Vehicle condition and modifications
The test vehicle must have the chassis and front structure as the maker built them. A load bed and secured ballast are permitted. Anything else that changes the front end or the structure is a departure.
Basis. Annex A is normative; the public guidance explains the measurement. The clause number and defined terms are the standard's; the explanation is our own.
Annex A is normative. It is the measurement sheet for the test vehicle. The control ids on this site are our record codes; the citation names the annex and the clauses that supply the facts.
What annex A-05 asks
This control covers the condition of the test vehicle and the modifications that are permitted or not. The definition describes a vehicle and load bed anyone can buy, with the chassis and front structure as the maker built them. A load bed may be fitted to the maker's instructions, and the ballast may be held down. The state of the vehicle before the test, including tyres, suspension, brakes and fluids, is part of the preparation. The public preview shows the heading Vehicle condition and the definition, but not the full list of checks, so this record states the principle and does not invent a checklist.
Why it matters
A test vehicle is meant to represent a vehicle that a hostile driver could obtain. A reinforced bumper, a modified suspension, a stripped interior or a welded cage makes it a different vehicle and changes the impact. The buyer who relies on the rating is relying on the vehicle being commercially available and unmodified in the parts that matter. The condition record is also how the test house shows that the vehicle was fit to run at the specified speed and that a mechanical failure did not cause the result.
What good looks like
Record the vehicle condition before the test: tyres, pressures, suspension, brakes, fluids and any repair. Record every modification and its purpose. Confirm that the chassis and frontal structure are unmodified. Keep the photographs and the workshop records with the report. If a modification was made, ask the test house to state its effect on the validity of the test.
Evidence an assessor asks for
The reviewer will ask whether the vehicle could be bought and driven by anyone. A modified front end is the fastest way to invalidate a test that otherwise looks sound.
- Condition report Tyres, pressures, suspension, brakes, fluids and any repair before the test
- Modification log Every change from the manufacturer specification, with the reason and the effect
- Unmodified statement Confirmation that the chassis and frontal structure are unmodified
- Load bed record The load bed addition, fitted in line with the manufacturer instructions
- Photographs The vehicle before and after the test, showing the condition and the modifications
Where it commonly fails
- The front bumper or chassis is reinforced for the test
- The suspension is changed to alter the ride height
- The vehicle is stripped or ballasted in a way that changes the structure
- The report does not mention a repair or a modification that is visible in the photographs
What to do before the amendment publishes
Add the condition report and the modification log to the test file. Where a modification exists, get a written view on validity before using the rating.
Read across
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