rear seatbelts - MOT failure?

con1888

I need 2 new rear seatbelts, my dog has chewed one right through and the other is badly freyed ( not safe) MOT is in January and I'm wondering if this is an automatic fail?

Naturally i'm going to be replacing them both but a bit short on money at the moment and to order them online is £75 each then whatever it will cost to get them fitted.....

If I remove them will my car fail MOT ?

And if anyone knows anywhere I can get them a bit cheaper please let me know, this was on Ebay and it's a Vauxhall Meriva 58 plate.

Iceweasel

Yes - they will fail as they are - and if you remove them too.

con1888

So how do people get around this legally.. I know some people who don't use their back seats other than storage ( speakers or whatever) and don't have seatbelts?

It's a bit of a pain as I don't even have passengers. I will need them soon as i'm due a baby in March but til then such a pain to have to fork out for something I don't NEED just now.

I hate cars!!

Nilrem

IIRC it's something like if there are seats fitted (and the car is under a certain age) seatbelts must be there, and in good condition.

So if you took the seats out to make room for storage/to fit a silly big speaker in, you wouldn't need the belts as there is no longer a seat there for the belt.

con1888

Ah I see... that's not really an option, well it is but not one I wish to do so looks like I need two new seatbelts. Silly me presumed they would be universal but seems they are tailor made to each car..

Now I need to find about £180ish for new belts and to pay to get them fitted, I know a mechanic so hopefully fitting wont be too much.

Probably worth asking around scrapyards before checking online but I doubt I'll have much luck as chances are they would sell them online themselves

forgotmyname

Take the seats out. But dont forget to notify your insurance and the DVLA that its no longer a 4/5 seater.

Get some 2nd hand ones for £5 or £10 and bolt them in yourself.

con1888

It's getting the second hand ones that is the problem... although not approached any scrappies yet so fingers and toes crossed....

nobbysn*ts

forgotmyname wrote: »

Take the seats out. But dont forget to notify your insurance and the DVLA that its no longer a 4/5 seater.

Get some 2nd hand ones for £5 or £10 and bolt them in yourself.

Don't be an idiot. The fact it goes for an mot without seats doesn't affect anything else. They can go back in the next day. And seat belts are £20 on ebay.

con1888

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

Don't be an idiot. The fact it goes for an mot without seats doesn't affect anything else. They can go back in the next day. And seat belts are £20 on ebay.

Where are these £20 seatbelts ? ? I can only find £70 belts.

Car is a 58 plate meriva, need rear right and left belts ( middle is fine), if the seatbelts were £20 it wouldn't be much of a problem at all.....

Jamie_Carter

Look for a local car upholsterer. If there are a few, then call then and get quotes. Most will replace the belt fabric only, and shouldn't charge much at all.

con1888

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Look for a local car upholsterer. If there are a few, then call then and get quotes. Most will replace the belt fabric only, and shouldn't charge much at all.

Thanks, didn't know such a thing existed but will ask around.

Going to pop by the mechanic I know tomorrow as he will put me in touch with anywhere..as he's a family friend he will try keep cost as low as possible for me...