Morris Minor Owners Club

If a chassis number is illegible after lots of welding over the years _ does this pose a problem ? can you get replacement VIN (think thats the term) plates ?

is the car identified anywhere else ?

Cheers,

Mandie

you can get them, isnt it on your log book?

The mechanic always lifts the bonnet and reads out the chassis number when my car is MOT d so, if one was feeling tetchy it could be a problem
even though it should be on the previous MOT certificate?

The chassis number MUST be checked on the car at each MOT - to avoid 'fraud' - so it must be readable. Brass strip with the correct code 'typed' on will be fine.

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 6363e17900

I beleive they can punch the chassis in for you, don't know if you need any papers in the UK but they did it for me in Malta though I'm expecting problem with the MOT man asking how new the plate is!

If you read the MOT testers manual, i'm sure you will find that pre 1978 (i think) vehicles do not have to have the chassis number visable for it to pass the MOT test.

They are marked elsewhere on the vehicle, but that sort of information is best not posted on a public forum!

Interesting point WPR - although my MOT lad insists on doing it from the plate, and last year he got it slightly wrong - and all sorts of trouble from DVLA. My MOT cert was cancelled by them - and I had to represent the car at garage for chassis number plate check before they could issue a new certificate.

WPR678B wrote:If you read the MOT testers manual, i'm sure you will find that pre 1978 (i think) vehicles do not have to have the chassis number visable for it to pass the MOT test.

That is correct. Well it might be 1980 if I recall correctly, but same difference for Minor owners.
One of our Land Rovers has no chassis plate (Yes new ones are available but its not high on the list of jobs!) and gets through the test each year. Normally inconvenient, though as you need the V5 for the number and I normally forget it and have to phone the wife to read it out to the tester... This year it got wrote on the bulkhead with a marker pen - a permanent marker of course
Often, MOT testers wont know of this rule and need reminding. Its easier really to buy a new plate and get it stamped up.

The numbers on my Traveller's chassis plate are hard to read now and since the computerised system the MOT man ALLWAYS gets a letter wrong so, I ALLWAYS get the same annoying paperwork to fill in from DVLA. Don't they have anything better to do?

the MOT man ALLWAYS gets a letter wrong so, I ALLWAYS get the same annoying paperwork to fill in from DVLA.

Couldn't you just mention it to the tester before he starts, so he has an idea what number he is supposed to be reading?

My mot tester just asked me to bring my log book in when the new law came in. He checked this against the vin plate and now he just copy’s the info over from his records on his computer. Easy!!!!

Thanks Guys.. Yes it's on the V5 but was worried about going through MOT without legible VIN...however I can purchase VIN from moggie parts shop who said I should get it stamped at a jewellers... sorted I hope !

Mandie

moggie parts shop who said I should get it stamped at a jewellers

Hi Mandie there is no need to go that far see if somebody locally in the branch has a set of stamps or buy a set locally as it will probably be cheaper than going to a jewllers unless you have a pal who is a jeweller and remember the stamps should not be perfectly even as they were all done by hand and the alignment tends to be a little wobbly so to speak, if you do get completly stuck you can send it to me as I have access to a set of stamps.

Just a thought here, if you replace your old chassis number plate with a new repro one, would the MOT man assumed you'd ringed the car, not just replaced the plate to tidy up the engine bay?

The chassis number MUST be checked on the car at each MOT - to avoid 'fraud' - so it must be readable. Brass strip with the correct code 'typed' on will be fine.

As already mentioned - the Minor is old enough that the rule does not apply. The advantage of the electronic MOT is that they can't give you a fail on a criteria that does not apply!
The downside is that the MOT tester is more than likely completely unaware that the rule doesn't apply.

On a classic I always take the log book or previous electronic MOT -the tester needs this otherwise there is a risk that the crusty (or missing) VIN plate can't be read properly. It's best to help the MOT man (they are only human) rather than feel sorry afterwards.

As for getting a new plate - DIY Hand stamps invariably look poor, especially if the user hasn't had loads of practise. They will be good enough for the MOT but if you want a neat looking plate then try the local key cutting / shoe repair / engraving shop. They usually have a machine that does neat lettering normally used to put tags on to trophy name plates. They are usually good value for money too.