Defender rear access ladder failed MOT

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

Hi, I need help!

My Defender has failed the MOT for the rear access ladder covers part of the registration plate.
Most of the ladders for sales are the same, should it have passed or are these ladders a waste of money?
I purchased mine from a reputable dealer.
If they are ok, where can I find the info?
If not, what can I do?
If not, should sellers identify this?

Tenebreaux · Jan 10, 2021

Can't you move the plate to the other side?

mick 1986 · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Hi, I need help!

My Defender has failed the MOT for the rear access ladder covers part of the registration plate.
Most of the ladders for sales are the same, should it have passed or are these ladders a waste of money?
I purchased mine from a reputable dealer.
If they are ok, where can I find the info?
If not, what can I do?
If not, should sellers identify this?View attachment 227413

Mine was the same, but it never failed the MOT with it. I think the tester has been a bit of a dick, but I think he may be correct. I think you are not allowed anything “obscuring” the reg.

Personally, remove the ladder and get it re tested, refit if after, or find a better test station that will use a little more discretion with common sense items.

mick 1986 · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Hi, I need help!

My Defender has failed the MOT for the rear access ladder covers part of the registration plate.
Most of the ladders for sales are the same, should it have passed or are these ladders a waste of money?
I purchased mine from a reputable dealer.
If they are ok, where can I find the info?
If not, what can I do?
If not, should sellers identify this?View attachment 227413

Just found this:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...cial-vehicles/0-identification-of-the-vehicle

Says it “must not be obscured”.

lynall · Jan 10, 2021

Move ladder or n-plate, retest it, remember for next year, dont worry about it.
Just recently I have heard of a few testers being dickheads, even had my d3 fail on a worn arb drop link, no worries, repaired retested, then find out worn is not a fail, totally fcuked is, but hey ho, different garage next year!

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

lynall said:
Move ladder or n-plate, retest it, remember for next year, dont worry about it.
Just recently I have heard of a few testers being dickheads, even had my d3 fail on a worn arb drop link, no worries, repaired retested, then find out worn is not a fail, totally fcuked is, but hey ho, different garage next year!

Cheers. Totally agree with you.

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

mick 1986 said:
Mine was the same, but it never failed the MOT with it. I think the tester has been a bit of a dick, but I think he may be correct. I think you are not allowed anything “obscuring” the reg.

Personally, remove the ladder and get it re tested, refit if after, or find a better test station that will use a little more discretion with common sense items.

Looks like that is the answer but hate being ripped off. My LED headlights failed for the pattern even though they are CE marked and labelled. Another £200 down the drain!

neilly · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Looks like that is the answer but hate being ripped off. My LED headlights failed for the pattern even though they are CE marked and labelled. Another £200 down the drain!

Did the lights come from a reputable supplier?

Cheers

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

Tenebreaux said:
Can't you move the plate to the other side?

Fraid not, too much on the opposite side.

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

neilly said:
Did the lights come from a reputable supplier?

Cheers

Yep, the lights were from a shop. No names cus I use them a lot and generally they're excellent

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

mick 1986 said:
Just found this:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...cial-vehicles/0-identification-of-the-vehicle

Says it “must not be obscured”.

Thanks, I thought that would be the case.

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Yep, the lights were from a shop. No names cus I use them a lot and generally they're excellent

Here's the lights. Shame they look the part

kermit_rr · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Looks like that is the answer but hate being ripped off. My LED headlights failed for the pattern even though they are CE marked and labelled. Another £200 down the drain!

What did you buy? If it was LED bulbs to replace halogens, often the pattern will be wrong unless you replace the reflector too.
If it is a full unit, the Chinese aren't afraid of putting CE stickers (or any sticker you prefer) whether they meet approval or not

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

kermit_rr said:
What did you buy? If it was LED bulbs to replace halogens, often the pattern will be wrong unless you replace the reflector too.
If it is a full unit, the Chinese aren't afraid of putting CE stickers (or any sticker you prefer) whether they meet approval or not

No, they were a top make from a good shop. I bought them a while back, so can't get the cash back. Full LED lights not the bulb. I was told the halo could be causing the problem

Beneagles · Jan 10, 2021

Oh woe is me!!! How dare a fully qualified MOT-tester dare to fail me just because my numberplate is obscured, and/or my light pattern is illegal! Sheesh...they'll be complaining about bald tyres and rusty outriggers next!

I see a lot of Testers being called dickheads just for doing their job

It works both ways...if the customer is a dickhead, the car will fail

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

It seems I've f***ked up again, so I'll go with the answer of taking the ladder off for the MOT.
Cheers folks!

kermit_rr · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
No, they were a top make from a good shop. I bought them a while back, so can't get the cash back. Full LED lights not the bulb. I was told the halo could be causing the problem

I would contact the shop anyways if they are not fit for use.. no harm in asking.
Don't ask for a refund, say you feel obliged to let them know as they might not be aware they fail mot etc

Kevlandau · Jan 10, 2021

Beneagles said:
Oh woe is me!!! How dare a fully qualified MOT-tester dare to fail me just because my numberplate is obscured, and/or my light pattern is illegal! Sheesh...they'll be complaining about bald tyres and rusty outriggers next!

I see a lot of Testers being called dickheads just for doing their job
It works both ways...if the customer is a dickhead, the car will fail

You wont find any rust on mine!
I bet theres stax of landies out there with the same ladder...
Bye all and thanks for all your replies.

lynall · Jan 10, 2021

Kevlandau said:
Looks like that is the answer but hate being ripped off. My LED headlights failed for the pattern even though they are CE marked and labelled. Another £200 down the drain!

Sure I read somehwere some less than reputable import gear was marked as CE but in their case it simply meant chinese export!

lynall · Jan 10, 2021

Beneagles said:
Oh woe is me!!! How dare a fully qualified MOT-tester dare to fail me just because my numberplate is obscured, and/or my light pattern is illegal! Sheesh...they'll be complaining about bald tyres and rusty outriggers next!

I see a lot of Testers being called dickheads just for doing their job
It works both ways...if the customer is a dickhead, the car will fail

I think you are being harsh on yourself there!
I am old school, always leave a drink for the tester after my cars mot, pass or fail, but as the years pass, I feel as if I should keeo my money in my pocket and vist one of the mot only places?
Testers are human (allegedely) and humans by their very nature make mistakes, I prep trucks for mots all the time, most pass, some fail, I see other trucks prepped for mot and know that is a fail, and yet it passes, like I said people!
I also service trucks and am sometimes told there wont be nowt wrong with that it was only tested last week/month/yesterday (yes seriously) and I often find things that not only are they fcuked they were fcuked many miles/days/weeks ago.
As the test sheet says, it is only applicable for the day of the test, ie its worthless.

Defender rear access ladder failed MOT

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