Failed MOT- Seatbelt

grangers72

My car failed it's MOT today as the rear, centre seat belt has a slight tear after the dog had a nibble on it.

I never carry passengers in the back, are the rear seat belts part of the test.

Thanks in advance

colin79666

Yes it is. You have two options:
1. Replace the belt
2. Take the rear seats out.

vaio

take the seats & belts out and it will pass, probably easier to just get a new belt from a scrapyard though

Joe_Horner

If you have 3-point inertia reel belts on the outer rear seats then just remove the damaged centre one and leave the seats in there.

The MOT requirements for rear belts (assuming the car is newer than 1987) are:

In forward facing rear seats any of the following:

a. 3 point inertia reel belt on an outboard seat and a 3 point static or inertia reel belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for at least one other seat; or

b. static 3 point belt for one seat and a disabled person’s belt or child restraint for at least one other seat; or

c. 3 point belt, lap belt, disabled person’s belt or child restraint to each seat

So, even without the centre belt fitted, you pass opion (a)

colin79666

Just beware if you take the belt out or the whole seats then it will pass as a 4 or 2 seat vehicle which someone might question down the line if you look to sell.

Twiglet21

Yes all of the seat belts are you will need to get it sorted to pass your MOT

Joe_Horner

Twiglet21 wrote: »

Yes all of the seat belts are you will need to get it sorted to pass your MOT

No.

For rear seats if you have an inertia reel belt fitted for one of the outboard seats (the ones by the doors) then the ONLY other belt you need is some form of belt on ONE of the other seats.

That doesn't affect the official number of seats for seating capacity and you're perfectly allowed to use the seat without a belt provided you don't put a child in it.

Assuming the OP has belts that passed on the two outboard seats that means he can ditch the centre lap belt without causing any problems at all.

It's all in the manual under "Class 3, 4, 5 and 7", section 5.1 "Seat belt requirements":

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

colino

Unless it's super rare, get yourself one from a scrappy. It wont cost a fortune, it's an easy job and you never know when you'll need it.

grangers72

The annoying thing it has been like this for a couple of years. I have belted a car seat with the belt the past two MOTs, just in case it was a problem, they put a comment on the certificate saying unable to view seat belt due to child seat and passed, I forgot to do it this morning.

Thanks for all your responses

grangers72

Joe_Horner wrote: »

No.

For rear seats if you have an inertia reel belt fitted for one of the outboard seats (the ones by the doors) then the ONLY other belt you need is some form of belt on ONE of the other seats.

That doesn't affect the official number of seats for seating capacity and you're perfectly allowed to use the seat without a belt provided you don't put a child in it.

Assuming the OP has belts that passed on the two outboard seats that means he can ditch the centre lap belt without causing any problems at all.


It's all in the manual under "Class 3, 4, 5 and 7", section 5.1 "Seat belt requirements":

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

Do others concur with the above comments, I'm not the best at reading these documents, I have a job reading Civil Aviation Guides such as this and this is my job!

salubrious

If you do take the centre belt out, don't forget to take out the retaining clip too