VOSA, MOT'S AND SUNSTRIPS

Hello UK Tinters,

Got a tinter who is getting a kicking over installing on the inside to a front windscreen with a 20% tint. It is about 6inches/150mm down from the top. The local MOT station failed the car due to this sunstrip.

My understanding through a VOSA contact that this method and the fact it is transparent is LEGAL. But anything installed on the outside or interferes with the windscreen wiper action is illegal.

However his local VOSA guy, says that his installation despite being internal is ILLEGAL.

Anybody care to step up to the plate and clarify or share their experiences of Sunstrip from a legal and MOT point of view?


Cheers and Keep on Tinting...

hi its my first post on here but i think i may be able to help,

I think it is that the sun strip be it tint or solid, or, internal or external it must not be in the wipe area of the windscreen wipers, i know this cos i got a car through a MOT by changing the wiper blades from 21" to 19" and it was passed on retest but that was about 3 years ago so dunno if it had been changed again or not.

hope this is of help.

James

PS nik is it you that sells the carbon fibre film as i may be interested as i want to wrap the roof of my E39 cos the film on that civic in another post looks the dogs danglys

James,

Congrats on yor first post.... yeh it's me and it is the dogs, drop me a mail (nik@bonwyke.co.uk) and i will get you the details etc, dont forget your address etc and we can send you a sample of the MF stuff..Keep on Tinting!!!!

cheers nik, i will drop you a line tomorrow as im not at my main pc, looking through your web site i will probs be ordering some tools from you in the not to distant future too ;)

Hi Nik


As far as im aware you can have a sunstrip no longer than 4" in depth.Anything bellow that depth is fine.


Simon

as i understand it from local traffic police, a sunstrip cannot go more than 20mm into sweep of wipers, regardless of inside, outside, solid, or tinted, however the factory fitted top-tinted windscreens are no problem, many of which go much more than 20mm into wiper sweep, work that 1 out???

i drive a transit connect van, and i had a vinyl exterior sunstrip on mine with company livery on it and still had a bigger screen area than just about anything else on the road, the screens in these vans are huge to start with and they have the biggest sunvisors in history, they come twice the distance down the screen than the vinyl did, needless to say the local plod werent 2 happy about it mostly because my van isnt tinted so they had to find something else wrong with it, i also just changed the wiper blades to compensate

anyway, as far as i understand anything more than 20mm into wiper sweep is an mot failure

think tint325i is on the money with that cos i had to reduce mine wiper blades by 2" to get it through MOT before tester was alright about it.

You normally have an AS1 line marked on the front screen (not on all cars) that shows the limit of the depth of the sun screen. I should ask my brother he works for VOSA and pulls cars over all the time for tinted front windows!!

as i understand it that as1 line applies only to factory top-tinted screens and not to anything added to the screen aftermarket, i know that sounds mental but im sure your brother will clarify

PHiRE,

Tried to send you a reply to your email but kept coming back.....get it sorted man....samples on their way for eary next week..with full details. Remember to install the vinyl dry as the glue channels are designed to allow the air pockets out. Any shrinking must be done gently as it is softer than window film, but you can pull and shrink it around curves -just give some extra heat on edges to minimise shrink back.

Shadow,

Appreciate it if you could look into this with your brother....given the particular case i highlighted. Trying to help this fellow tinter with his local MOT centre. If you can email me your findings too that would be ace!

Cheers

Yeah come on Shadow - step up man with the info!

I always thought it was 6 inches from the top?

THE WORD FROM VOSA..............well my brother who works for them. He said that as far as he is aware (he is off next week but will make enquires to be 100%- but he is certain he is correct as this is what his views are if they inspect a car). If the sun strip fitted internally or externally is in the sweep of the wipers it is illegal and is a MOT failure. He also went on to say that the only thing that is allowed in the swipe of the wipers is a tax disc and one offical parking permit badge. Anything else is illegal and a MOT failure. This is the best bit, an air fresher hanging ffrom the rear view mirror even though its not attached to the screen, is a MOT failure?!!! As it is in the sweeper arm area and the drivers vision. But its not a requirement to have wipers for a MOT test?? go figure!!? He said that some MOT testers arnt fully aware of the rules as they should be so one may pass and one may fail? Hope that helps!!

As usual with MOT regulations. Too many grey areas.

my understanding was.......


If its within the sweep of the wipers, its illegal...

hi nik sunstrip had to be stripped off to pass m.o.t anything within 20mm of wipersweep illegal
wish these guy would keep us informed last i heard was 6ins

TINTDECK...tell about that top tint windscreen you told me about today....

Could you ask him why certain french cars that with factory tints of 68% are legal as the law states minimum of 70%.

I told the guy in vosa they need to do a massive recall he wasnt very happy about that to say the least His response?? " I don't have to do anything" Yes you do lil boy run along and lick your boss's arsehole
They also stated it only 6 cm's allowed as sunstrip, I then pointed out his golf had a 11cm top tint and asked why that was allowed? To be told "It just is" again well thought out answer there Sherlock
I would also like to know where this 45% rule came from????

hi nik was looking at a nissan navara 57 plate factory tinted window screen came down 6ins plus wiper sweep went all the way to top of window

Made me laugh that davie.

I have a good relationship with my local VOSA Rep and he could not tell me about the 45% rule as he didnt know,but used it as a guideline. Figure that out!!!!!
Until recently and now they have taken a zero tolerance attitude so Wiltshire drivers arent as lucky as you guys from Glasgow being allowed 45%.
But its too cold to move up there

in Northern Ireland they fail anything in the swipe of the wipers.

Now there has been a couple of cheeks customer that actually CHANGED THE SIZE OF THE WIPERS LOL, to make the swipe size smaller! Safe or not it still didnt work, the MOT inspector laughed and sat inside the car - flipped down the standard sun flap yokes and he said 'if i can still see your tinted stip when these flaps are down its an automatic fail!

Although there is exceptions!.... i have had a doctor perscribe a sunstrip for an elderly woman for the low winter sun blinding her lol she passes every year and the sun strip is 13" deep from the top lol

If there is a zero tolerance then they better get onto some of the french manufactures and do massssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvveeeeeeeeeee recalls then!!!!
These guys at vosa are laying down the law on something they have no idea whatsoever on