Dear Sirs/Madams

RE: Review of the Vehicle Inspection Procedures of the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency and Driver Licensing for Radically Altered Vehicles

I am writing to you today concerning documentation on your website that was recently brought to my attention pertaining to Radically Altered Vehicles.

Its seems a large group of the motor enthusiast/modifier/tuner community is in a bit of an uproar about this proposed change. But mainly this is due to a lack of understanding of the proposed system. But what may surprise you there is a growing number that actually support the proposed changes. To quote from an Enthusiasts website on which this topic “To be honest I kind of support it, I don't fancy some Saxo with 4" wheel spacers crashing into me.”

What does seem to be the main concern about these changes however is the implementation of these tests. The motoring community still feels that it is one of the most under represented groups in government affairs and usually when some new legislation is introduced its overly complex, to vague for accurate interpretation and fails to cover the main issues its is trying to resolve.

For example, what purpose has changing the plate on a modified vehicle got to do with its road worthiness / safety? What does it achieve other than advertise the fact that it is a non standard vehicle and make it more enticing to thieves? Why foot the extra cost of having to change the records for the vehicle registration in the first place?

These are the sort of issues that need to be brought up, and if I can suggest, not by a DVLA think tank, (having worked in one for the Teacher Training Agency I know only to well how out of touch these can be) but rather from a selected group of people that represent all interests pertaining to modified vehicles.

But these are issues that can be dealt with later. I would first like to go though the main questions that are raised on your website.


i) Does the current system meet its objective?

What worries me about these proposed changes is that the MOT is a test that’s meant to determine the general road safety and worthiness of a vehicle. If a separate tests needs to be introduced what does this imply about the current MOT procedure? Surely if the MOT is not comprehensive enough to work out the cars overall safety with or without modifications then surely it needs reviewing to determine its effectiveness as a roadworthiness test.