Rear Seats OUT

active

Hi there,
I'm thinkin' of buying a little hatchback car, like Seat Ibiza, Rover 200, Toyota Carolla, VW Polo,..., and then modifying the car by taking rear seats out (permanently) to make a big boot for transporting bulky stuff.
Does this change have to be registered?, and where - Vehicle Registration Office?

Seth Brundle

You will have to notigy your insurance about the change.
Also I presume you mean stuff and not staff but will this be commercial stuff? If so then again your insurance company needs to know.
IMO - get a van!

layke

Agreed, a 2nd hand van would be far cheaper too.

Rb

Or a good roof rack would save you a fair bit.

active

I've met a friend of mine today, he works in a garage. He told that taking seats out means converting a passenger car into commercial, & there's a long list of requirements from VRO + you have to pay about 1600 EUR fee.
You were right, a van or pick-up, or roof-rack, an' no lechery.

colm_mcm

you don't have to convert it. there's nothing wrong with removing the seats as long as they can be re-installed for the NCT.

Seth Brundle

Active is thinking of converting a new car to avoid paying VRT.

colm_mcm

Given that he lists the Rover 200 as one of the cars he's considering, I get the feeling he's looking at older cars?

active

Yep, colm_mcm, I ment a used car. But "(permanently)" in the first post - it was more like making changes forever, without an option of putting seats back for the NCT. So, what we've got:
1.Temprorary modification.
_1.1. Remove rear seats;
_1.2. Inform insurance company;
_1.3. Drive;
_1.4. Install seats back for the NCT, pass NCT;
_1.5. Remove rear seats and go_to step 1.3.
2. Permanent modification - conversion into commercial vehicle.
_1.1. Get a list of requirements from VRO;
_1.2. Modify the car according to the requirements (much more than just removing seats);
_1.3. Get the car checked by VRO member, pay a big sum;
_1.4. Drive.

Right?

colm_mcm

could you just keep it as a passenger vehicle, but change the particulars on the registration. i.e. 2 seats instead of 5?