Mine went through SVA in March 2000, IIRC. At the SVA test, emissions limits were determined by age of engine to be 3.5% CO and 1200 PPM HC. (Non-cat limits were allowable with an engine date up to August 1995, IIRC).
Mine has no emissions limits listed on the V5, however.
I've helped put a few cars through SVA since then, and they did start putting emissions data on the V5 a couple of years after, but there clearly was a period during which they didn't.
I have a very reasonable MOT guy with whom I have a good relationship. He's an ex-westfield owner himself, so I don't push the matter, as long as I'm not heading for a fail.
If that were to happen, my first get out of jail card would be clause 6b of the MOT manual:
Vehicles having a Q plate registration when presented for MOT are to be treated as follows:
for emission purposes only, they are to be considered as first used before 1 August 1975
for all other testing purposes they are to be considered as being first used on 1 January 1971
For cars that ended up with an age-related plate that doesn't help, of course.
I also have the SVA manual from the time the car was registered, showing how the emissions limits were derived.
It is completely unreasonable that cars are now being tested to higher limits than required at registration. I suppose the only recourse would be to appeal the MOT result and then press to have the correct emissions limits entered on the V5.
Purely down to the left hand at DVSA not knowing what the right had is doing, IMHO.
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Topic: So what have you done to your car today? (Read 3018068 times)