It's now illegal to repair your car body?

[Morrisman]

I've just been reading up on the NSRA hot rod forum that DVLA have decided that if any repair by welding is done on a monocoque car body shell that car has to go for BIVA inspection and probably be reregistered. Has anybody heard anything about this?

It would basically mean no more body rust repairs, for any modern car. A rust hole in my Mondeo sill would basically mean the car is scrap?

To be honest, it sounds a little far fetched, and I haven't seen any government documentation backing it up.

Someone I spoke to about my trike, who seemed a bit clued up on the subject, reckons the rule is referring to people repairing written off cars by welding in new sections, but it seems awful vague.

 

[Gritineye]

Been a lot of talk about this lately, can't find a link but it does seem to be happening. An electric conversion to a classic car was failed BIVA because it had holes drilled in the body shell for cables to pass through.

 

[Roger440]

I've just been reading up on the NSRA hot rod forum that DVLA have decided that if any repair by welding is done on a monocoque car body shell that car has to go for BIVA inspection and probably be reregistered. Has anybody heard anything about this?

It would basically mean no more body rust repairs, for any modern car. A rust hole in my Mondeo sill would basically mean the car is scrap?

To be honest, it sounds a little far fetched, and I haven't seen any government documentation backing it up.

Someone I spoke to about my trike, who seemed a bit clued up on the subject, reckons the rule is referring to people repairing written off cars by welding in new sections, but it seems awful vague.

Is this off the back of the electric mini fiasco?

If so, im not convinced that there isnt more to this.

Or its an out of control inspector.

DVLA have taken all inspections in house, so the amount of idiocy has gone right up!

Banning welding,seems unlikely.

 

[minimutly]

This is what happens when pen pushers introduce laws about things they don’t understand, without defining clearly its limits. Car bodies are built up from bits of bent and pressed sheet, using spotwelds mostly. So if a piece is cut out and welded in how has that changed anything? Unless it’s done badly, and we’ve all seen poor welding....
Best thing to do with your old Mondeo is to repair it, hide the repair and tell no-one. Outside of this nonsense the MoT has rules in existence around repair of body shells, I don’t know how vague they are around cut and shut parts, and when does a replacement section become a cut and shut?

 

[minimutly]

This is what happens when pen pushers introduce laws about things they don’t understand, without defining clearly its limits. Car bodies are built up from bits of bent and pressed sheet, using spotwelds mostly. So if a piece is cut out and welded in how has that changed anything? Unless it’s done badly, and we’ve all seen poor welding....
Best thing to do with your old Mondeo is to repair it, hide the repair and tell no-one. Outside of this nonsense the MoT has rules in existence around repair of body shells, I don’t know how vague they are around cut and shut parts, and when does a replacement section become a cut and shut?

And what if you repair a classic car - itself maybe worth a fortune? Blame the EU, that’s where this nonsense came from I believe.

 

[Roger440]

And what if you repair a classic car - itself maybe worth a fortune? Blame the EU, that’s where this nonsense came from I believe.

In DVLA world the age of the car isnt relevant.

 

[tom2207]

mot inspectors are not weld inspectors ,,, theres the bother , some of the stuff that gets through mot tests is shocking , maybe its just an attempt to improve standards .

 

[James1979]

Look up the repair manual by DVSA. Latest amendment.

It’s not that old. It’s on laptop but I’ve no wifi here. Will put it up later.

 

[Roger440]

Been a lot of talk about this lately, can't find a link but it does seem to be happening. An electric conversion to a classic car was failed BIVA because it had holes drilled in the body shell for cables to pass through.

In itself, yes, technically that a breach of the rules. Ie, you cannot "cut into" the monoquoqe or chassis (as applicable)

I think the real issue was that they wouldnt allow him to rectify it. Ie, weld it up.

 

[Roger440]

Look up the repair manual by DVSA. Latest amendment.

It’s not that old. It’s on laptop but I’ve no wifi here. Will put it up later.

Please do.

Im assuming it doesnt forbid repairs?

But thats DVSA, NOT DVLA

DVLA hold technical responsibility for vehicles under 3.5 ton

 

[pressbrake1]

Inspectors making engineering decisions

 

[Gritineye]

Welding repairs now being regarded as a modification is mentioned in an FBHVC article issue 2, 2023 but I'm not a member so can't link to it.

 

[James1979]

Please do.

Im assuming it doesnt forbid repairs?

But thats DVSA, NOT DVLA

DVLA hold technical responsibility for vehicles under 3.5 ton

Will do later when I’m back in civilisation.

DVLA is just the licensing side of things.

DVSA is the amalgation between VOSA and DSA which deals with all the tech stuff

 

[James1979]

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion - Guidance - GOV.UK

Assessing corrosion and methods of repair for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

That’s 6 Feb 23.

There is a pdf as well

 

[JOEPRO]

I am a classic car enthusiast my solution to this of this change is real, and always - don't present rusty cars for MOT!

I have never had a car of mine failed an MOT for rust. But I have repaired rust on all of my 10 classics. I inspect them myself and if I see a rust issue I will not present it for MOT. Instead I will carry out a full repai retain my own photo evidence of it and take to test. They don't even know it was welded in most cases.

Recent example on my S600 shared here:



If people don't inspect and maintain their vehicles and present for test with rust then it is what it is. Either carry out proper repair or scrap it.

 

[Gritineye]

I am a classic car enthusiast my solution to this of its real and always - don't present rusty cars for MOT!

I have never had a car of mine failed an MOT for rust. But I have repaired rust on all of my 10 classics. I inspect them myself and if I see a rust issue I will not present it for MOT. Instead I will carry out a full repai retain my own photo evidence of it and take to test. They don't even know it was welded in most cases.

Recent example on my S600 shared here:

View attachment 396220View attachment 396219View attachment 396218View attachment 396217

If people don't inspect and maintain their vehicles and present for test with rust then it is what it is. Either carry out proper repair or scrap it.

As with a lot of things in life, it's the only way, properly repaired no problem as no one will ever know..

 

[God mode restorations]

They can shove them silly ideas right up there ****

 

[8ob]

I am a classic car enthusiast my solution to this of its real and always - don't present rusty cars for MOT!
If people don't inspect and maintain their vehicles and present for test with rust then it is what it is. Either carry out proper repair or scrap it.

Exactly, as with all aspects of vehicle roadworthiness, dont leave it up to a tester to point out the obvious.

Bob

 

[James1979]

I am a classic car enthusiast my solution to this of its real and always - don't present rusty cars for MOT!

I have never had a car of mine failed an MOT for rust. But I have repaired rust on all of my 10 classics. I inspect them myself and if I see a rust issue I will not present it for MOT. Instead I will carry out a full repai retain my own photo evidence of it and take to test. They don't even know it was welded in most cases.

Recent example on my S600 shared here:

View attachment 396220View attachment 396219View attachment 396218View attachment 396217

If people don't inspect and maintain their vehicles and present for test with rust then it is what it is. Either carry out proper repair or scrap it.

100%

I’ve never had one fail.

I’m rebuilding a ranger with a rotten front end at the moment. By the time it’s done (weekend hopefully) the tester won’t even know.

He will be aware there’s work gone on but won’t know how rusty it was before or what my repairs were.

 

[Nomad]

Links or copies of official legislation would be appreciated

I normally drive older / classis vehicles and don't think I've ever bought one that didn't need a few weeks welding to get it in a condition I'm happy to drive on the road. Occasional welding repairs after that for mots and bits that start to look a bit shabby are part of driving something 50+ years old.

The thought that welded repairs might be banned scares me as most of my cars would soon become illegal.


Hopefully this is either an exaggerated report or an over enthusiastic inspector