MOT Tow Bar Electrics Check

[savageseadog]

Hi Sheppy

Actually they are part of VOSA, ultimately they are all part of the DfT and even this is a corporation even though it is as you say an executive agency, but then most Government departments and even the UK is a registered corporation and it surprised me when I looked into this, this is why its intriguing and very interesting. It does operate independently in many of its areas as you correctly state as both have mainly differing functions which you have clearly stated, but also an overlap in many areas.
You are partially correct on the legislation and I prefer the description that DfT are EU led, but VOSA and DVLA have a massive input and influence in the legislation and how it is interpreted and ratified here in the UK, particularly at the early bill stages, then it is passed through both houses to become law.

If you do a little research you will find almost every Government organisation is a corporation, DWP, every police force or authority, every council, every magistrates court, Houses of Parliament, and even the UK itself are registered corporations; take a look for yourself even though Government are trying to hide it and I bet you will be as intrigued as I was when I started looking.

The lizards have been busy.

There's also Crown perogative and immunity. I wondered about all that when I was fined for being late with a SORN for a car that probably didn't exist any more. The DVLA thought it reasonable to draw my attention to the matter two months later and compound the fine by charging me two months road tax for a car that didn't have wheels, suspension, engine or pretty much anything else.

 

[gjgm]

Yes, it certainly does. About 3 years ago someone drove up the back of me. When speaking to my insurance company I joked that the other car (a little Fiat) came off much the worse because he hit my Freelander with a towbar. The (quick) response was: "what towbar is that sir". Eh? "We don't have any record of your car being modified with a towbar sir" .... It was only fitted 2 weeks before. Start of an interesting saga.

Anyway after that, I tried an experiment by completing some online insurance quotes. One of the little tick boxes is usually "tow bar fitted". Tick and untick the box and watch the quotes change!

Ok, spoke to my car insurer. Yes, that counts as a modification, and we need to know.
Er, thats all. No premium change.

 

[Assassin]

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/uk-8
This is the UK the last time I checked.

Heres VOSA, interesting description which has changed recently, company No hasen’t changed though.
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//compdetails

Heres the Ministry of Justice
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//compdetails

Ministry of Immigration
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//compdetails

Ministry of Education.
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//compdetails

Department of Education
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//compdetails

Home Office
http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/home-office

 

[alant]

Ok, spoke to my car insurer. Yes, that counts as a modification, and we need to know.
Er, thats all. No premium change.

Think that means its ok to tow something like a load of garden waste to the local tip, but not a bloody great boat/caravan, which will be uninsured.

 

[CaptainMike1970]

So what about this!

SWMBO's car is a Mini Cooper S Converitble, it comes prefitted with a swing down 13 pin socket to take the electrics for the BMW/Mini (eye wateringly expensive) optional cycle carrier system that fixes to the two towing eyes in the rear bumper. All that model year have the socket!

However, this socket is not live and does not work unless you fit an optional "black box" controller to the car and then get the car ECU reprogrammed by BMW/Mini to let the car know that it now has the plug and play black box "trailer light board" electrics controller fitted.

There is no tow bar, you can't get a tow bar due to centre exit exhaust, so.................. Unless you have the optional black box and ECU reprogrammed the socket does not work. Will the car fail he MOT?

Accidemic for us as I have had the eye watering experience, bought the cycle carrier, bought and fitted the back box and had the ECU reprogrammed!

 

[mtb]

Sorry Assassin, VOSA is part of the Department for Transport, it is an Executive Agency, and not a corporation. VOSA does not make any regulations, these are generally developed by the Eu in Brussells then the Department for Transport has then to transpose these regs into UK law. VOSA administers the MoT scheme, where, as you know, all the testing is done by private garages to VOSA standards. Most of VOSA's work is administrating and enforcing Commercial Vehicle and Public Service Vehicle Operators. VOSA has powers to stop CV's, Busses and Coaches and enforce fixed penalty notices. The Police enforce the MoT scheme. DVLA is not part of VOSA, it is a separate Agency, also part of the Department for Transport. DVLA administrates the drivers and vehicle licensing databases. VOSA has no powers to make new regulations, these must be done by the DfT, and then passed in Parliament before they can become law.

The home secretary brings in new laws all the time with out any thing going through parliament
mick

 

[rafiki_]

The home secretary brings in new laws all the time with out any thing going through parliament
mick

Well, she can make changes in Secondary legislation without going through the full Parliamentary process. Primary legislation requires the full process.