy which is no longer worth the paper it is printed on.
Lopéz said:
D'oh, you just got your post in before me
You are correct, your insurer will generally still be covering you 3rd party (i.e pay out for the damage you may cause to other peoples property), but you will still be breaking the terms of your insurance.
wolseley said:
Not quite true. I know a guy who has a 2.0 16v vauxhall engine in a car. It's all fully insured, all mods declared (engine, gearbox, induction kit, lowered suspension, exhaust, stripped interior, bigger brakes), but on the V5 it still says 1.2. All it means is that it's taxed as a 1.2. He's going to change it, but hasn't had the car that long and hasn't got around to it.
He has needed to claim on the policy when he had a bump with another car, and there were no problems at all with the claim whatsoever.
timbob said:
If he's informed his insurance, then that's fair enough. However, I'm sure that there are still some young drivers out there who think that this is a good way to have a fast car and get round the silly insurance prices for young drivers + fast cars.
wolseley said:
As I said earlier - anyone who sticks a new engine a car and doesn't tell the insurance is a plank and deserves everything they get. Even putting an induction kit on and not informing the insurance company is stupid.
WRT the original question of registering it with the DVLA, then it's neither here nor there. If there even is a fine for not re-registering it, it's not a big one and it carries no penalty points.
Lopéz said:
This is true. I've never heard of anyone being done for it though, and can't imagine the penalty would be more than paying any excess tax owed...? I really can't see how anyone with the right authority would find out though, you never need to produce the V5 anywhere.
Soldato
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someone help me here.
for example (I wouldnt actualy do this) I put a 1.3litre mincra engine in my 1.0 litre micra. Would it now be a 1litre micra with a 1.3 conversion or would it now be a 1.3litre micra. im asuming it is whatever it says it is on the documents that came with it? thanks
for example (I wouldnt actualy do this) I put a 1.3litre mincra engine in my 1.0 litre micra. Would it now be a 1litre micra with a 1.3 conversion or would it now be a 1.3litre micra. im asuming it is whatever it says it is on the documents that came with it? thanks
You need to:
1. Inform the DVLA of the engine swap, so they can produce a new V5 for you, with the correct engine capacity on it.
2. Inform your insurance company of the change too, along with any other modifications. Your insurance premium will then be somewhat similar to insuring the car that the engine came from.
1. Inform the DVLA of the engine swap, so they can produce a new V5 for you, with the correct engine capacity on it.
2. Inform your insurance company of the change too, along with any other modifications. Your insurance premium will then be somewhat similar to insuring the car that the engine came from.