Car ride height law

eg-iain

Hi,

I know this is a forum about money but i thought i might chance my luck to find out if any one of you know about a ride height law for cars.

As you might of seen about the uk some people like to have there cars stupid low, i'm one of them. Now i've been pulled over resently by a police man who stated to me this...

"we are bringing something in to deal with things like this"

To which i asked

"so is it a law then, if so where can i find out about it?"

The police man stated..

"yes it is a law and ermmm....it's on the website. Please can you step out the van we have to deal with someone else"

Slightly flustered by my questions may i add i have found nothing of the sort. And if they are "bringing something in" surely thats not a law...yet. I've never heard of anything like this apart from in the USA.

Anyone heard of this?

vl2588

Not heard of it, no. If it is declared and not interfering with steering etc then I don't believe you have anything to worry about but I am not an expert, just have a lowered car (not excessively) and frequent car forums. Seems to be a slight grey area but as no-one has quoted a law I don't see how it would stand up in court.

thescouselander

I'm not sure there is a law on this but a very low ride hight is bound to cause problems with the amount of speed bumps appearing everywhere. If you think you are being unnecessarily harassed by the police I suggest you write to the chief constable.

alastairq

''ride height'' may not be the issue here.....but C&U items like height of headlamps, etc, might well be.

[one reason why 'pop-up' headlamps get fitted to some sporty cars...]

vl2588

Also over-lowering ruins handling!

vikingaero

I wasn't aware of a minimum ride height. I suspect that if your car is too low then it could make things like lights/foglights illegal if they are too low. If the vehicle is so low as to cause damage to the road/bumps/access kerbs etc then I suspect it could be prohibited on that ground.

forgotmyname

Do your wheels/tyres make contact with bodywork/pipework when loaded or steering from lock to lock?

Maybe they could follow you until you drive over some speed bumps and prosecute you for damaging the
road surface?

I cant see how that can have a legal lowest limit unless as mentioned your lights are now out of the legal
requirements. I think the german TUV (Their MOT equivalent?) has very strict rules on modifications.

eg-iain

Right, just off the phone to traffic police and good news!

There is no law so seems Mr. Plod was talking out of his !!!!. As long as the car has an mot, tax and insurance and isn't seen to cause danger to the public or yourself and passengers your fine. My cars bodywork has been altered to mean that the wheels etc do not rub and this doesn't affect the steering etc. I'm not been hassled as of yet, ive been pulled over twice, once was due to my test fitted front lip which infact sat on the ground.

So basicly as long as the car is legal and is not causing danger your fine!!!

Hammyman

eg-iain wrote: »

Right, just off the phone to traffic police and good news!

There is no law so seems Mr. Plod was talking out of his !!!!. As long as the car has an mot, tax and insurance and isn't seen to cause danger to the public or yourself and passengers your fine.

So basicly as long as the car is legal and is not causing danger your fine!!!

No you're not.

As mentioned, if the lights are no longer within the parameters specified in the Construction and Use regulations, then no your car is not legal and whilst plod may not measure them, a VOSA roadside inspection may.

You will find in the C&U regs a minimum and maximum height above ground level for the placement of direction indicators, headlights, tail lights. ALL VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF MAKE AND MODEL have to be designed within these measurements.

When you build a one off car from scratch or a kit car and it goes for its SVA test, the VOSA examiner will measure the height above ground level of all the compulsory lights and if they're too high or low, it will not be certified.

Strider590

vl2588 wrote: »

Also over-lowering ruins handling!

Not if it's done correctly, with uprated springs and shortened shock absorbers.

A lower car has a lower centre of gravity, it's more stable at high speed, has less body roll in corners, is less likely to under/oversteer and doesn't pull a nose dive under heavy braking (= shorter stopping distances.)

Sure the boyracers do it to look like something from "Need for Speed Underground", but it does also serve a purpose.

geordieracer

I did notice on the ine hand you said the policeman said 'they are brining in laws like this'.Not there is a law about this.

Also you mentionyou drive a van then mention about cars.