Damage to A-pillar - will it fail MOT?

RainbowLaura

Yesterday my fiance lost control of his car and went into a ditch... Luckily he is fine and there was nobody else involved, but the car is a bit worse for wear! It almost certainly would be an insurance write-off, but as it is his first year of driving we would really rather just pay for it ourselves and leave insurance out of it.

The main worry is the damage to the drivers side A-Pillar..... As a new user it won't let me post a picture, but it is quite badly dented from the top of the windscreen to half way down. The door closes absolutely fine and the windscreen is intact, but obviously this is a main structural part of the car. We would probably not get this bit fixed as it would be extremely expensive and maybe not even possible. So the major concern is, is it likely to fail an MOT? If so then we may as well accept that the car is a write off and start looking for another

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Laura

AdrianC

No, not an MOT issue at all.
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s06000101.htm

RainbowLaura

That's very reassuring, many thanks

topdaddy_2

Sounds like it might be cosmectic. But any doubt and Id not be happy to drive or be in the vehicle.

macman

You still need to inform the insurer even if you are not claiming.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

macman wrote: »

You still need to inform the insurer even if you are not claiming.

C'mon people make mistakes, we learn by them, as its not a very precious car and im sure the OP ripped their OH a new one in the process why should they pay for it for 5 years too.


I very much doubt you'd inform your insurer in this case!.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

AdrianC wrote: »

No, not an MOT issue at all.
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s06000101.htm

A pillar is part of the structural integrity test for the window and a mounting point for the windscreen., depending on severity of damage it can fail.


OP upload pic to hosting site the put a space in the link before you post.

AdrianC

If it was any more than minor cosmetic damage to the pillar, then the 'screen would be smashed and there'd be a LOT more serious problems. Like not all wheels pointing in the same direction.

arcon5

How was it recovered? Just thinking along the lines of whether the highway agency or fire brigade or similar may bill the insurer for their services, as it would seem as of late is customary

atrixblue.-MFR-.

AdrianC wrote: »

If it was any more than minor cosmetic damage to the pillar, then the 'screen would be smashed and there'd be a LOT more serious problems. Like not all wheels pointing in the same direction.

No not always.

wannabehermit

I think I'd be more concerned about the structural integrity of the car than an MOT test tbh.