Rules and Regs for trike building legally!

You will need a weight certificate for the MSVA (VOSA) and for the initial registration documentation (DVLA) but as far as I'm aware, once registered, you don't need to produce this on subsequent MOT's, proof of weight is reqd initially for its excise classification, currently:-

A trike with an unladen mass of 450kg or below, irrespective of engine capacity, is currently rated at £60 for 12 months Road Tax.

A trike with an unladen mass above 450kg will have a ‘PLG’ classification, this means that its engine capacity will affect its rate of required excise duty.

1, PLG Class 1549cc or below:- is currently rated at £110 for 12 months Road Tax.

2, PLG Class 1550cc or above:- is currently rated at £170 for 12 months Road Tax.

This 'classification' also effects the driving licence requirements i.e.

A trike with a mass of 450kg or below, can be ridden ‘solo’ on a provisional licence, however ‘L’ plates must be displayed, and the trike must have only one seat; the rider's seat.

A trike with a mass above 450kg can also be ridden on a provisional licence, but the rider must be accompanied by a qualified licence holder at all times and ‘L’ plates must be displayed.

(Note, If the trike is 450kg or below, your trike can have an extra seat(s) fitted, however if fitted, you must carry a qualified licence holder with you at all times and ‘L’ plates must be displayed)



so  1 seat  450 kg  weight limit  .. provo car liscence and  insurance ..  for 12 months shoudl come to less than  £180

These notes were compiled as SVA testers from VOSA at Bristol examined my demonstrator at Mitcham testing station. The examination was quite rigorous, however what was pointed out was both in terms of common sense and for additional safety. The demonstrator was previously registered therefore was SVA exempt, the "test" was a dummy and a training exercise for VOSA / MSVA technicians, with the head of MSVA present.

General:
No sharp edges.
Take photos as you go along. Evidence-based assessment is allowed.
Take tools along with you – ducting tape, tools and cable ties.

Speedometer:
Must be illuminated. Cable or electronic. Dual units of speed.

Horn:
Must not be a klaxon or siren. No old fashioned types, simply a horn.

Lights:
Hazards needed.
Width dimensions – maximum 400mm from edge of headlamp to most extreme projection.
Height – minimum 350mm from bottom of light to ground.
Rear lights – minimum 250mm from ground.
Reflectors (not triangular), red, on rear of front mudguard, facing to the rear.
Must have two stop lamps, separate from each other.
Registration plate must be illuminated.
Indicator lights – height, minimum 350mm from ground.
If fogs or reversing lights are fitted, they must work. Are optional.
Light switches – if fitted, must work.
Current lights have a facility to adjust.

Mirrors:
Offside mirror must be fitted.
Housing, edges. Must not protrude more than 100mm from extreme outer edge of body.
Security.
Must meet field of vision requirements: offside – 10m back and 2.5m wide.
Interior mirror- 20m across and 60m back. If it does not meet this, then need a nearside mirror as well.

Steering lock:
If it is electronic, it must not operate on braking system.
Must be an immobiliser. Most straightforward is a column lock.
Could be a transmission lock.
Removable steering wheel is not sufficient on its own.

Steering:
Check from lock to lock.
Good idea having wiring moving with the steering. Just ensure no chafing.
Steering column – collapsible or built at an angle.

Registration plate space:
Radiused edges apply.

Welds, joints, brackets, fittings, sub frames, wheels, stub axles:
Must be neat.
Bolts to be longer.
Nylock nuts should always be used.

Fuel cap:
Must be secure, sealed. Use Loctite if necessary.
Fuel pump must be secure, insulated.

Wiring:
Must be secure. No chafing. Grommets/conduits/trunking for wiring.
Clips must be secure.

Clutch cable clamp:
Soldered nipple needed.

Seat belts:
5mm plate mountings.
Weld both sides.
Weld a captive nut to body at back of seat mounting point
Change angle of belt mountings at rear.
"Load" is assessed on seat belts.
Seat belt adjustments – prefer inertia belts, mounted on side.
Must be secure.
"Effective" upper anchorage point measured from 450mm.
No chafing at mount.

Swing arm pivot:
Bushes both sides.
Continuous weld where bushes go through triangulation.

Battery:
Needs to be securely clamped.

Tyres:
Sizes compatible.
Must match.
Load index rating.
Speed.
Radials.
Keep original wheel and assembly. Modified wheels, such as 15" conversions where a Honda hub is welded into another rim, may not be presented for testing.
Keep to the standard.

Clearance between brake disc and lower wishbone:

Brakes:
Need a foot controlled pedal which operates all three wheels. (Can have hydraulics and cable at back).
Need secondary emergency device which can also be the parking brake.
Braking system – linkages must be smooth.
Pedal to operate freely.
No chafing.
Exposure to excessive heat?
No aluminium fittings – stick with stainless steel or platinum.
Need easily checked brake master cylinder – better to have a tandem.

Radio suppression:
Must work.

Exhaust:
Silencer – mountings are adequate.
Exhaust secure. BS mark not needed.

Noise test:
Test is taken where maximum power occurs. 50% of this. (4000 revs for Honda)
Must be less than 99 decibels.

Emissions:
4.5% emission.

Underside checks:
Wires loose. Must be tidy.
Shaft to be narrower and tubed.
Brake pipes – junction with flexihose needs more security.

Exterior:
All hard parts must have a radius of curvature of at least 2.5mm.
Projections less than or equal to 5mm in height from external edge must be blunted?
Added ornaments which project more than 10mm have to retract.
Headlamp projections – radius of curvature of 2.5mm.
Blunted edges.
Bumpers must curve inwards.
Sheet metal edges must be covered or smoothed?
Recessed edges are okay.
If things are contactable, need dome heads or plastic caps (better) and need to meet radius requirement.
Tubular stays required for mud guards/wings.
Use sleeves for track rod arms
Wheels not to protrude more than 30mm from outside of bodyplan.
Need a 30mm radius?
Wheel rim above centre line must be within body plan.
Hexagonal spinner would need a cap. Winged spinners on wire wheels will not pass.
Grille – components and gaps – need to be blunted if only a small gap.
If not contactable – no problem.
Jubilee clips to be repositioned on hoses.
Cap screws.
Frontal inspection only for exposed front engine.
Round edges along hard parts.
Bonnet clips must comply check with radius gauge
Louvres down sides radius or blunted (if below 5mm). Over 5mm must be radiused.
Window brackets – edge!
Windscreen pillars need a radius. However...windscreen, see below.
Tonneau pips are okay.
Boot lock cover – radius or blunted. Depends on height.
Bonnet must be flush.
Boot – sharp edges?
Exhaust mountings need radiussing.
Metal edges need to be protected by a soft material.

Windscreen:
None required.
"Nigel" determines whether it is a screen or a shield.
Glazing regs if you have one. Also washers, wipers and demister/defroster.
Split screen not allowed.
If have a fully opening windscreen no need for defroster/demister, but still need wipers and washers.
It was agreed that if vehicles do not turn up for an SVA test with either a windscreen or aero screens fitted, 1) it is legal not to have a screen, 2) the car will pass.

------------------------------------

248cm wheelbase

160cm to seat

150cm max width

346.5cm max length

Max axle loading. Not measured.

Braking load. Not measured

Radius gauge needed. Buy yourself a radius gauge from an engineering company.

Moto Guzzi engines present no problem for SVA due to the finned barrels being outside of the scope of requirements.

Honda engines may need a temporary guard. The device for measuring contact radius is a 100mm diameter sphere (similar to a Ball Cock!) on a handle. If the sphere cannot make contact, an item can not be "tested". The engine bay can only be tested from the front and not from any angled approach, for example, the tester cannot introduce the sphere through the open chassis sides where the suspension hangs, so the sides of engines are exempt. The Honda engines must have no projections, so fronts of camshafts should be cut off or a rounded "head" fitted/glued on. A grille could be made from 6mm diameter rod and shaped over the engine at crossover centres slightly less than 100mm to prevent the ingress of the sphere. What you as the owner do after the day of the test is entirely up to you.

Most SVA regs are common sense, and your vehicle will pass!

The Single Vehicle Approval
Scheme



This is not a legal document. It is for information only.