MOT myth or reality?

Andy · November 04, 2009, 03:28:59 AM

Okay need some legal eagle advice. My sister has about two weeks left on her MOT for her Astra, she has booked it in herself for a test, it's the first one since she's owned it, the guy last year when she bought it put a ticket on it as it wad the first year it required it, have no idea if anything needed doing.

Now, with the possibilty of it failing, I personally thought that if you take a car for an MOT and it fails, it is no longer legal on the road, they update the comp and make it notified it's unroadworthy. Thus any ANPR will get you. However my dad is of the understanding that the MOT cert isn't out of date therefore you're allowed to drive until such that a year has passed from the last MOT.

Which is correct? I'm trying to sus whether I've picked up an old wives tale or not.

Cheers!

VIPER · November 04, 2009, 03:36:14 AM

I would think if its been tested and failed it is no longer road worthy...

Just book it in for a PRE MOT check.....

Jamieg285 · November 04, 2009, 03:37:11 AM

I've had this dicussion before with my wife - a criminal solictor.

An MOT pass certificate is only good for as long as the car is in the garage. As soon as you leave and are on the road the car *could* be deemed to fail a test and therefore be unroadworthy and illegal. e.g. 2 years ago, my car passed it's test, then the junior workshop monkey snapped the hand brake cable when parking the car outside. Although the car had passed and had a cert, it was now illegal as it wouldn't pass the test 'at that time'.

In reality, the chances of being stopped and the police checking your car are 0 (unless it something really obvious). However, as you've stated, now everything is computer linked and automated, you shouldn't drive a failed car anywhere but to/from the garage for a booked appointment.

Cunning Plan · November 04, 2009, 03:37:16 AM

Im with your dad here, i thought the point of booking it in before the current test ran out was to give you adiquate time to repair and re-test whilst keeping the car useable and on the road.

I have always done this. They issue you with the fail sheet and give you X amount of time to get it fixed and bring it back for a free retest - id also assumed that was their way of showing its not failed completely until you dont re-test it.

Logically, legally, you shouldnt be able to take your car from the mot place if its failed if fail meant off the road there and then..

Andy · November 04, 2009, 03:38:29 AM

Well that's when the argument started lol! I was telling her to book a pre-mot and she booked just an MOTat a garage who just do the test no repair work. I'm thinking she may end up being knackered for a car.

Jamieg285 · November 04, 2009, 03:47:53 AM

Quoting: Cunning Plan

id also assumed that was their way of showing its not failed completely until you dont re-test it.

You are legally allowed to drive to and from a booked test or failure repairs.

Cunning Plan · November 04, 2009, 04:49:00 AM

So what we are saying is that it is pointless booking your mot early, you may as well wait until its run out, then book it?

Seems like its forcing you to get it repaired there and then.. I like many people cant afford garage rates so have to repair stuff myself, but this means using the car to pick up parts!!

You cant win with all the fking rules and regulations over here for cars. As it is i have to have 2 insurances for my dailey and bus even though my bus insurance covers any car...... Provided its insured first!!

Now where's my Polish plates? - problem solved! What MOT? What insurance?

Jamieg285 · November 04, 2009, 06:13:34 AM

Quoting: Cunning Plan

So what we are saying is that it is pointless booking your mot early, you may as well wait until its run out, then book it?

In the 'good old days' it would be OK, but it's not worth it any more. Better to run a dodgy car to the limit, rather than everyone know about it

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Seems like its forcing you to get it repaired there and then..

Or get rid of it and but a new one...

Fieldy · November 04, 2009, 06:15:45 AM

I always book my motors 1 month early, giving me 4 weeks to fix regardless of pass or not

Incursus · November 04, 2009, 06:26:08 AM

I normally get my Tax renewal notification and think oh $hit forgot to get an MOT

Fieldy · November 04, 2009, 06:28:03 AM

Quoting: Incursus

I normally get my Tax renewal notification and think oh $hit forgot to get an MOT

Yeo, done that before! Lat year, got my tax renewal through, turned to the wife and said, 'that's odd, I haven't MOT'd it'. Ran out 5 weeks prior!

F Body · November 04, 2009, 07:39:18 AM

Quoting: Cunning Plan

So what we are saying is that it is pointless booking your mot early

I always do my mine nearly a month early, just becuase then you have 13 months to the next test

Andy · November 04, 2009, 07:41:54 AM

Quoting: F Body

I always do my mine nearly a month early, just becuase then you have 13 months to the next test

Is your car a Tardis?

Thought a ticket only lasts 12 months..

F Body · November 04, 2009, 07:44:18 AM

Quoting: Andy

Thought a ticket only lasts 12 months.

No !!!

You are allowed to get an MOT up to 30 days before it runs out and then the expiry date is the date on the certificate +12 months

i.e Nearly 13 months

EDGE · November 04, 2009, 08:00:15 AM

but you tehn go in 30 days early again,, thus making it 12 months.. all youre doing is keeping your mot one month ahead of the first month of mot...

F Body · November 04, 2009, 08:05:11 AM

Quoting: EDGE

but you tehn go in 30 days early again,, thus making it 12 months.. all youre doing is keeping your mot one month ahead of the first month of mot...

Indeed but it gives a month to play with, unless or course you sell the vehicle.

From the Divvy La Website :

When you can MOT your vehicle ?

You can renew your MOT up to one month before it expires without affecting your annual expiry date. You can find out when the earliest date to MOT your vehicle is by checking the front of the pass certificate.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022108\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022108

Motorama · November 04, 2009, 12:34:58 PM

I was told that if your car fails an early MOT it would void any current MOT left to run.

I was also led to believe that if an MOT is booked/logged it's legal to drive to and from the test centre regardless of pass or fail.

I you take an hour to give a car a once over you should pretty much know if it will pass or fail before you take it. Nothing on the test is rocket science and you can check most of it at home with a trolley jack, a couple of axle stands and someone to help you check the lights.

F Body · November 04, 2009, 12:42:41 PM

Quoting: Motorama

you take an hour to give a car a once over you should pretty much know if it will pass or fail before you take it. Nothing on the test is rocket science and you can check most of it at home with a trolley jack, a couple of axle stands and someone to help you check the lights.

Exactly

Can't understand people who put a car in for an MOT and don't even bother to check all the simple things like lights,wiper blades etc and then wonder why it fails