A late registered car that left the factory without a CAT ?

[eddypeck]

I saw this on another forum and thought it was an interesting situation so thought I'd post it up here for comment.

The car is a late Mk2 Golf which was built sometime in 1991 - the mk3 was launched in mainland Europe in August 1991 so I guess it's fair to assume production of Mk2 ceased sometime before then. However, as happens with the launch of a new model sometime the old stock sits around for a while, since who in their right mind would buy a brand new car that is essentially 8+ years old in design and technology?

So the car in question wasn't registered for a while and on taking it for an MOT the tester has said it should have a CAT based on the registration date. I (and the owner) were under the impression it has to be the manufacture date not the reg date, combined with the fact this hasn't cropped up in any MOT in the last 25 years!

Here's the original post: 

Took my car for its MOT other day - despite it failing on a handbrake cable and a broken headlight adjuster one of the things that came up were emissions. The car was registered on 17th Aug 92, apparently emission laws change for cars registered after 1st Aug 1992 which means stricter controls and the fact that the car should have a cat fitted. Bizarrely the same place tested the car last year and no issues! Did later cars have cats? I managed to get it through that part with a wing and a prayer but would the car have had one as standard due to its build year? I'm struggling to find a definitive answer online.

I believe it should have had the earlier non-cat test, which would be more lenient on the emissions.

I did a bit more digging and found this is the link to the Gov handbook 
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/542070/in-service-exhaust-emission-standards-for-road-vehicles-18th-edition.pdf

here's an extract from page 3.

For all petrol engined vehicles first used before 1 August 1992, all gas engined
vehicles and vehicles other than passenger cars first used before 1 August 1994 the
test procedure consists of a metered check at the normal idle speed, the so-called
`non-catalyst’ test.


"first used" seems to have a sub clause about "construction"

Can anyone here shed any light on this?

thanks in advance.

[givusaclue]

try reading this

www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s07000301.htm

[eddypeck]

Thanks, this page was most useful. www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s07000306.htm

Which quite clearly states his car SHOULD be subject to a later emissions test. Unless there's another way to define first used?

I'll feedback the info 

[Joepublic]

Apr 26, 2017 9:25:35 GMT 1 eddypeck said:

Thanks, this page was most useful. www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s07000306.htm

Which quite clearly states his car SHOULD be subject to a later emissions test. Unless there's another way to define first used?

I'll feedback the info 

MrBenz put up a table which shows if the car is fitted with an engine that was built prior to 1992 its tested to non cat standards, there's a few MK2s on a K plate, I think there's even one on an L plate?

[Joepublic]

I cant read these off my phone but think these are what he posted?





Bottom image, there wont be emissions specs for this car, so test as non cat?

[Karl]

If you read the above you need an exact match of engine number to emissions database.
For cars between 92-95
If an exact match can not be found then it's non cat test.

Chance of finding the engine number on 25 plus year old car . Slim to none

Hence the period of grace

[Karl]

You're Mot tester NT needs to brush up on the process by the sound of it.

If he got the emissions test wrong what else has he failed incorrectly?

Ask him to refer to the emissions flow chart

All else fails you may need to appeal

[eddypeck]

Excellent, thank you