MOT Exhaust / Emmissions Law's

MarkyMark

MarkyMark

MarkyMark

Soldato
Joined
9 May 2003
Posts
3,062
Location
Midlands
Right, i've been toying with the idea of decatting my car for the majority of the year and then putting it back on for the MOT. I know a lot of folk in here do that but what is the legal requirement. I.e. if i'm driving it decatted, crash, and the insurance check it all out is my car illegal? I keep getting different responses from people saying things like " Course its illegal because it wouldnt pass an MOT" and others saying that "its not illegal as the MOT is valid for a year despite the condition of a car, i.e. if the emmisions are a bit patchy it won't be classed as illegal until the next MOT" :Confused:

I've been looking at the traffic info here but can't seem to find any information regarding my question :(

Anyone got any ideas?
 
tbh i dont think the crash assessor would notice

they are hardly likely to run an emissions test at the body shop, and the insurance guy is hardly likely to get the car up on the ramps and check that the CAT is fitted.

Having added bodykits/alloys/upgrades is one thing, as they are very visible.
 
MrLOL said:
tbh i dont think the crash assessor would notice

they are hardly likely to run an emissions test at the body shop, and the insurance guy is hardly likely to get the car up on the ramps and check that the CAT is fitted.

Having added bodykits/alloys/upgrades is one thing, as they are very visible.
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Yeah but a Shiney stainless steel exhaust is also noticable too ;) I would buy a sports cat but they are too expensive for what they are imo :( I'm just too scared of being caught lol :D
 
declare the exhaust as the mod then, then they wont bat an eyelid. whose to say whether that shiny stainless steel backbox has a cat or not ?
 
I have a magnex full system and I'm debating cutting mine out. in the same situation dont no what to do! I really want to, but dont fancy no payout in the event of an accident! what are you looking at 5-10% mine is on a focus and I know there renowned for being very low flow!
 
lordedmond said:
take the cat out and you will need a remap of the ecu
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No he wont.
Looks like a Civic VTi from the OP's sig and its as simple as resetting the ecu by removing and replacing a fuse. Its well documented on HondaRevs and other sites.

Insurance wise I would declare it if you're worried about getting no pay out though its highly unlikely that the insurance assessor is going to check for its existance other than a quick look - in which case the solution is to perform your own decat to the existing cat ;)
 
ok if it is a honda

they assessor will look for any loop hole to get out of paying out believe me on this one , i have been caught out in the past
 
Don't worry about the insurance, worry about VOSA pulling you up on the roadside for a routine check. They can do an emssions test there and then, if it's only slightly above the requirement then they'll give you a 14 days notice to fix it, if it's way above (as it will be without a CAT) then they can do you on the spot.
 
Hmmmmm, if its delcaired to the insurance though doesnt it still need to pass an MOT. I didnt think you needed an MOT on the car in order to insure it so hopefully the insurance should still be void. As for roadside checks.............bugger........didnt even know wabout them lol.

Oh and just to confirm, its a Civic VTI 1.8 as already pointed out by someone, but just to clarify all the same :) And the exhaust I was looking at was reccomended by Skywalker for not being too loud (dont want a loud exhaust or anything) and is one of the bottom two on this page :)

Has anyone here been shafted at the road side. I am prepared to gamble on being shafted by them providing the fine is not into 1000's but am not prepared to void my insurance :)
 
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