Class 7 MoT tests

[Jimbo]

It's now almost certain that my 110 Td5 HD is going to require a Class 7 MoT rather than the usual Class 4. I've read lots of stuff on t'interweb, and asked questions on here - and even emailed VOSA, and basically, unless I can get the unladen weight (aka kerb weight) below 2040kgs, it will be going Class 7.

The LR spec sheet states that a 110 Hard Top with heavy duty suspension weighs in at 1935kgs - but you've got to add my galvanised monster winch bumber and hydraulic winch (and tank, and oil etc) to that weight - and there's no way that all that lot weighs less than 105kgs (the winch is 90kgs without the cable !!!!!!!!!!!)

I am going to find a friendly weighbridge and get it weighed, but I reckon on it being well over the 2040kgs cut-off point.

So, my question is this.........does the Class 7 test involve anything more than a Class 4 - or is it just for bigger/heavier vehicles ?

Jim (now looking for Class 7 testing stations  :roll: )

[paul_humphreys]

You will get away with a CLASS 4 MOT as its the weight on the logbook that counts.

Paul

[Jimbo]

But it says 3500kgs (revenue weight) on the V5.......... :?

Jim

[Sharpshooter]

I have just MOT'd my 110.

It is infact a Class 5 not 7. This means the axles are rated at 3050kg, and not the usual 3000kg. The only real difference is it is about £3 more expensive.

I asked why it is what it is, and the MOT man said, they are just like it. Heavier payload.

Hope this helps. :)

By the way, mine went straight through. 1984 110. :D

[Jimbo]

I have just MOT'd my 110.

It is infact a Class 5 not 7. This means the axles are rated at 3050kg, and not the usual 3000kg. The only real difference is it is about £3 more expensive.

I asked why it is what it is, and the MOT man said, they are just like it. Heavier payload.

Hope this helps. :)

By the way, mine went straight through. 1984 110. :D

Oh bu**er, more confusion - the VOSA|man said unless the unladen weight is below 2040kgs (which mine can't be), then it's a Class 7

Jim

[HotShot]

If you go on the LRUK forums, they have 3 or 4 mot testers as members [Templ4r and Dave-H spring to mind]
Try asking there

[Xtremeteam]

discodod on here thats just signed up is also my local MOT tester

[Jimbo]

Thanks Mikee, I'll PM ya man and see if he can shed any light.

Jim

[suggs]

my van's a class7, only some mot places do class 7 and from what i saw it seemed like just a normal mot test

[Jimbo]

The test is not actually due until early November, but I normally forget and then its a last minute rush, and seeing as the 110 is new to me I decided to find out all I could well before the event.

I think I'm going to go a for the Class 7 and be done with it - there's a couple of places that we use for testing the Explorer Scouts minibus.

Alternatively.....I could take the winch and bumper off, fit a standard bumper, replace the front springs (to bring the height of the front back to standard), get it tested, then put the winch/bumper/springs back on - nah, Class 7 it is.

Jim

[Sharpshooter]

It might be a class 7 if it has more than 7 seats??? Mines a T/C so it only has 2. This seems more likely. :)

[dew1911]

Could be a different class for the number of seats - I know any with more than 9 don't get 3 years free, but class wise I know nothing (as usual)

[Jimbo]

It might be a class 7 if it has more than 7 seats??? Mines a T/C so it only has 2. This seems more likely. :)

Nope, just the 2 seats - it's a 110 Hard Top HD (heavy duty), which means vented discs front, discs rear, uprated suspension and lord knows whatever else. According to LR, a 'standard' 110 HT weighs 1920kgs, and the HD weighs 1935.

Jim

[TEMPL4R]

You won't get away with a Class 4, it is the weight on the vehicle plate that we read. The main difference is the tyre load rating is included in the Test.

A Class 5 is for Buses, so you won't get one of those.

It doesn't matter how many seats you have, as long as it is a Passenger Carrying Vehicle, they are all Class 4. If it won't fit on a Ramp or Pit at a VTS, then it goes to a Testing Station, ( a stretch Limo or a Double Decker Bus converted into a Camper, for instance.)

Taking anything off the vehicle only reduces the vehicles weight, not the Plated weight.

I hope that helps.

Chris

[Litch]

Rather than argue the case I used to get a cass-7 MOT for my 101, saved any arguments if there was a problem later.
Used my local garage and as far as I could tell the test was exactly the same (I think the biggest headache for stations is having a lift strong enough for the larger vehicles and a bay tall enough when the vehicle is raised on the lift).

[disco dod]

discodod on here thats just signed up is also my local MOT tester

jimbo i work in a class 4 only test station, and have only been testing for 2 years so i'm still learning. i dont know mutch on class 7's but i'm pretty sure its just the exact same test but for a heavier vehicle. a class 4 mot ramp is only classed to lift 3000kg. if its heavier for health and safety reasons you need to get it tested on a larger, class 7 ramp.

i'd imagine vosa are right in what they say about the weight and test class, but if you have written proof (v5, or chassis plate) that  the standard motor is under 3000kg then you can try to book it in as a class 4 and hope the tester dosent ask about the extra weight.

unless its a comercial vehicle with a weight plate on it, the weight is normaly taken from your vin plate. witch will show the original spec weight. so i think i'd just be going for the class 4 test myself but its up to you.

i have personaly lifted big merc and transit vans over the 3000kg limit on my ramp (for repairs not tests) and although they're heavier than the said limit there wasnt a problem. so dont worry that a class 4 test wont lift the lanny

hope this has helped and not confused you.

Dod

[smo]

This doesnt make sense, everyone in the know says its done on the "plate/VIN/V5" weight, which is 1935kg or there abouts, so how would it quality for a class 7 as its never going to be over 3000kg, and even it if was heavier than the plate says, which most are, they are never going to know without a weighbridge and last time i checked there wasnt one of them included in the mot!!

So its gotta be a Class 4, standard "car" mot, my 110 HT HD TD5 i had previously was (and still is ad far as i know).

[Jimbo]

The VIN plate on mine says 3500kgs for the GLW (gross laden weight - ie, the weight of the vehicle when it is fully loaded), this ties in with the V5 which has a revenue weight of 3500kgs - because the truck is taxed as LGV (rather than PLG), they put the GLW/revenue weight on the V5, a PLG taxed motor will have a blank for the revenue weight on the V5.

According to VOSA, if the vehicle weighs under 2040kgs unladen (and conforms to some other requirements) - it will be Class 4, as soon as the unladen weight goes above 2040kgs, you get into Class 7 territory.

A genuine 110 Station Wagon unladen weight is about 2055kgs, and there will be no revenue weight on the V5, and the body type will show 'estate' -so it gets a Class 4

Jim

[TEMPL4R]

There still seems to be some confusion as to the Testing weights.

 Class 4 is for a Passenger carrying vehicle, under 13 seats, (over 13 is Class 5, a Bus Test) and Light Commercials up to 3000kg DGW. You will never go for a Class 4a.

 Over 3000 and under 3500kg DGW is Class 7. The difference is the Tyre Load Rating is calculated and the Tyre size is taken into account.

If an NT Tests a Class 7 vehicle with a Class 4 Test, he will be Reprimanded and Points given to Him and the VTS. It simply is not allowed.
We look at the plate and if the DGW is over 3000kg, you do not get a Class 4 Test, as simple as that.

You can strip the vehicle down to the chassis if you like, but it will still be the DGW that counts and it is still a Class 7. The vehicles physical weight is nothing to do with the Testing weight.

Chris

[Jimbo]

DGW ? is that the same as GVW (gross vehicle weight)

The VOSA guy did suggest that I could get the revenue weight on the V5 changed - he said to just write the 'real' weight on the V5 and send it off (just like you were changing the colour for example !). That doesn't help me as I'm sure the 110 will still be over the 2040kgs limit.

I've checked the tyre rating, they are (BFG MT's) LT 265/75R 16 and the rating bit says 120/116 Q M&S - now, which of the rating figures is the one the MOT man looks at, 120 or 116 ?. According to the (most informative) Black Circles website, 120 equates to 1400kg load per tyre, and 116 equates to 1250 load per tyre - even if it's the lower figure, as I have four tyres, that's four times 1250kgs = 5000kgs, so plenty.

It's gonna be much easier to just get a Class 7 test, there's quite a good station 20 mins drive from me - just need to remember to book the appt now !!!! (test is due in Nov)

Jim

[thermidorthelobster]

My 101 is 4.25 tonnes, yet it's tested as Class 4.  (Finding somebody who can test a vehicle of this size as a Class 4 is something else, but...)  I think this is because it counts as a motor caravan.  The VOSA test centre in Mitcham was happy to test it, anyway.

I only mention this because if anybody else has an overweight 4x4 (or 6x6) with appropriate camper paraphernalia, it might save a bit of hassle.

[TEMPL4R]

DGW is Design Gross Weight, that is what all new vehicles use.

You can have a Double Decker Bus as a Class 4 Test, if it a Motorhome on the Log Book. It just needs a Test at a Goods Vehicle Testing Station, due to its size.

As  the System is Computerised, the Police have access to it and can tell if and what kind of MOT you have. If they or VOSA pull you and you have a Class 4 on a Class 7 vehicle, it is immediately revoked and the VTS and NT are in serious trouble. I have turned away 2 vehicles who have previous Class 4 Test Certificates as they are Class 7. They were free to call VOSA, but decided on a second opinion and had Class 7 tests.

Chris

[Wolfie]

Ok, have been looking for a definition of "Dual Purpose Vehicle" for a while, as they are class 4.
Found this page

So I rang VOSA (the people who oversee MoTs) to clarify the situation.  This is what they told me:

If a vehicle has a GLW under 3500kg, an unladen weight under 2040kg, has four wheel drive and is equipped to carry one or more passengers (including the front seats) then it is a 'dual purpose' vehicle for MoT purposes and should be tested as class 4.  As far as I can tell, the only commercial Land Rovers which do not meet these criteria are the big 127/130 vehicles, and possibly the Series 2 forward controls.

I have since had this confirmed in writing.  VOSA sent me an extract from the 6th edition MOT Testing Guide, as follows:

Dual purpose vehicles 3. A `Dual purpose vehicle' is one that is constructed or adapted for the carriage of both passenger(s) and goods or burden of any description; and has an unladen weight (ULW) not exceeding 2,040 kg; and  which either:

(a) is so constructed or adapted so that the driving power of the engine, is, or by the use of the appropriate controls can be, transmitted to all the wheels of the vehicle; or

(b) satisfies the following conditions .......

So it looks as if the 4x4 aspect of the vehicles makes it a class 4 MOT

Regards

Wolfie

[Jimbo]

Wolfie,

That's fine for a standard 110 HT, but as mine is the XD (heavy duty) version it's over the magic 2040kgs so has to go Class 7 - well, that's the way I understand it anyhow  :roll:

[Skcollob]

I have been to two testing stations today, one was unsure but the second said it was definatly a Class 4.  I phoned VOSA and they quoted section A page 6 of the testers handbook, which is where the quote above comes from, and assured me that it was a Class 4.

I have a 110 200Tdi Hard top, it does have seats in the back, although I was told it only needed to have a passenger seat in the front to count as it qualified by being under 2040Kg unladen and having 4 wheel drive.

Tony