Q plate question for MOT

[TAFKARM]

I read a comment yesterday while I was trawling through the archives (I think it was Sooty who said it so it may have been a wind up  ) along the lines that Q plates don't need reverse lights or a rear fog for the MOT?

 

Is that correct?

 

 

[Captain Colonial]

Reverse light not needed is correct (might be any reg, not just Q), not sure on rear fog, but if you have a rear fog light switch, you definitely need a working rear fog light.

[TAFKARM]

Fog light switch can easily be lost. Thanks Scott. 

[Welly Jen]

My car has no reversing lamp, but does have a fog lamp. A few years ago, after checking that the fog lamp worked just prior to the test it decided to not work at the test station! The MOT tester was as surprised as I was that the computer said that it wasn't a fail, only an advisory on a Q plate. Cleaned up the dodgy bulb contact when I got home.

Jen

[Quinten]

Mine's not a Q-plate, and has no reverse light, and no fog light.  Not once in my ownership has it been mentioned at MOT time.

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

Vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1980 require a rear fog lamp to be fitted and working, reversing lamps are not required.

 

The approximate date of first use is shown when a tester registers a vehicle for MoT test, for a Q plate registration this is likely to be before August 1975 (mine is 1st January 1971), so on this basis the rear fog lamp is not required but if it is fitted is must work. However, an MoT tester could ask the vehicle presenter for an exact date of first use that may be shown on the V5 document and test according to that information.

 

Alternatively, if the rear fog lamp is a problem then if you remove all of the obligatory lamps, front and rear, then it will pass an MoT whatever the registration date is 

[SootySport]

_{Yes, it was me that said that.      My tester says the fog & reverse light are not needed but should work if they are fitted.      Not sure if this pertains to all years with a Q plate though.     These test rules are all on how the individual MOT tester reads and understands them so you will get conflicting ideas.} 

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

_{Yes, it was me that said that.      My tester says the fog & reverse light are not needed but should work if they are fitted.      Not sure if this pertains to all years with a Q plate though.     These test rules are all on how the individual MOT tester reads and understands them so you will get conflicting ideas.} 

 

I agree Bernie, there are some different interpretations but many things are clearly misinterpreted. For example, reversing lamps are not 'obligatory' so do not form part of an MoT test at all so whether they work or not cannot affect the outcome of a test. However, rear fog lamps are obligatory and are required on most vehicles so must be tested as such.

 

Some items may advised to a vehicle presenter in the interests of best practice and to promote customer care.

 

Remember, an MoT is a basic safety inspection and does not imply that a vehicle is in good condition or that it meets all of the legal requirements for use on a public road