Removing seats - the law

[defuzz]

I've got a seven seater but never use the boot seats so I'm going to take them out.

Whats the law on this? I remeber seeing on my V5 that it doesn't specify number of seats so am I altering it from its registered state?

Obviously I'll inform my insurer, but they will no doubt attempt to charge me for the change to my policy, any way around it?  Ideally I'd like to be able to tell them that "ive removed the seats but as it doesn't legally alter the car so don't you dare bloody charge me"

[Bush Tucker Man]

Obviously I'll inform my insurer, but they will no doubt attempt to charge me for the change to my policy, any way around it?

Talk to them before you do, as it is a change from standard specification (ie; if it was factory supplied as a 7-seater)

Ideally I'd like to be able to tell them that "ive removed the seats but as it doesn't legally alter the car so don't you dare bloody charge me"

Could guess who that is then??

[Snooky]

I have removed the 4 inward facing seats on the 90 and will be putting forward facing ones in, but seeing as I have no idea what the 90 was when it started life I have no intention of telling anyone.....they was in there when I bought it guv  

[mike142sl]

If you get charged for that it's time to change insurers. It's not the sort of change that will make any significant change to performance, or suggest that you are going to do anything with it that might increase the risk of a claim etc. Nor is it a change that will affect the safety of the vehicle whils driving.

I don't think you will need to let them know either. Most vehicles with seats like this are completely removed if not in use anyway. You are not making a permanent change, presumably they will be put back in when you sell it.

[Range Rover Blues]

But you are removing them, not adding so it's hardly a modification.  As it's less than 8 passenger seats anyway it won't change it's classification.  You can inform the insurance by all means but as you might want to keep the seats in case you ever sell it then I'd look on it as a temporary removal.

[Lostboy]

I removed the back seats from my disco - notified the DVLA by returning the V5 with the handwritten adjustment, back it came with "5 seats"...

As long as the insurance company is happy I'll stick with the current excuse for having no rear number plate illumination: "Oh sorry officer, they must have dropped off..."

[Spyderman]

I'm sure it's fine. Look at a Renault Espace or any other people carrier, where you can remove or alter the seating arrangements.

[mmgemini]

I removed the side facing seats in my Defender.
I did inform my insurance company so I now have a five seat Defender !!