Aftermarket HIDs and the MOT (An email I had back from VOSA)

**lee gsi** · 24th April 2013, 19:39

My garage is adamant that aftermarket HID kits are a fail due to not having headlight washers and self levelling.

They said unless I get an email from VOSA stating that HID's dont need self levelling or washers they will continue to fail them.

This is a reply to an email from VOSA

Dear Mr XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 18th April, 2013 concerning
Headlamp Levelling and cleaning devices.

The fitment of aftermarket HID headlamps is not an MOT failure. Any
headlamp washing levelling system fitted will fail if it is defective, but
not if there is no system present.

The Department for Transport DFT produce the fact sheet for the fitting
of HID lamps this is not an MOT requirement but a Legal Requirement.

I recommend contacting the Department for Transport on 0300 330 3000 for
further advice.

I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have
any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards
Christina M Joseph
Customer Service Centre
VOSA Operations Directorate
Tel: 0300 123 9000

**Critch** · 24th April 2013, 19:49

Print that so you can give them a slap with it lol

**puppet** · 24th April 2013, 19:52

"The Department for Transport DFT produce the fact sheet for the fitting
of HID lamps this is not an MOT requirement but a Legal Requirement."

Bit confused with that line. Is it implying that although for MOT purposes you are fine, you are still not meeting the legal requirements?

**simmo3187** · 24th April 2013, 19:53

Thats ace

**lee gsi** · 24th April 2013, 19:56

Originally Posted by puppet

"The Department for Transport DFT produce the fact sheet for the fitting
of HID lamps this is not an MOT requirement but a Legal Requirement."

Bit confused with that line. Is it implying that although for MOT purposes you are fine, you are still not meeting the legal requirements?

Correct.

If they are brighter then 2000 lummin (Which all HIDS are) the levelling and high pressure washers are a legal requirement but not needed for an MOT

**puppet** · 24th April 2013, 20:04

Originally Posted by lee gsi

Correct.

If they are brighter then 2000 lummin (Which all HIDS are) the levelling and high pressure washers are a legal requirement but not needed for an MOT

So basically you can MOT your car successfully, but the Police would still be perfectly entitled to pull you for having non compliant headlights.

It's a crazy world we live in, lol!

**Mr Owens** · 24th April 2013, 20:15

It's always been the same, you can drive away from an mot with a pass in your hand and still get a ticket from the police the second you get on the public highway, the rules for mot and legal requirements are two very different things.