rear facing seat belt laws

[chewy]

Hi, can anyone tell me if rear facing seats in a vehicle have to have seat belts fitted?
Cheers.

[GSM7554]

it depends on if rear seat belts are fitted already,if they are,then yes you do.

[Panic Button]

It is irrelevant that the seats are rear facing.

All cars built since 1987 have been required to have rear seat belts fitted.

Legally, where a seat belt is fitted it must be used.

[rojam]

I'm positive what Panic Button said is correct, however as far as the MOT is concerned.....

From the MOT testers manual:-
Rear facing or side facing seats are not required to be fitted with seat belts.

A bit weird really, but the MOT rules don't always run in line with the law.

[Panic Button]

I'm doubting myself now. Perhaps there is an exception I am not aware of

[rojam]

I guess the only way to find the answer bearing in mind we don't know what car, model or year it is, would be to call your local VOSA Area office, they should know the legal requirements or give you advice as to who would know for definite.

[chewy]

Hi, thanks for your answers, the vehicle is a vw transporter that has had after market seats fitted in rear, these can be mounted facing forward or facing rearwards but the belts are a bit tempramental, so wondered if they could be removed when facing rearwards, and would it pass mot?
Thanks again.

[rojam]

If you remove the seats for any vehicle for the MOT (obviously apart from the drivers seat), the seat belts that correspond to that seat are not testable items.
This is a direct quote from the MOT Testers manual.

If a belt is fitted, but there is no corresponding seat it is NOT considered to be a seat belt, for the purpose of this inspection.

The tester should mark it down as an advisory to cover his own backside. I would.