Here are some FAQs about what you can and can't modify on your car.

BUMPER
Q. I would like to take off my front bumper. Is this illegal and will I get fined? Also do I need to notify my insurance company?

A: It is not illegal to remove the bumper but you must ensure that all surfaces are then smoothed down and there are no rough edges. You must also ensure that the lights and registration plate are properly positioned. Your insurance company needs to be informed as this is a modification.

VAN CONVERSIONS
Q. Is it legal to fit seats into the back of a van to enable it to carry 2 extra passengers?

A: If any additional seats are to be fitted to a vehicle, consultation is required with the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency (VOSA).

Q. I am converting an old ambulance into a camper van. Who do I contact with plans?

A. Contact VOSA (Vehicle Operators Services Agency) with your proposals.

WINDOW TINT
Q. Could you please tell me the legal amount of tint windows you can do to a car, my friends have got 75 percent done and i keep on hearing that they are illegal, if they are then how can they do up to 75 percent?

A: If the motor vehicle is first used before 1985 the windscreen and side windows must allow 70% of light. If first used after 1985 the front window must allow 75% of light and the side windows 70% of light. Therefore your friends vehicles are illegal. For more information go to www.vosa.gov.uk.

WINDSCREEN STICKER
Q. My car failed it's MOT because sun visor sticker encroached swept area. What is the swept area?

A. A windscreen sticker would fail the MOT if it encroached more than 10mm into Zone A. Zone A is the swept area of the windscreen, 290mm wide and centred on the centre of the steering wheel. Put simply this is the area of the windscreen at the drivers side. A sticker could encroach up to 40mm in the remainder of the screen.

EXHAUSTS
Q. Just wondered where the law stands on exhausts. I've been considering replacing the standard back box with a performance one?

A:In relation to the replacement of a standard vehicle exhaust and silencer system a number of issues exist. If the system is replaced by a so-called sports system, a contravention of the Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations may occur if the replacement system creates more noise that the standard one would. Replacement systems may not be endorsed with appropriate EC markings which would possibly lead to a failure at MOT.

LIGHTING
Q. Is it legal to fit neon strip lights under car, down the sides and at the front and back?

A: Neon strip lights can be fitted provided they comply with the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, i.e. they should have white to the front, white or amber to the sides, and red to the rear. They would have to be independently switched and fitted so as not to cause any undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users.

Q: Can I fit neon lights to inside of car?

A: Answer virtually the same as above if the lights can be seen from the outside of the vehicle. If they are any other colour they must not be visible from the outside and must not cause undue dazzle or discomfort to road users. If due to their position or intensity they effect the drivers ability to drive safely then there is the possiblility of an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 sec 40a. This refers to causing danger to road users.

Q: My side lamps are blue, will they fail an MOT?

A: When tested there must be two front and two rear position lamps one of each on each side. Each pair must be mounted symmetrically, at about the same height and the same distance in from the side of the vehicle.

They must show white light to the front and red to the rear, no other colours are acceptable.

Any additional lamps are optional and are not included in the MOT Test.

Q: My headlamps have “Rainbow” bulbs fitted, will they pass an MOT?

A: If a headlight is intended to be one of a matched pair it must emit light of substantially the same colour as its counterpart and must emit substantially white or yellow light.

Q: I have fitted extra stop lamps to my car, how will this affect the MOT?

A: A vehicle first used on or after 1st January 1971 must be fitted with at least two obligatory stop lamps, one on either side of the vehicle, at about the same height and about the same distance in from the side of the vehicle.

They must emit a steady red light.

If additional lamps, regardless of how many, are fitted which operate when the brake is applied, then they will be tested too.

Q: My indicator lamps are part of the stop lamps and show red light, will my car fail its MOT?

A: A vehicle first used before 1st September 1965 may have indicators incorporated with stop lamps or combined with side or rear lamps. In these cases both the front indicators may be white and both rear indicators red, on or after that date all indicators must emit amber light.

Q: Are blue LED windscreen washer jets legal?

A. LED washer jets would be permissable if they were white in colour. They should be independently switched from the vehicles main lighting circuits.

STEERING AND SUSPENSION
Q: I have fitted a small steering wheel on my car. How will this affect my MOT?

A: The MOT test includes an examination of the steering wheel for strength and/or a condition that would hamper proper control or is likely to injure the driver’s hands.

Q: I have lowered the suspension on my car. How will this affect my MOT?

A: For MOT purposes a vehicle with altered suspension will be assessed in the same way as one with unchanged suspension.

One recurring problem with lowered suspension is that a Vehicle Test Station may be unable to accommodate the vehicle without causing damage to body skirts etc. whilst driving onto an item of test equipment.

Q: The air bag warning lamp is permanently lit in my car. Will it fail the MOT?

A: No, the air bag system is not included in the MOT test.

BRAKES
Q: My parking brake is electrically operated. How will this affect the MOT?

A: The MOT test requires that on vehicles used on or after 1st January 1968, the parking brake must be capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only. Hydraulic systems are not acceptable unless they can be held on by direct mechanical means.

Q: My ABS warning lamp does not operate. Is this a failure?

A:The warning lamp must follow an operating sequence as per manufacturers instructions applicable to the vehicle under test.

Q: If the front tyres on my car are smaller than the rears will it fail the MOT?

A: For MOT purposes, tyres on the same 'axle' must be of the same nominal size, aspect ratio and structure. This does not permit the use of 'space saver' type spare wheels. Another important factor to consider is where tyres with different structures are used on different axles the following rule must be observed:

When Cross Ply tyres are mixed with either Radial Ply or Bias Belted tyres the Cross Plies must be fitted to the front.

When Bias Belted tyres are mixed with Radial Ply tyres the Radials must be fitted to the rear.

Q: There's no room in my car for a spare tyre so I do not carry one. MOT fail?

A: The spare tyre and wheel are not included in the list of testable items. The tester may advise that it is 'missing'.

Q: The front tyres on my car have worn more on the inner edges. Will my car fail the MOT?

A: The assessment of tyres takes into account the following: the grooves of the tread pattern must be at least 1.6mm deep throughout a continuous band comprising the central three quarters of the breadth of tread around the entire circumference of the tyre. Each side of the central band may be bald but exposed cords or plies will constitute a failure.

DOORS
Q: There are no door handles on the outside of my car; the doors are opened by means of a remote control. Is this OK for MOT?

A: The test criteria states that all doors must latch securely in the closed position and that the driver’s and front passenger’s doors must be opened from both inside and outside the vehicle by means of the relevant control in each case. In this instance the remote control is the relevant means.

WINDSCREENS & WIPERS
Q: I have modified my windscreen wipers from two arms to one which parks in the centre of the windscreen. Is this acceptable at an MOT test?

A: Wiper blades that park automatically in a position that obscures the driver’s view through the windscreen will fail.

Q: I have a GPS screen mounted on my dashboard. Will this cause a problem at the MOT test?

A: If when the vehicle is presented for a test the screen obscures the driver’s view of the road there may be a reason for failure subject to the specific criteria as laid down in the MOT Inspection Manual. If you are in doubt ask a tester to advise on the likely outcome prior to presenting the vehicle for test.

Q: My rear wiper is not working properly. If I remove it will my car fail it's MOT?

A: A rear wiper is not part of the MOT test. If you remove it completely ensure that the mechanism is not protruding so as to cause injury to any person coming into contact with it.