NCT on an American import

2cv

Hi,

A colleague of mine has encountered a problem getting his wife's car tested. I know it's not really a classic (yet), but i'm sure the American car enthusiasts might be able to advise. The car is a 1997 Dodge Intrepid.

My colleague lived in the States for years and when they decided to come back to Europe, they decided to keep the Dodge. The car was shipped to Antwerp in Belgium and cleared there. The car was then registered and tested in Belgium (i have the Belgian registration document, customs clearance document and the Belgian NCT document). The car also has a Certificate of Conformity, issued by Chrysler Belgium stating that the car is conform.

The car was then brought to Ireland and registered here. Now the NCT fails the car on a few things. The indicators are not conform, the window tint is too dark, and a few other bits and pieces.

This is where i need advice... The car was declared conform in Belgium. As we all know, since 1996 all national conformities have been replaced by one single European Conformity. So logically, you would imagine that if a 1997 car was declared conform in Belgium, it should be conform here as well.

Anyone got any experience with this?

Max_Damage

Don't know about Belgian laws, but American-spec. cars here have to have the rear lights modified if they integrate the red indicator with the brake light (most people change them so the reverse lights are the indicators and a separate reverse light is mounted under the bumper). Unlike most European countries, rear fog lights aren't compulsory here.

I think the amber / red sidelights have to be changed, but I'm not sure on that. The headlights have to aim in the other direction too.

That's about it.

2cv

Max_Damage wrote: »

Don't know about Belgian laws

That's the thing.... it's not belgian law, it's EU law ;-) I used to work in the motor industry and i know that from 1996 onwards, all national conformities have been replaced by a single european one. So basically a car that is conform the law in let's say Greece, is conform in Ireland.

si_guru

Was the conformity cert for that actual "US spec" car or for any Dodge Intrepid that would be assumed to be EU spec?

2cv

si_guru wrote: »

Was the conformity cert for that actual "US spec" car or for any Dodge Intrepid that would be assumed to be EU spec?

US spec.. The Intrepid was never sold in Belgium.

si_guru

I still think NCT would override the cert.. same as if you had LHD lights.

2cv

si_guru wrote: »

I still think NCT would override the cert.. same as if you had LHD lights.

Oh you can get a car tested with LHD headlights ;-) that's not a problem...

Dades

A UK MOT is no use over here either - you still need an NCT.

There's nothing to say the NCT can't have specific -but different - requirements to those already covered by an EU conformity check.

Even if you got a "pass" this time by virtue of your recent Belgian one it'll still fail next time as the Irish rules will be applied then.

2cv

Dades wrote: »

A UK MOT is no use over here either - you still need an NCT.

There's nothing to say the NCT can't have specific -but different - requirements to those already covered by an EU conformity check.

Even if you got a "pass" this time by virtue of your recent Belgian one it'll still fail next time as the Irish rules will be applied then.

One of the issues is the rear lights.... They've been declared conform the EU law in Belgium, and yet the NCT won't accept them as they are. So i take it the NCT is above EU law then?

Dades

2cv wrote: »

So i take it the NCT is above EU law then?

Wouldn't be the first burden on the motorist that seems to be...

*cough* VRT

Sids Not

2cv wrote: »

Oh you can get a car tested with LHD headlights ;-) that's not a problem...

Surely an NCT test will fail LHD headlights......

Bring it to a garage and ask them for a pre NCT summary...

As said above local laws take precidence over Euro laws..e.g ..fog lights not necessary, orange indicators are..

Big Nasty

Whatever about the rest of it the headlight angle will have to be changed - end of story. There may be a uniform EU law but the headlight angle that's acceptable in the rest of Europe is hardly going to apply here or in the UK AS WE DRIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!!

Dades

MCMLXXV wrote: »

the rest of Europe is hardly going to apply here or in the UK AS WE DRIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!!

I think you'll find THEY drive on the other side of the road. :pac:

Sids Not

Dades wrote: »

I think you'll find THEY drive on the other side of the road. :pac:

You mean the WRONG side...............;)

corktina

Sids Not wrote: »

You mean the WRONG side...............;)

no , thats in Cork you mean...

Sids Not

corktina wrote: »

no , thats in Cork you mean...

Do they have cars in Cork now..................:D

wildefalcon

corktina wrote: »

no , thats in Cork you mean...

Wait a minute? The road has different sides? THAT'S where I've been going wrong!


Seriously though, the NCT outranks the EU conformity. In essence the EU conformity is a minimum standard (it's got wheels and brakes etc) but the countries can impose further "safety" regulations on top.

Now that may be contrary to EU law and principles, but so far no-one has tested it, so unless you wish to take a case, you may just pucker up and take it.

Same old, ordinary citizen suffers while the stupid laws get wrangled.

2cv

Sids Not wrote: »

Surely an NCT test will fail LHD headlights......

Bring it to a garage and ask them for a pre NCT summary...

As said above local laws take precidence over Euro laws..e.g ..fog lights not necessary, orange indicators are..

The headlights are not a problem, you can get them tested with a sticker on it!