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Can I Use My 1972 Mini For My Driving Test ?


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#1 Richard__w

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 11:47 AM

I Have got my test booked for end of September and was wondering is it possible to use my car for the driving test or will I need to find a more modern car.

TIA

#2 Carlos W

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 01:23 PM

I think it needs to have head rests.

Your driving instructor or test centre will be able to answer for definite.

It’s also worth checking that your insurance company will cover the test

#3 unburntfuelinthemorning

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 01:41 PM

I thought it was possible to use any vehicle appropriate to the license you are trying to gain as long as the vehicle is road worthy.



#4 WillCarter

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 02:25 PM

Yeah no problem at all, passed my test in my mini a couple of years ago

#5 Steve220

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 02:41 PM

Yeah no problem at all, passed my test in my mini a couple of years ago

 

And you're turboing it now? I take it you've looked into insurance?...



#6 WillCarter

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 02:50 PM

Yeah no problem at all, passed my test in my mini a couple of years ago

 
And you're turboing it now? I take it you've looked into insurance?...

Got a quote for £700 for the build about a year ago, the build will take me a couple of years at least though so it should be even cheaper by then

#7 WillCarter

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 02:57 PM

Yeah no problem at all, passed my test in my mini a couple of years ago

 
And you're turboing it now? I take it you've looked into insurance?...

Got a quote for £700 for the build about a year ago, the build will take me a couple of years at least though so it should be even cheaper by then

Just put it through again, non-standard, bored, turbo charged engine £466 from Adrian Flux

#8 poohbah

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 03:20 PM

DVSA says:

 

https://www.gov.uk/d...ng-your-own-car

 

 

Using your own car for your test

You can take your driving test in your own car rather than your driving instructor’s if it meets certain rules.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if your car doesn’t meet the rules.

Rules about the car

Your car must:

  • be taxed
  • be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)
  • be roadworthy and have a current MOT (if it’s over 3 years old)
  • have no warning lights showing, for example, the airbag warning light
  • have no tyre damage and the legal tread depth on each tyre - you can’t have a space-saver spare tyre fitted
  • be smoke-free - this means you can’t smoke in it just before or during the test
  • be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer
  • have 4 wheels and a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg

The MAM is the limit on how much the car can weigh when it’s loaded. It’ll be in the car’s handbook.

Things that must be fitted

The car must have:

  • an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
  • L-plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) on the front and rear
  • a passenger seatbelt for the examiner and a proper passenger head restraint (not a slip-on type)
Dashcams and other cameras

You can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes, as long as it:

  • faces outside of the car and doesn’t film the inside
  • doesn’t record audio from inside the car
Manual and automatic cars

You can take the test in a:

  • manual car - these have 3 pedals
  • automatic or semi-automatic car - these have 2 pedals

If you take your test in a semi-automatic car you’ll only be able to drive automatic and semi-automatic cars once you’ve passed your test.

Hire cars

You can take your test in a hire car if it’s fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules.

Vehicle features

You can use a car with:

  • an electronic parking brake
  • hill-start assist
Cars you can’t use

Some cars can’t be used in the test because they don’t give the examiner all-round vision.

You can’t use any of the following:

  • BMW Mini convertible
  • Ford KA convertible
  • Toyota iQ
  • VW Beetle convertible

Check with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) before you book your test if you want to use a:

  • convertible car
  • panel van


#9 poohbah

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 03:23 PM

Note that it has to have an extra interior mirror for the examiner, L-plates and a proper passenger head restraint (as noted by Carlos W says).



#10 Dannyboolahlah

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 03:53 PM

Weird how there’s a specific exception for the Bini Ka and Beetle convertibles, and the IQ.
Surely the visibility can’t be any worse than a Lamborghini Countach... or a van.

#11 Steve220

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 05:07 PM

Yeah no problem at all, passed my test in my mini a couple of years ago


And you're turboing it now? I take it you've looked into insurance?...
Got a quote for £700 for the build about a year ago, the build will take me a couple of years at least though so it should be even cheaper by then
Just put it through again, non-standard, bored, turbo charged engine £466 from Adrian Flux

Shame its flux. I'm 35 and can't get mine anywhere near that!

#12 Cooperman

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 06:10 PM

My friend who is a test examiner and a Mini enthusiast says that no test can be taken in a car withoit proper head restraints. So that rules out most classic Minis.

#13 DeadSquare

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 07:53 PM

My friend who is a test examiner and a Mini enthusiast says that no test can be taken in a car with out proper head restraints. So that rules out most classic Minis.

 

How about fitting something like a Corbeau rally seat?



#14 Retroman

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Posted 31 July 2018 - 09:56 PM

If you do manage to sort the head restraint issue for your test ;

 

Make sure all your lights are working,

 

if they are not and you can't change the bulb or beam unit in 6 minutes the examiner will not go on test

 

Ridiculous rule as you don't need headlights in day light

 

Best of luck for the test



#15 leyland73

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Posted 01 August 2018 - 06:15 AM

Took my driving lessons in our Thirty during the spring of 1990, driving test was duly passed 10 weeks after my 17th birthday, that was 28 yrs ago makes me feel old!

It does have headrests though, should be easy enough to borrow a pair of front seats from a later mini with headrests to meet with the test requirements.

Go for it, would be great to get out in a mini for your test.

Still have the Thirty, owned from new.

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Edited by leyland73, 01 August 2018 - 06:17 AM.





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