The new test items introduced with the implementation of EU Directive 2010/48/EU are now testable and can be selected as a reason for failure from 20 March 2013.
The directive originally planned for 01 January 2012 was put on hold until the parliamentary process had run its course in preparation for introduction into UK domestic law and has now been completed.
Although this may come as old news to some of you, we’re advising all garages to refer to special notice 1-2013 for details of all new testable items and to take particular care. Although they look similar to previous information released, the methods of inspection and reasons for rejection have been revised. This is due to the feedback VOSA received whilst the test items were advisory only.
Additional changes that are forthcoming in the next inspection manual release are listed in Annex B of S/N 1-2013, like an explanation of modified vehicles and the removal of the shock absorber bounce test. A new VT9A poster is also included listing the additional free retest items. These changes also apply from 20 March 2013.
Special notice 1-2013 must be printed and referred to until the introduction of the new inspection manual pages. Please feel free to put them on the wall as an aide memoire and make sure that you remove previous information before hand.
Hopefully the extended advisory period we had has given all customers ample warning that these items will be testable and therefore it shouldn’t be an unpleasant surprise.
For any questions or clarification, please call the VOSA Contact Centre on 0300 123 9000.
Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock images.