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opinions please - hiring out equipment - how do i stand

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Guys and Gals,
I am a member of another forum relating to car building, custom made one off vehicles / motorbikes / trikes etc etc.
When you build a vehicle or seriously modify a vehicle you need to take it for what is known as an IVA test.
This test is like a rigerous MOT that takes the best part of half a day.
Just recently the IVA rules and regulations have changed and part of the change or regs required you to include a certain bit of equipment in your build where you never needed it before.
This bit of equipment is only available from a couple of manufacturers and it retails at £800!
Many of the guys on the car forum are building their vehicles on a budget so as not to hider their family commitments etc and dont have £800 to blow on a piece of equipment that you only need for the IVA test.
The car will function perfectly adequately without this certain item (im not telling you what it is incase someone nicks my idea!) it is not a safety related item and like i say they work fine without it.
I have managed to get my hands on one of these items and im thinking of hiring it out to fellow builders so they can fit it for the test, get a tick in the right box and remove it after the test - it is not required for any subsequent MOT's or other inspections so no one ill be any the wiser.
I am not a business and i am just looking to make the item pay for itself before i need it to fit to my own vehicle in 12 months time or so.
My question is, how would i stand if for example
A) My hired piece of equipment broke and left them stranded on the way to the test?
B) It broke and as a result damanged another component on the car?
C) They broke my piece of equipment?
D) They did not return my piece of equipment
How should i take a deposit and how much should i take?
What should i do if the item is not returned within the alloted timeframe.
I hope this is understandable!
Thanks Se7x
A & B can be covered by a contract which basically says that they accept responsibility for using as terms of the hire
C & D can also be covered by this contract to give you a degree of legal protection, to cover yourself a little against theft or damage i'd be asking for a driving licence or passport ad ID and two recent utility bills as a degree of proof of address. define a timeframe for the hire and a penalty fee for late return. Get them to check the condition of the unit and demonstate it working if possible, maka a note of any physical damange/marks to the unit and make this part of the hire document which they sign.
You really need a solicitor to draw up the hire document but it sounds fairly simple and will probably cost around £50 if you do a decent draft version first with all your T&C's in.
Thanks for the reply, Its going to be done over the phone / net to be honsest and send out by TNT/UPS etc as the customers will be all over the country.
So physically signing anything will not be possible.
And also get an accountant.
The only significant changes from SVA to IVA is extra mirrors and horn.
There are some instances when power output has to be declared, but apart from any emissions tests, I fail to see how a piece of equipment which only a couple of manufacturers provide, at a cost of £800 is part of the IVA, or the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA).
And if in the event of any incident for a vehicle owner acquiring an IVA certificate requiring to show proof of fitment to satisfy an insurance claim, they could be on shaky ground, and so could you.
Quote by se7endriver
Thanks for the reply, Its going to be done over the phone / net to be honsest and send out by TNT/UPS etc as the customers will be all over the country.
So physically signing anything will not be possible.

Surely you could exchange signed contracts via fax?
While you're at the solicitors, check the what the legal implications are in doing what you're planning to do. The regulations have presumably been changed for a reason, anything happens the repercussions on you could be massive.
Quote by essex34m
And also get an accountant.
The only significant changes from SVA to IVA is extra mirrors and horn.
And if in the event of any incident for a vehicle owner acquiring an IVA certificate requiring to show proof of fitment to satisfy an insurance claim, they could be on shaky ground, and so could you.

Your first statement is not entirely correct and i do know what im talking about here and i know the equipment is required by many many people.
As for insurance claims, when SVA was the norm many folks fitted SVA compliant mirrors / indicators / exhausts / bits of trim etc that are simpley changed after the test - it makes a mockery of the test but thats how it is.
I know of a couple of vehicle manufacturers who hire out catalytic convertors to get you through the emissions test then it is returned after you have used it, your emmisitons are not checked again at MOT or any time thereafter.
Quote by Dirtygirly
While you're at the solicitors, check the what the legal implications are in doing what you're planning to do. The regulations have presumably been changed for a reason, anything happens the repercussions on you could be massive.

I fail to see ho I could be held responsible for the person who owns the car has chosen to hire the equipment rather than buy it. If they are that concerned about repercussions then they would not hire it.
As i stated before it is not a safety item and there was no real life requirement for it before the regs were changed.
Se7en,
I work for a guy who knows his stuff about this, will email him and ask his opinion.
Echosign is an online Electronic Signature service that I use for contracts etc. You could use that.
Cali
Quote by se7endriver
your emmisitons are not checked again at MOT or any time thereafter.

Emissions are checked during every MOT.
A check of vehicle exhaust emissions is part of the MOT test for all 4-stroke spark ignition engined vehicles with 4 or more wheels in Class IV and VII.
Two of the exhaust gases are included
. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
. Hydrocarbons (HC)

Quote by se7endriver
Your statement is not entirely correct and i do know what im talking about here

Ditto.
Quote by se7endriver
I fail to see ho I could be held responsible for the person who owns the car has chosen to hire the equipment rather than buy it. If they are that concerned about repercussions then they would not hire it.
As i stated before it is not a safety item and there was no real life requirement for it before the regs were changed.

Unless you could prove beyond shadow of a doubt that the piece of equipment could not contribute to any accident or mechanical failure, this is where you could fall down. You may find yourself liable if someone's car failed in any way whilst your hired equipment is on board.
You may need to obtain a safety cert proving that the piece of equipment is in correct working order, each time you hire it out. Hiring would invalidate any manufacturer's warranty.
Whilst you may feel that there was no need for it prior to the regs, it's been added for a reason.
Quote by se7endriver
While you're at the solicitors, check the what the legal implications are in doing what you're planning to do. The regulations have presumably been changed for a reason, anything happens the repercussions on you could be massive.

I fail to see ho I could be held responsible for the person who owns the car has chosen to hire the equipment rather than buy it. If they are that concerned about repercussions then they would not hire it.
As i stated before it is not a safety item and there was no real life requirement for it before the regs were changed.
I just read the bit where you said the regulations have been changed to include something that wasn't required before. Why did the regulations change? I'm guessing that the authority who changed the regulations have a reason for doing so. If not, what would be the point in changing them?
If you've done your research and that is the case then there shouldn't be a problem. :mrgreen:
However, if it were me, I would be inclined to double check that there are no legal implications should anything go wrong. You state that people who are bothered about repercussions wouldn't hire it, that says to me that there could be repercussions and you're aware of it.
It was merely advice though, take it, don't take it, entirely up to you. wink
Quote by essex34m
your emmisitons are not checked again at MOT or any time thereafter.

Emissions are checked during every MOT.
A check of vehicle exhaust emissions is part of the MOT test for all 4-stroke spark ignition engined vehicles with 4 or more wheels in Class IV and VII.
Two of the exhaust gases are included
. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
. Hydrocarbons (HC)

Quote by se7endriver
Your statement is not entirely correct and i do know what im talking about here

Ditto.
Q plate vehicles only get a visible smoke test (visible = tested with your eyes not a machine) wink
Quote by se7endriver
your emmisitons are not checked again at MOT or any time thereafter.

Emissions are checked during every MOT.
A check of vehicle exhaust emissions is part of the MOT test for all 4-stroke spark ignition engined vehicles with 4 or more wheels in Class IV and VII.
Two of the exhaust gases are included
. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
. Hydrocarbons (HC)

Quote by se7endriver
Your statement is not entirely correct and i do know what im talking about here

Ditto.
Q plate vehicles only get a visible smoke test (visible = tested with your eyes not a machine) wink
My apologies.
I took your comment about emissions not being checked as literal, I did not realise you was talking specifically about vehicles which have been given a Q prefix by DVLA.
But then if a vehicle is being given a Q plate, which as I am sure you know is for vehicles registered on or before 1st August 1983 where the origins are not known, then there is a good chance that the vehicle in question will be very much a 'patchwork quilt' type of build, so any of the repercussions that have been touched on earlier in this thread will not be a concern.
Anyway.............doesnt Calistas bum look nice ?
Quote by Silk and Big G
Anyway.............doesnt Calistas bum look nice ?

rotflmao passionkiss
cx
Yes it bloody does! :rose:
The Q prefix is not only used for those vehicles of undeterminable origin registered before 1983, it is also used for vehicles registerd currently that are made of recycles (ie not brand new with receipts to prove so) parts.
I built a car 2 years ago from mainly new parts and because i could not provide documentation for every nut and bolt and washer to prove they were bought as new i was given a Q plate as opposed to a 57 plate.
In response to dirtygirlies post its not a safety item i am hiring its a convenience item and there are many million vehicles on the rad already without it, its a significant in its use as an interior light - no dogging comments please! well some may say its an essential luxury but others may say its not required.
Why don't you buy one second hand use it then flog it. That's how I get all the books I need.
OK I guess it's a heater unit.
What is the prize for guessing right?
What is everyone else's guess?
Don't worry - I know there are enoungh potential customers for you not to lose out if anyone else 'nicks' you idea and I doubt anyone else could be bothered anyway.
Quote by Silk and Big G
Kinda peachy

In a biteable way would you say or maybe a little pat or stroke?