Cut off date for Catalytic Converter?

when i asked the tester at my last mot - about 3 monthes ago - he said take it off as long as the emissions are right he'd pass it

but i havent put him to the test yet

so strictly speaking this is just a rumour

From the Vehicle Inspectorate dudes:-

"For emission purposes vehicles are tested against details shown on the VIN and not the registration plate. Vehicles fitted with a different engine are tested according to which is older, engine or vehicle.

Catalytic convertors were introduced from 1st August 1992 and are compulsory after 1st August 1995. Vehicles first used between 01/08/92 and 31/07/95 are only cat tested if there is an exact match (re engine code) in the analyser database or in the Inservice Emissions book. Vehicles first used on or after 01/08/95 are cat tested using vehicle specific limits if there is an exact match. If there is no exact match it is cat tested using default limits, CO<=0.3%, HC<=200ppm"

Stolen from here! More info on the link.

This is exactamundo. A car built after the cutoff date which is around the 1st Jan 1992 (but I appreciate people replying before me have been more precise and said that it depends on whether the car is listed with a cat fitted) just needs to pass a cat test.

My Polo (built late 1991, originally fitted with a cat) had a VAG decat pipe fitted by Jabbasport. It went through a couple of MoTs no problem but the third, i could see the tester was taking ages on the emissions test. Had a wander out and he's put it through a cat test, had passed the HC part but the CO2 was slightly too high. He just tried once more and it passed - scraped through, but a pass. he said it was easier that way then resetting the machine and starting again

talking to him he said there was a band of cars, sold between 1990 and 1992, that came with catalytic converters but didn't need them as if one of them came into test they were meant to ask before starting whether it had one.

so you can pass one of two ways - either by removing the cat when it's not needed and having it run through on a non-cat test (pre-1992 only) or by removing it anyway, and tuning it well so it passes the cat test.

Cool!