can a van be issued with incorrect class certificate?

[bobo]

Hi new member, so please excuse if this is a mad question!
My MOT is due next month, and whilst putting all my paperwork in order i realised that the last 2 MOT certs state class 4
but the previous years have class VII on them !!
Is it possible for the wrong test to be carried out?
Thanks in advance !

[ht]

Apr 1, 2018 10:47:11 GMT 1 bobo said:

Hi new member, so please excuse if this is a mad question!
My MOT is due next month, and whilst putting all my paperwork in order i realised that the last 2 MOT certs state class 4
but the previous years have class VII on them !!
Is it possible for the wrong test to be carried out?
Thanks in advance !

Hi, check your chassis plate , if your Design gross weight is 3000kg or less then you are class 4 . but I suspect after reading your sub heading and seeing your Iveco model I would say its a class 7.

[aylesburyjock]

It is possible, but my problem is I have difficulty seeing an innocent way of making the mistake on the first class four test. On the second one the tester could have been given the old certificate, and not checked the chassis plate for the weight, although I can say with a fair measure of confidence that with a van of that size most testers would check before they start. On the first class four test however, the tester would have to see class 7 on the computer, and change that to class four. Unless the van has been converted properly to a motorhome for instance, this should not be happening

[bobo]

Thanks for the reply, until i noticed the difference on the cert i never thought it could be mis classed..just assumed that when the vin was entered the computer system would have flagged it, but it seems not !!
I will check the plate and as it is due soon, will see what happens! Cheers.

[bobo]

Thanks both, i am just concerned re the legal aspects...
Re the second test, the tester didnt have the old MOT, and it has never been converted from its original van configeration.
I will take it to a another test centre this time around !

[aylesburyjock]

Okay, the tester didn't have the certificate for the second test, but you were absolutely correct that when the Registration and VIN are entered the computer system automatically tests to the class of the previous test so the tester there is probably only guilty of not checking, or lacking the confidence to change the class on the system. The differences in the two classes would mean that being tested as class four, the tyres are not checked to make sure their load rating is high enough for the maximum weight of the vehicle, and the braking effort is tested to a lesser standard,so it is in everybody's best interest that you get it sorted out. Best of luck.

[bobo]

Cheers all.
Thanks for the reply, I will ensure that at the next test the tester looks at the plate with me and gets the class sorted to the correct one! Then at least i can be assured it has been tested correctly!
Thanks guys

[pembs]

One of my customers went to a class 7 teat station yesterday as we only do class 4 tests. Guess what class his 3050kg van with tools in the back and it's not a camper or a duel purpose vehicle was tested in?

[ht]

Apr 6, 2018 19:13:32 GMT 1 pembs said:

One of my customers went to a class 7 teat station yesterday as we only do class 4 tests. Guess what class his 3050kg van with tools in the back and it's not a camper or a duel purpose vehicle was tested in?

Is it possible that it had a class 7 test conducted on the van but the classification on the screen was overlooked when logging the vehicle on and off the test, perhaps it was given an incorrect test class at an earlier test .you are probably best placed to find this out, but then data protection would prevent you telling anyone. but this is still disturbing in many ways.

[aylesburyjock]

I'll tell you what's disturbing in many ways ht, you dressed up for a Friday night on the town! Put some clothes on man!

[pembs]

I spoke to the test station and wait for it

' the chassis plate is 3050kg but the last test was class4 and DVSA give the weight as 1850 kg so it is a class 4 '

I take it the DVSA weight. He was looking at was the brake whight!
The van is a Vavxhall and has been tested at a Vauxhall dealership ( class 4 station) from it 1st test as class 4, but with out question it a class 7!

I've always thought testing out of class is one of the things that DVSA aren't keen on, so I've always looked at the Vin plate and tested the vehicle using the gross whight and the testing manual to find its test class. I'm amazed that the number of testers don't known the difference between gross and brake weights when testing class 4 vehicles.

[ht]

Apr 6, 2018 20:38:19 GMT 1 pembs said:

I spoke to the test station and wait for it

' the chassis plate is 3050kg but the last test was class4 and DVSA give the weight as 1850 kg so it is a class 4 '

I take it the DVSA weight. He was looking at was the brake whight!
The van is a Vavxhall and has been tested at a Vauxhall dealership ( class 4 station) from it 1st test as class 4, but with out question it a class 7!

I've always thought testing out of class is one of the things that DVSA aren't keen on, so I've always looked at the Vin plate and tested the vehicle using the gross whight and the testing manual to find its test class. I'm amazed that the number of testers don't known the difference between gross and brake weights when testing class 4 vehicles.

It could still be viewed as a clerical oversight if the test standards applied on the physical test were followed as class 7, but, I dont know how DVSA could show any leniency in these situations even if there is only a partial but serious clerical oversight.
Quality control is also brought into question if this is unchecked, perhaps you could help them out by giving them a chance to explain the error if there has been one.

[Gaz]

Seen a lot of Vivaro's and Traffic's weighted just over the 3 ton mark. Going by the book it should be a class 7 (unless dual purpose etc.). I would think a lot of test stations would quite happily test them as a 4

[pembs]

Yes I gave them some advice on this one.
They tested it following class 4 regs, and the owner wanted a class 7 test hence going to a class 7 test station.
Also no oil temp taken although it has a easy to find dip stick..

[ht]

Apr 6, 2018 21:09:43 GMT 1 pembs said:

Yes I gave them some advice on this one.
They tested it following class 4 regs, and the owner wanted a class 7 test hence going to a class 7 test station.
Also no oil temp taken although it has a easy to find dip stick..

That information would lead to instant cessation.

[ht]

Apr 6, 2018 21:14:53 GMT 1 ht said:

Apr 6, 2018 21:09:43 GMT 1 pembs said:

Yes I gave them some advice on this one.
They tested it following class 4 regs, and the owner wanted a class 7 test hence going to a class 7 test station.
Also no oil temp taken although it has a easy to find dip stick..

That information would lead to instant cessation.

And seeing as your VE sent you to this forum , he will now have this information. We are learning about data protection during the next year, should be interesting.

[bikenut]

Our local Vauxhall dealers been doing the same for a while now seen plenty of 3050 Vivaros done as class 4 the dealers aint got class 7 bay.Hope we not got any ve's looking in regular. Which way do you swing ht ?

[ht]

Apr 7, 2018 8:19:43 GMT 1 bikenut said:

Our local Vauxhall dealers been doing the same for a while now seen plenty of 3050 Vivaros done as class 4 the dealers aint got class 7 bay.Hope we not got any ve's looking in regular. Which way do you swing ht ?

Its a biggie and the price is steep, safety is compromised , standards and quality is low, jobs will be lost, is there a bright side to this?

[castrolrob]

I mentioned this as a concern when the 3030/3050 vivaros started coming thru a few years back,most dealers aint got class 7 so how are they testing em?still,at least it makes a nice change from the class4(last year with no advises!) trannys I see coming in that are 3500kg and generally scrap!its pretty obvious that it don't flag no probs with the ministry tho aint it....