De-cat. Ever been caught?

[pinkney]

Has anyone here been pulled and been fined for running a de-catted car? I know the penalty is fairly extensive (£5k) so would like some reassurance that it's unlikely to b caught.

[JamesG]

Since when has that been illegal!

Post 1992 cars just need to get their cats put back on to pass the MOT emissions test.

(nice car, by the way )

James.

[pinkney]

Cheers James,

I have always been under the impression that it was illegal for post '92 cars to run without the cats. I know that you need to replace them in order to pass the MOT, but if the car will not pass its MOT without the cats surely that would make it illegal to run?

However, I hope I am wrong.

Dan

[philshort]

I think if stopped and tested, you have a number of days to get the car "fixed" and retested - but I could be talking through the pipehole of my p***k as usual. Who's going to know?

I think the main problem is that in the event of a serious accident, its one thing the insurance companies are wise to and it would be an instant no cover situation whe their inspector discovers a lack of cats - unless you let them know what you have done.

[Tabs]

In Northants they do random roadside emissions tests. Plod pull you into a lay-bye and you're greeted by ministry officers and their portable kit. How would you get on then!

[simonelite501]

Well that's Northants of my christmas card list then!
My Elite just scapes through the MOT emission test after a massive amount of tinkering every year.
I wonder how the Rodders get on when the Billing Aquadrome show is on?!

[clositintelctual]

cars made before april 1992 do not need to have a cat fitted. it was only compulsory after this date, I think you all know that you can get a replacement bolt in pipe that gets rid of the foul smelling cat, just spend 5 minutes putting youre cat back on for its mot. Is it worth it though for only a gain of about 3% power. I think it is extremely unlikely to get tested at the roadside by a government body as there currently isn't one capable of doing this.

[Niggle]

Just a thought, but wouldn't this be treated the same as fitting a sports exhaust, or a race can on a bike ?

If you get caught, plod issue you with a rectification notice, and you get 7 days to get the vehicle tested by a MOT station.

[Dave_H]

There's a lot of pro's about removing the cats. A mate of mine runs an 1989 Camero, he legally removed the cats, the performance and fuel bills improved a fair bit.

There's a lot of controversy about cats, they don't really work until the engine's warmed up, they are in exsitence mainly to please the lentel eating bearded tree huggers, and if they cause a lower MPG are they really "saving the planet"

[johnny senna]

You have to tell the insurance company what you have done. Privilege added 13% to my premium when I fitted a non-cat system that would raise the power by 2-3%. If you crash it and you haven't told them about the modification, you're in trouble.