It turns out the Department for Transport is only keen on implementing whole vehicle type approval and not policing it. It means once you have registered a particular vehicle you are free to change its specification without risk of being highlighted, caught or fined.
As loopholes go it’s not bad. It means manufacturers can simply build one type of body, register the vehicle, bring it back in through the back door, make the changes and out it goes again without recourse to WVTA paperwork and cost.
Even at the MoT stage there is no chasing up even if the vehicle doesn’t match the specification listed on its original registration documents. To power phrase a DfT representative at one of the seminars, hosted in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, “we are only here to implement it not enforce it”.
Another cash cow? The DfT aren’t planning to close the loophole even though it raises questions about validity, build quality, and cost cutting measures.
The DfT is keen for trade to put in its opinion and has questionnaire on its website.