Vehicle tin work? Legalities!

[Dry Rot]

Not sure where to put this, but here goes anyway!

Is it a legal requirement to have body panels on a licensed vehicle on the road? The bonnet of my Land Rover has a dent in one corner where it landed after the wind blew it off. (Rusted release catch). The local body shop says they can repair it at a reasonable cost. As the experts will know, it is easy enough to remove the bonnet off a Land Rover by opening it wide and simply lifting it off.

So here is the problem. If I take the bonnet off and leave it with the auto repair guy for repair, is it legally OK for me to drive it home without the bonnet? Nobody seems to know and I am pretty sure the cops will just take the easy way out and say it's illegal if I ask them! (I suppose I could claim it has only just blown off! ).

Does anyone know? A legal reference would be nice, but that's maybe asking too much!

 

[Lincs Lass]

Probably a softer landing if somebody lands on it in an accident than falling into a hot engine with moving parts

 

[24/7 farming]

Legal will be one thing, but nearly guaranteed ur insurance will run a mile if anything happened.

 

[puppet]

Depends how far to home and how dark it is

 

[Still Farming]

All to do with sharp edges possibly?

 

[Welderloon]

Ask your local garage if it would pass an MOT without a bonnet....................

 

[Lakesdigger]

Ask your local garage if it would pass an MOT without a bonnet....................

There was a time it would have but I'm not sure if it's the case now due to pedestrians. It may pass an mot with no bonnet but fail because of sharp edges

 

[scottrac]

Ask your local garage if it would pass an MOT without a bonnet....................

I'm an mot tester and providing there are no sharp edges front or side then it would pass an mot BUT depending on the copper it might be a different matter,police rules and dvsa rules arn't necessarily the same I have had a stand up row at the side of the road when pulled over once (and won) but all depends who pulls you.
It gets dark early you know

 

[Welderloon]

Agreed , Landrover's seem to have many different rulings & different interpretations of rulings regarding road worthiness.

 

[scottrac]

don't low how to post a link but if you go to mot-testing.service.gov.uk/login then scroll to the bottom and click on manual for class 3.4.5 and 7 vehicles the mot side is all there

 

[Dry Rot]

don't low how to post a link but if you go to mot-testing.service.gov.uk/login then scroll to the bottom and click on manual for class 3.4.5 and 7 vehicles the mot side is all there

Thanks for the link! It is certainly a bit vague but the point about insurance by 24/7 above is a good one.

It is 35 miles one way to the repairer and a fast A road all the way back (at average speed 65mph judging by those on my tail this evening!). So looks like I will have to drive, leave the LR there, then a mile walk to the bus at that end and another mile walk this end. Then do it again when the bonnet is repaired. Back in my youth, I would have hitch hiked the entire journey but that seems to be unfashionable these days. Oh the joys!

 

[Hesstondriver]

Ask your local garage if it would pass an MOT without a bonnet....................

If it’s fitted it has to work .
so if it’s not there ., and therefore can’t work

 

[Muddyroads]

Can’t you transport the bonnet to the repairer by some other means?

 

[Highland Mule]

Doesn’t help with the travel but hearing good things about Highland Dent Repair in the Carsegate.

 

[michael N123]

Make a temporary bonnet with lots of silage tape

 

[Dave W]

Not sure where to put this, but here goes anyway!

Is it a legal requirement to have body panels on a licensed vehicle on the road? The bonnet of my Land Rover has a dent in one corner where it landed after the wind blew it off. (Rusted release catch). The local body shop says they can repair it at a reasonable cost. As the experts will know, it is easy enough to remove the bonnet off a Land Rover by opening it wide and simply lifting it off.

So here is the problem. If I take the bonnet off and leave it with the auto repair guy for repair, is it legally OK for me to drive it home without the bonnet? Nobody seems to know and I am pretty sure the cops will just take the easy way out and say it's illegal if I ask them! (I suppose I could claim it has only just blown off! ).

Does anyone know? A legal reference would be nice, but that's maybe asking too much!

Ask yourself this. Do you want to be on the front page of local paper when there’s an incident and the Land Rover driver was going to be driving round without a bonnet?
Is it Really worth it?
Surely you know someone who can take it for you. Only a farmer would ever think this sort of thing acceptable

 

[smcapstick]

No bonnet is an MOT fail… so no, it isn’t legal.

 

[Skintagain]

A bit woke to me this thread

 

[Sausage]

Would it not be possible to get a replacement bonnet in the same colour from a breaker. I realise you are remote but it might easier and cheaper than getting yours repaired.

 

[smcapstick]

A bit woke to me this thread

Having a bonnet on your car is woke?