vic test for a car??

JustWonderful

Hi
Back in February I had a little car crash and my car was written off (its a Y-Reg Ford KA so didnt take much to write it off!) and I bought the car back from the insurace company. Was told to take the car for a VIC test? I know what one is now having looked on the Directgov website, however dont know the legality of it- If i dont get it done what can happen?
As I understand it as long as it is insured,taxed and MOT'ed which it is the car is legal to drive? Parents are in the police and they had never heard of a VIC test before so is it more for the motor trader- if i want to sell it??
Tried ringing my insurance company but to no avail- no one knew what I was talking about!!
Thanks for any help

Rolandtheroadie

You may (or may not) have the log book. If it's been written off and a VIC marker set against it, I think (dont shoot me, I may be barking up the wrong tree) the log book will be invalid.
Dont know the legalities or penalties, but when you go to tax the car, it may not be possible as the VIC hasnt been done (and a new log book issued).

paddedjohn

As stated above, your log book is invalid until you take the car for the test, it only costs £41 and doesnt take long.

scotgirl

My Ford Ka was written off a couple of months ago, just bumps and scrapes from storm damage.

I was impressed with the VIC process, booked it in for a Saturday, took it there, 5 mins and got a certificate to say it was all fine and VIC marker would be removed from DVLA database. Worth the £41 for peace of mind.

JustWonderful

Okay so as I understand it, it does not need to be done until my road tax is due?

Tax isnt until end of July so it means I have some time to play with- as my nearest centre is 45 miles away so its not as if i can just drop it off!

Also, MOT is due end of May so would make sense to get that first wouldnt it? As if for whatever reason it cant get through the MOT then the VIC would be pointless anyway...

So confusing! haha

JustWonderful

Just found this; http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/VIC%20leaflet%2009%20Web%20version.pdf

Basically the car remains road legal, just need to get it done before I get car tax again.

Thanks for your help, much more helpful than some other forums!!

SteveJW

My son purchased a write off, forget what category, it was minor damaged repairable. Before the VIC test we had to get an MOT done, when the tester logged on it still had six months MOT left, but we had to get a fresh MOT
The MOT checked if the vehicle was roadworthy, the VIC checked it's identity, all three chassis numbers, and a walk round check, it was done on the ground without the use of a pit or ramp.
The VIC test took all of 10 minutes, it was done by VOSA at our local HGV test station

colino

SteveJW why did it need a new MOT? Once it had passed its VIC any MOT station could have printed out a copy of the existing MOT. Finding what, if any, MOT a cat C has left is like finding all the loose change under the back seat of a freshly bought in car!

SteveJW

Totally agree with you any test station can supply a duplicate

One problem, you need either the serial number of the MOT or the document reference number of the V5C (registration document) Check VOSA / DirectGov website.

As the insurance companies retain the V5C and the MOT certificate they are virtualy forcing you to get a fresh MOT

This was a while ago and I'm almost sure the marker put on the vehicle also voided the existing MOT, I could be wrong on this point though

When the tester logs on the system to carry out an MOT it will tell them the expiry date of the current MOT but not the serial number

I did have around 20 MOTs reprinted last month, working in a large organisation with three test stations, it is more cost effective to reprint them at our main depot as all vehicles are taxed from the central location

KillerWatt

JustWonderful wrote: »

Okay so as I understand it, it does not need to be done until my road tax is due?

The car cannot go back on the road regardless of how much tax & MOT is left until that VIC check is done, end of!

If you do decide to keep on using it with the VIC marker against it, that alone is enough to invalidate your insurance.

Your choice!


PS
The VIC check is slightly more involved than a standard MOT.
The two main concerns for a VIC are that the vehicle is actually the same vehicle that rolled off the production line, and that it is structurally safe to go back on the road (The structural check on a VIC is more involved than the standard MOT check).


PPS
Don't think you are being penalised by having a VIC check forced on you, I went through the same crap when I converted the old lady's Kwaka GTR1000 from a motorcycle to a tricycle - it's a reasonable demand IMO (and I don't normally agree with whatever the government dreams up).

marksandsparx

KillerWatt wrote: »

The car cannot go back on the road regardless of how much tax & MOT is left until that VIC check is done, end of!

If you do decide to keep on using it with the VIC marker against it, that alone is enough to invalidate your insurance.

Your choice!


PS
The VIC check is slightly more involved than a standard MOT.
The two main concerns for a VIC are that the vehicle is actually the same vehicle that rolled off the production line, and that it is structurally safe to go back on the road (The structural check on a VIC is more involved than the standard MOT check).


PPS
Don't think you are being penalised by having a VIC check forced on you, I went through the same crap when I converted the old lady's Kwaka GTR1000 from a motorcycle to a tricycle - it's a reasonable demand IMO (and I don't normally agree with whatever the government dreams up).

I'm afraid you are wrong.. VIC stands for VEHICLE IDENTITY CHECK, only identity.

The MOT checks the structure etc of the vehicle.

And the conversion should have had an SVA test.. Which is SINGLE VEHICLE APPROVAL test, which is very strict and tests light positions etc.