Save on MOT Bills

[jack_pott]

This thread has been replaced by the full new guide

Cheap MOTs: Beat repair costs with council run centres (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1126540795,61463,)
(http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1126540795,61463,)
Which includes an updated comprehensive list of Council MOT centres






*********************

If you want to avoid unnecessary repair bills come next MOT time, stop taking your car to be tested by a garage. My car is 17 years old, with 178000 miles on the clock, but it hasn't failed an MOT in the seven years since I've been getting it tested by the county council! The point is that they don't repair vehicles for the public, only test them, so there's no financial incentive for them to fail the test unless it's genuinely warranted.
(PS. If you're already using the council's VTS and the car's still failing, buy a Honda! !;D)

INSERT BY MARTIN 6 May: MoneySaver Bambie Blou has kindly collated all the council MOT centres people suggested later on in this thread (huge thanks). !To make it easier I am reprinting it here at the top

Government MOT test centres open to the public:

WYMAS (West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service)
Essex County Council, Coval Lane, Chelmsford – 01245 435108
Morpeth, Northumberland, www.northumberland.gov.uk/drftp/2808.asp (http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/drftp/2808.asp).
Factory Lane, Croydon, Surrey.
Banbury, Oxfordshire – search under MOT on the Cherwell DC website.
[possibly…] Ambulance Station near Magic Roundabout, Swindon
County Transport, Ripley Road, Ambergate, Derbyshire, DE56 2ER – 01773 856667
County Transport, Brimington Road North, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9BE – 01246 450705
County Transport, Halstead Garage, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8BJ – 01298 813141
Near Wetherby just outside Thorpe Arch trading estate between York and Leeds
GMAS (Greater Manchester Ambulance Service), Walmsley Road, Bury Station.
Bedfordshire County Council Vehicle Depot, London Road, Bedford – 01234 327369 (now privatised and run by Balfour Beatty Plant Services but the staff are unchanged)
Thamesdown Bus Garage, Corporation Street, Swindon. ·Medway Council – 01634 306000.

Westside Motors at the junction of Lanark Road and Inglis Green Road, EH13, Scotland (not CC but apparently v. honest and fair)
Edinburgh City Council, CEC Fleet Services, Gorgie, Russell Road – 0131 337 2307 (choose option 1 for their workshops) OR City Fleet Services, 38 Russell Road, Edinburgh – 0131 347 1950 …….which one is it guys?
Wandsworth Council, South London – 0208 871 6761
Colchester Borough Council, MOT Testing & Vehicle Servicing, Unit 8 Westside Centre, London Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 8PH – 01206 282624
The bus depot in Plymouth
Inverurie, Aberdeen – 01467 627538 (Alistair Smith)
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument (http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument).
Mintlaw, Aberdeen – 01771 623197 (Robert Bruce) www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument (http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument)
Inverurie, Aberdeen – 01569 763274 (Dave Adie) www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument (http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument)
Nottinghamshire County Council, Rolleston Drive Workshops, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7JE – 0115 956 7420
St. Helen's, Merseyside www.sthelens.gov.uk/council/services/councilservices.nsf/All/95FE28C11AC (http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/council/services/councilservices.nsf/All/95FE28C11AC) C80256CC900550FF7?opendocument&highlight=mot,testi ng
North London, there is on in Enfield- Carterhatch laneNB: Apparently Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Merton, Ealing and the London Ambulance Service all DO NOT carry out MOTs

For further information scroll down the following thread and you will see the original post made about each area

[Fran]

I always ask the garage if I can take the car elsewhere to be fixed if it fails. If it does fail I ask them how much and then get quotes from other garages on the specific problem. At least then if you have to use a garage they think you are going elsewhere and (hopefully) think they won't gain from failing you. Your idea sounds very interesting though....

do all councils do this? and which dept do i need to speak to.
thanks

[debeast]

That sounds like a great Tip Can you supply any more details ????

[debeast]

Thats an even nicer tip

I work at a hospital :)

[Savvy_Sue]

One thing to be wary of though is that if your car does fail the MOT somewhere where you can't get it repaired, then you can't just keep driving it around until you get round to getting it fixed. I believe you can drive it home (unless the inspector declares it too dangerous to do so), but thereafter you can only drive it to a garage or an MOT test station, and it's possibly as restrictive as you having to have an appointment booked at the place you're driving it to.

If you do continue driving a car with a failed MOT your insurance may not be valid.

[moneysaver]

You can go and get your car tested upto 30 days before your current MOT expires, if it fails you then have 14 days in which to get the fault repaired, you can then go back to the MOT station for the test no charge 2nd time. If you leave it after 14 days you will be charged for 2nd test.

If it passes they will then give you a certificate post dated to your current Mot date if you supply the old one at the time of the test. Which means you are still legally driving with a current MOT in the 30 day period.

Moneysaver

[debeast]

I forgot about that Moneysaver :P

Better get on the dog to WYMAS 30 days before then :)

Are you sure it's mandatory to get a free retest ? I'm sure thats not always the case, maybe you've got a nice garage

[moneysaver]

I use an MOT station they do not do repairs, but as far as I know if your car fails & you take it back repaired within 14 days then all garages will not charge again. If anyone works for an MOT garage then please post here if I am wrong.

Moneysaver ;)

I use:

Essex County Council
Coval Lane
Chelmsford
01245 435108

They tell me that all county councils do tests for the general public, except those who contract out their vehicle maintenance and don't have their own garage.

(Remember it's illegal to drive an unroadworthy car at any time, whether it has a valid MOT or not.)

In April 2000 when I collected my car from a service, the garage gave me a list of work costing over £700 they said needed doing. I asked how necessary it was, and he said it would need doing for the MOT. He looked pretty sheepish when I told him that it had been done the previous week!! The car's been through another three tests since then and I still haven't had the work done.
In 28 years of motoring I never had any car pass more than two consecutive tests at any garage, until I started using the council. A colleague had been telling people for years that he never had any trouble using the council, but I'd never taken much notice.

[Fran]

I've just done an internet search - MOT; difficult to find rules on failing MOT, this is a quote from http://www.bobmckay.co.uk/readmefirst.html

"You should be aware that although a vehicle can be driven to and from a testing station for the purposes of having its MOT by appointment, if defects are notified to you either on an advisory note or a VT30 failure certificate, on the way back you are now driving a vehicle knowing it to be defective. Should an accident occur as a result of those defects you could have a problem!"

There are a lot of sites relating to MOT though.

The above posting is very interesting.

[BargainHunter]

I think this thread is brilliant ;D

Is there anyway of getting a list of all council testing centres- or indeed even general enquiry numbers for coucils as this will allow all of us to use this system

I have bought my last 2 cars new and 1 of the main reasons for this is seeing too many mechanics who see my car at MOTs and seem to find all mabnner of minor faults requiring work

[Trix]

First time I've heard of this, but found one in my area! ;D

For anyone in Northumberland - The County Council has one of these VTCs in Morpeth, and the fee is £30

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/drftp/2808.asp

Thanx for the tip :-*

Croydon Council have a testing station in Factory Lane. You have to book in advance and it's cheaper if you're a council employee.

[jiji]

Any one know for Leicester free mot test please. Thanks

[spac3man_thr33]

i think that the leicstershire county council website (or city council depending upon the local govenrment in that area) would be a useful place to look

... and they aren't FREE!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevmaxthom]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is WYMAS? ???
My wife works for the NHS, and her car is due for an MOT shortly. I normally pay £25 at a local garage.

[Fran]

Ask Sheel - she's in the Money Savers Arms right now!

[Fran]

Kevmaxthom - Sheel and andrea c await you in the Money Savers Arms!!! (If you can take it!)

[Lewis_Gerolemou]

I've been following this and found it useful so I thought I would share with you my son's experience of a dodgy MOT. He came home one day with a car he had just bought (a Ford Escort based kit car jeep). He was a bit green and bought it because it had a recent valid MOT. when he drove it home (silly devil did not road test it) he found that the steering was wobbly and the brakes pulled violently to one side so he asked me to look at it. I drove it about 100yards and was so scared I took it straight to my local garage where they examined it. They found several serious faults and told us to contact the police,apparently its an offence to sell an unroadworthy vehicle MOT or not. The police refused to become involved because in their words: "the car was not in a virginal state" i.e. our local garage had had their hands on it and could have caused the faults - ridiculous. If we had called the police when my son brought it home they would have investigated. The vehicle testing people re-tested the car at the garage in the presence of the original tester and apparently gave him a serious b.........g but because a few months had passed since he issued the MOT they couldn't or wouldn't take any further action. Eventully we had the car taken away on a trailer, sued the tow-rag (or is it toe-rag) who sold the car in the Small Claims Court !and after 5 years recovered the money with an attachment to earnings order. My son actually came out of it with a significant profit.

I suppose this is another good reason for using your Local Authority testing station.

Lewis Gerolemou !

[debeast]

Well if anyone is in Oxfordshire then our local testing place is banbury and can be found on the cherwell DC website just search for MOT

:-) Cheers Everyone

[Major]

Stand by your beds! I have looked for the nearest Testing Station to Reading, but as normal came up blank, can anyone out there help?

Great Thread,

The Major 8)

[alared]

Lewis


TOE-RAG

Aha, another term from that inexhaustible store of rude British slang expressions (though it is also well-known in Australia). It means that the person addressed is contemptible or worthless, a scrounger. Though it can be a relatively mild insult among friends, you should avoid saying it to strangers unless you want a smack in the mush or a punch up the bracket.
The original form—in the nineteenth century—was toe rag. It referred to the strips of cloth that convicts or tramps wrapped around their feet as an inadequate substitute for socks. The first recorded use is by J F Mortlock in his Experiences of a Convict of 1864: “Stockings being unknown, some luxurious men wrapped round their feet a piece of old shirting, called, in language more expressive than elegant, a ‘toe-rag’ ”. It didn’t take long to become a term of abuse—in 1875 a book on British circus life said that “Toe rags is another expression of contempt ... used ... chiefly by the lower grades of circus men, and the acrobats who stroll about the country, performing at fairs”.
It seems to have come to wider British knowledge and use from the 1970s on, largely because it was aired in the ITV police series The Sweeney about the London mobile detective force called the flying squad (rhyming slang: flying squad = Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street), a programme that delighted in using London slang.
The tow-rag spelling is sometimes seen because people have lost the link to the original sense, long since obsolete.

[Fran]

I had a "bad MOT day" about 5 years ago. I took my car to a garage and failed on bearings and light bulb. I took car to another garage who said the bearings didn't need doing! Took car back to original garage (having had no work done on the bearings), who passed the car through MOT!! I should have reported them but didn't. I'll be looking in to other places having read this thread.....

[Lewis_Gerolemou]

That's interesting Alared, I somehow imagined it was a useless rag tied to a tow-rope probably because I was in car mode. I haven't looked yet but I've probably got the definition in my dictionary of slang. Here's one for you; what are the origins on "grass" as in to tell tales on a person?

Lewis Gerolemou.

[kilo]

One thing to be wary of though is that if your car does fail the MOT somewhere where you can't get it repaired, then you can't just keep driving it around until you get round to getting it fixed. I believe you can drive it home (unless the inspector declares it too dangerous to do so), but thereafter you can only drive it to a garage or an MOT test station, and it's possibly as restrictive as you having to have an appointment booked at the place you're driving it to.

If you do continue driving a car with a failed MOT your insurance may not be valid.

The belief that an invalid MOT or TAX disc invalidates your insurance is almost a myth.

To qoute an article in the driving section of the Times...last yr, the answer to the 'myth':

"Almost always wrong. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that insurance policies will still pay out in full on any third party claims and in the case of damage to or theft of your own vehicle, payouts may be reduced to reflect the lower market value of a car without an MoT.

There are very few policies that insist in the small print that an MoT must be in force otherwise they will refuse to pay. These, however, are extremely rare, but it is worth checking the wording just in case.

If the car has no road tax, the ABI says insurers are still obliged under the Road Traffic Act to pay out for both third party and comprehensive claims. The fact that you are commmitting an offence by not having tax is irrelevant."

[alared]

Lewis

Grass: To grass on someone means to inform some higher authority about possible misdemeanours. The origin here is far from clear but I have found two possibilities.
The first relates to the fact that this type of informing is often done in a whisper. In the 1940s the singing group the "Ink Spots" had a world wide hit with the song "Whispering Grass". By extension whispering became known as grassing.
The other explanation relates to London slang starting with to shop someone, derived from the concept of the Coppers' shop. Someone who habitually informed to the police became a shopper and rhyming slang produced a grasshopper which was then shortened to grass. You can take your choice.

Here`s one for you:
To take the gilt off the gingerbread
as in to show something up as worth far less than first thought.

[Galstonian]

I've seen several explanations of grass but your suggestion is new to me.

Grass might come from "Grass in the park" which is (allegedly) rhyming slang for nark which in turn might come from Romany ("naak" for nose) but has nothing to do with the American "narc".

Grass might also come from rhyming slang as you say from "grasshopper" for copper (or possibly "shopper" but this more Austrailian than Cockney)

Grass might also be from "snake in the grass".

I think the term "grass" turns up in print from about the 1930s onwards so "Whispering Grass" is probably not right. It also tends to rule out snake in the grass since it would have shown up much earlier had that been the root. "Grashopper" occurs from the 1890s which also lends weight to that explanation.

Meanwhile:

Gilding the gingerbread was when a fake gilt was used to decorate gingerbread (possibly as early as the 15th century). "Taking the gilt off the gingerbread" means to remove your fantasies, to rob you of your illusions and leave the dull reality behind.

[Lewis_Gerolemou]

I think Alared is right, 17th century slang for a prison was the shop, if you informed on someone they went to prison you were a shopper, rhymes with grass hopper, shortened to grass. Gingerbread was 18thC slang for money, modern slang - bread = money .

Lewis Gerolemou

I,ve just read with intrest about the council doing MOT,s i live in swindon so does any one know where to go for advice

[MrPurrfekt]

Hi Paul...Theres nothing on the Swindon BC web site but when I lived in Swindon a few years ago I believe the Ambulance Station near the Magic Roundabout undertook MOTs. Worth a general enquiry anyway.

[Georgina]

This is a brilliant thread/tip - you never really know whether you are getting ripped off by garages.

In trying to find the Council VTS for York (or even Leeds) - no joy yet - I came across the following government sites which have quite alot of info but no actual listing of testing stations - the search continues. http://www.via.gov.uk/mot/index.htm or http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/

Would agree with Jack_Potts that Japanese cars are v reliable - we've got an old Toyota and a Nissan! Have also recently found that the newer the car is, the more electrics/computers it has, which seem to equal more problems, and recalls!

Georgina

For information Derbyshire County Council carry out MOT Tests at the following locations:-

County Transport
Ripley Road
Ambergate
Derbyshire
DE56 2ER
Tel: 01773 85667

County Transport
Brimington Road North
Whittington Moor
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S41 9BE
Tel: 01246 450705

County Transport
Halstead Garage
Dove Holes
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 8BJ
Tel: 01298 813141

[Major]

I posted a query 5 days ago about Testing Centres in Reading, Berkshire and does anyone know of any? No answers as yet, but I am pleased to see others are getting help for other parts of the country. Give me a break and some help, I am still having difficulty in finding any.
I am a complete novice at this and feel everyone is ignoring me.

:'(

I'd like to paraphrase and develop a point that was made earlier. Let's not lose sight of the fact that what is sought first and foremost is a roadworthy car that meets the standard. If this does not hold true, the certificate that has been bought is expensive however cheap the cost.

I do not know that local authority vehcle testing stations are any better in terms of quality than any other. Further, it might be thought that there is less scope for determining their quality than testing stations which have a repair and maintenance facility attached.

Perhaps find a garage you trust and let them fulfill all your requirements including MOT testing. A good place to start might be using the following link:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/directories/?blk=DirGoodGarages

[Galstonian]

Ideally we would all like to go to a garage we know and trust, honestjohn helps to find them but, public bodies that operate test centres are under an obligation to perform the tests to the same standards are any commercial garage. Unfortunately many commercial garages use the MOT test to enable them to perform expensive repairs which are not required. Personally I'd not feel comfortable letting the local council check my car bcause "public servant" is not the first description that springs to mind when thinking about council staff (an appalling generalisation I know but I'd say it is justified). However, another suggestion was using the ambulance service and I will probably look into that.

Major: have you contacted the council and/or ambulance service in that area? These duties may be contracted out to a commercial firm, it may not be available where you are.

Theres a testing station between York and Leeds just outside Thorpe Arch trading estate near Wetherby.

You can go and get your car tested upto 30 days before your current MOT expires, if it fails you then have 14 days in which to get the fault repaired, you can then go back to the MOT station for the test no charge 2nd time. If you leave it after 14 days you will be charged for 2nd test.

If it passes they will then give you a certificate post dated to your current Mot date if you supply the old one at the time of the test. Which means you are still legally driving with a current MOT in the 30 day period.

Moneysaver
The 14 day rule used to be the case but the law recently changed and now you get 24 hours to get repairs done at a different garage and return for the re-test or you have to pay the test fee again.

This new rule in reality make things extremely difficult to avoid re-test fees :'(

Excuse my ignorance, but what is WYMAS? ???
My wife works for the NHS, and her car is due for an MOT shortly. I normally pay £25 at a local garage.

kevmaxthom - WYMAS stands fo West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service. Hope this helps.

GMAS (Greater Manchester Ambulance Service) also offer this service from their Walmsley Rd, Bury Station. Ambulances do tend to take priority however and as such spaces for MoT's are limited. :)

[Georgina]

Theres a testing station between York and Leeds just outside Thorpe Arch trading estate near Wetherby.

Thanks, I had given up looking.

Georgina

[jack_pott]

I do not know that local authority vehcle testing stations are any better in terms of quality than any other. !Further, it might be thought that there is less scope for determining their quality than testing stations which have a repair and maintenance facility attached.


Essex County Council garage does do repair and maintenance, just not for the general public. It's to be hoped that they're competent, it's not just council cars that are maintained there, but everything else, from gritting lorries to ambulances to fire engines. (Police do their own.) Furthermore, when Essex Trading Standards use a "stooge" car to check out ropey traders with, this is also prepared at the council garage.
It's not a question of who's competent, but who's honest.
Another point on the subject of ends rather than means, if anyone is worried about having an accident whilst driving home after a fail, they should bear in mind that the car is no more dangerous than it was half an hour earlier, before the test. If the objective is to avoid an accident, rather than the blame for one, then ones interest is best served by having the car tested more frequently than once a year, rather than worrying about maintaining the continuity of valid certificates.

Correction on telephone number for Derbyshire County Council MOT Test Station at Ambergate. Should be 01773 856667.

[1jacks64]

Does anyone know the Hampshire County Council MOT test station contact details?

[moneysaver]

The 14 day rule used to be the case but the law recently changed and now you get 24 hours to get repairs done at a different garage and return for the re-test or you have to pay the test fee again.

This new rule in reality make things extremely difficult to avoid re-test fees :'(


I don't know where you got your info but I have done this recently & had no problem taking it back within 14 days.

Are you sure you don't work for a garage? >:( >:(

Moneysaver

I have used Bedfordshire County Council Vehicle Depot for years - Tel 01234-327369. They are honest, reliable and cheap and are based at their Depot in London Road, Bedford.

They have now been "privatised" and have been run by Balfour Beatty Plant Services for about 5 years - but the same staff are doing the work!. They will always quote for repair work if you need it.

Chris

Great idea.
Anyone know of , or know where how I can find one, of these centers in the Manchester,Liverpool or Cheshire area.

Thanks

[clairemsim]

Does anyone know the Hampshire County Council MOT test station contact details?

apparantly Hants county council do not have any MOT testing staion themselves, but if you find out different could you please let me know ?
Many thanks
Claire

[1jacks64]

Does anyone know the contact details of Surrey County Council MOT test station?

[BargainHunter]

Any one out there know of one in the Birmigham/West Midlands ??? ;D

[Major]

Major: have you contacted the council and/or ambulance service in that area? These duties may be contracted out to a commercial firm, it may not be available where you are.

Galstonian

Thanks for your efforts. :)

If its of any help, the locacl authority test station is at the Thamesdown Bus garage in Corporation Street. As per all previous comments, you get an unbiased and thorough MOT from them. Their praises cannot be sung high enough. ;)

Sorry I forgot to say Thamesdown Buses are in Swindon

Any one know where in Brum you can get a council MOT.

Thanks for the tip my car is due for a test so I called Medway Council on 01634 306000 They put me through to the centre and I have made an apt.

I will let you know what I think ::)

on Jan 27th, 2004, 1:09pm, Adrian IV wrote:
I do not know that local authority vehcle testing stations are any better in terms of quality than any other. Further, it might be thought that there is less scope for determining their quality than testing stations which have a repair and maintenance facility attached.

on Jan 27th, Jack_Pott responded:

'Essex County Council garage does do repair and maintenance, just not for the general public. It's to be hoped that they're competent...'

Adrian IV responds:

The key word is 'determining'. In theory, all testers have carried out repair and maintenance and are competent! How do you know your local authority tester is, in reality, competent? Have you seen any other examples his work? Are you sure he has no axe to grind? Are you sure he is not passing you because he doesn't wish to retest you because this would be problemmatic as far as, for example, reaching his targets are concerned? Local authorities don't advertise this service widely - are you sure you know why? I used local authority testing stations many years ago, but now I know I use a good garage.

[norman]

noted all the above-------- NB I always made a point of using an MOT station that did NOT do repairs ------------------ I have now been in EDINBURGH for 14 years & found :- WESTSIDE MOTORS @ the junct. of Lanark Rd & Inglis Green Rd EH13 to be honest & fair. In ABERDEEN for many many years before that used to go to SWAILEND MOTORS ? next to Swailend Nurseries--- I THINK --- near DYCE
BUT right now , READ Jan WHICH? for full report

@ last they got the SPARE WHEEL correct IE I had to write to them in 1997 when they said IT WAS IN THE TEST!!!!!!!

Well, I started out getting some v. intertesting info on MOTs and it ended up on phrase derivation! Here's one I've been working on for years, and found no clues at all "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". So what's a brass monkey? I have a feeling it might be something nautical, but even that's just a guess!

I have been in touch with Hampshire County Council and received this reply back to my email:
Thank you for your email, I am afraid that this is not a service that is offered by the county council and we are not aware that any of the local district and borough councils in Hampshire offer this service.

[BargainHunter]

I remember a dim and distant memory re the origins of "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" is as follows.
Cannonballs were stored next to the cannons in a shallow tray called a brass monkey. In extreme cold the metal contracted and the balls were fell off i.e it got cold enough to freeze them off the brass monkey.
Hope that helps
Hey,I knew listening to my old form teacher would pay off on e day- pity it took 15 years ;D

[Galstonian]

Unfortunately your teacher may have been repeating urban myths since there is little evidence to support this explanation.

The phrase is not documented prior to the early to mid- 1800's, if it were naval in origin it would likely have occured earlier.

Cannonballs were stored in holes in planks which is very cheap and relatively stable.

There is little to support the term "monkey" in relation to canoonbal storage. Powder monkeys did service cannons but brass monkeys? Brass is expensive and there is little to suggest why it might have been used.

The difference in contraction bewteen iron and brass is probably not significant enough to warrant the balls falling off.

I had heard the same explanation except that the "monkey" was meant to be a brass triangle and the cnanonballs were supposedly stored in a pyrmid on top of it. This was worse since a pyramid of spheres would be inherently unstable and not a good solution for use on a ship which would pitch and roll wildly.

I would love to hear if there is another explanation though.

[alared]

It's cold enough to freeze the balls from a brass monkey:
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but prevent them from rolling about the deck. The best storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of thirty cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem - how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a, “Monkey," with sixteen round indentations. If this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make, "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.
Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"

What`s this got to do with MOT`s?

[MSE_Moderator]

Will the brass monkeys please take their balls over to the Money Saving Arms and keep this thread on topic.

Thank You

[jack_pott]

How do you know your local authority tester is, in reality, competent? !Have you seen any other examples his work? !Are you sure he has no axe to grind? !Are you sure he is not passing you because he doesn't wish to retest you because this would be problemmatic as far as, for example, reaching his targets are concerned? !Local authorities don't advertise this service widely - are you sure you know why?


And finally, why are local authorities allowed to test their own vehicles! ;D

[alared]

Yes they do seem to have a bit of a brass neck!

[Savvy_Sue]

Anyone know off-hand if Bristol City Council offers this service? I've looked on the BCC website but found nothing about vehicle tests. Will phone them tomorrow but suspect they don't do it. I've found that S Glos does so we may go there ...

[kevmaxthom]

Sheel, Andrea & Fran.
Sorry for my tardy reply, but I've been away to the sunshine.
Thanks for the invite, but I'm afraid the Money Savers Arms is a bit too far for me to go for a quick one. I was hoping WYMAS stood for Wales, You Might Attain Something.
Thanks for the info. I still don't know if Wales qualify (or for the football,LOL), anyway keep me informed.
P.S.
Thanks for the info Barry!!

[MarkP]

Great tip Jack_Pott,

I've just had my car tested by Edinburgh City Council and it passed first time. Whoppee!! That is the first time that has happened in over 5 years.

Thanks

MarkP

[norman]

VG posting from MarkP on 11.02.04 ----- see my posting of 29.01.04 (above) Westside Motors ONLY do MOTs & have passed my car 11 times in last 11 years.
BUT please pass on the contact details of the EDIN. TOWN COUNCIL MOT station. Will keep for future ref.
Many Thanks

[jack_pott]

Tues 17.02.04.
Another pass. That's 7 out of 7. :)

[samuela66]

Hiya, My cars due for its MOT next month :( anyone know where I can take it in Wallasey Wirral, either a council one or a decent garage as my blokes just closed down...he was great too!
Cheers Sam

[heepsy]

i live in Fife, just outside Dunfermline. anyone out there know any contact details for council MOTs in this area?

By the way, noticing the references to brass monkeys etc, i'd like to share my frustration regarding the increasingly common phrase "bog standard"
Surely this should be "box standard" and refers to a product as the manufacturer intended, with no alterations. the use of bog standard is just lazy pronunciation. or am i wrong?

Just to let those of you who live in West/South London that Wandsworth Council do MOT's for members of the public and the workshop can be contacted on 0208 871 6761 and the fee is £40. The bad news is that the tester is away until 15th March.

Hammersmith & Fulham/Kensington & Chelsea/Merton/Ealing all DO NOT do MOT's and neither does the London Ambulance service.

[Galstonian]

The etymology of "bog standard" is interesting if only for the possibility that it comes from Meccano. The ordinary boxes were just "Box Standard". The part that is really appealling to me is that the better sets were "Box Deluxe" which leads to the spoonerism for top notch (the pup's nuts should escape the profanity checker).

Unfortunately there is absolutely no evidence for this :( The original term is generally accepted as being "box standard", regardless of whether it has been usurped by an incorrect interpretation of it.

[quixilva]

To find your nearest garage to carry out MoT test, check the yellow pages in your local telephone directory under County Council - Transport. They will be able to advise.

Money Savings Expert does it again - thanx loads

quixilva :)

[MarkP]

Hello again,

I have had a couple of people ask me for details of the City of Edinburgh Council testing centre.

Their phone number for CEC Fleet Services is 0131 337 2307, press option 1 for their workshops, and then you need to arrange an appointment. Their workshops are in Gorgie on Russell Road.

Hope you all pass first time as well. They charge £40.75 by the way.

Cheers

MarkP

looking for Merseyside centres and only found St Helens so far

http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/council/services/councilservices.nsf/All/95FE28CD3DC11ACC80256CC900550FF7?opendocument&high light=mot,testing

In the meantime, try the Mot Testers Manual http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm Tells you all you need to know and the little things to do to make sure you pass

[luci]

Hello again,

I have had a couple of people ask me for details of the City of Edinburgh Council testing centre.

Their phone number for CEC Fleet Services is 0131 337 2307, press option 1 for their workshops, and then you need to arrange an appointment. !Their workshops are in Gorgie on Russell Road.

Hope you all pass first time as well. !They charge £40.75 by the way.

Cheers

MarkP

£40.75? Isn't that a tad expensive? I thought MOT's were around the £30 mark.

[LongDongDave]

£40.75? !Isn't that a tad expensive? !I thought MOT's were around the £30 mark.


Yep, Class 4 MOT £32.00 this morning, at a test centre/garage. No need to book, just turn up and get in line. Passed without a hitch ;D

The reason that most Councils do MOT's is due to their large fleets of vechicles (mostly vans, trucks etc). Also they test TAXI's cabs/mini-cabs on a regularr basis.
Appears to be a logical step (last 2 words not normally associated with Council's) to offer the MOT service to the genral public.

[payless]

£40.75 is the stand class 4 test fee
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/econtent/fees/mot_fees.asp#c4

although many places do it cheaper, for a variety of reasons, also many places are more relaxed on the retest fee than they have to be.

I paid £40 last couple of times to a local garage owner , he collects the car from my house (or drops me back home)
he does a quick pre check, takes it to a testing centre
( obviously gets a discount) and brings it back to my house (calling me if any work needed)
Bargain.

Just did mine again last week - have not got the bill yet, hope it's about the same

[jack_pott]

The reason MOT's are cheaper at a garage is that they get the money back ten times over by doing unnecessary repairs.

[norman]

REF my post #58 of 29th Jan , Mark`s #69 , my post
#70, + #79 --------- NOW find :---------

City of Edinburgh Council
City Fleet Maintenance Services
38 Russell Road
EDINBURGH
tel 0131 347 1950

do MOTs "Classes III, IV, V, VA, & VII"

AND "are open outwith normal hours---call for

prices/appointments------ FREE retest within

24 HRS/ half price within 72 HRS"

ALL VG STUFF -------- but my Son goes to

Douglas Thomson , Motor Engineer, at Gilmerton, who checks the car & takes it to be MOT`d , for £47.50 ALL IN

[norman]

MARTIN Ref the above

I see it is my 10th posting. WHEN am I no longer a "NEWBIE"?

and 2) D THomson`s tel is 0131 664 9595

[MSE Martin]

a few more yet - but i never tell when the barrier is - just keep posting ;D

[COS]

Last week in portsmouth the Police decided to spot check cars on on stretch of road in Cosham, 50% would have failed the MOT. How many garages are failing to pick up on faults to save time checking and does this reflect with some the charges mentioned above ?.

I believe that MoT stations (even these so-called 'inhouse' ones) have to accept members of the public wanting MoT tests as a condition of operating such a testing station. I've used a BT MT workshop for years. They only repair their own vehicles, too.

Just had MOT on car & had it done at my local Council testing centre. First car that I have ever had pass first time!! Excellent tip, thanks :)

Anyone local try Colchester Borough Council workshops- Service and MOT, very good rates and quality.

Colchester Borough Council
MOT Testing and Vehicle Servicing
Unit 8 Westside Centre,
London Road,
Stanway,
Colchester
CO3 8PH
Telephone: 01206 282624 :D

When I was at college in Plymouth many years ago, several friends used to take their cars to the bus depot for MOT testing. So if your local council or ambulance service does not do MOT testing, try your local bus company!

[font=Verdana][font=Verdana]HELLO
COULD ANYONE TELL ME IF THERE ANY WEST OF SCOTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL TESTING CENTRES I COULD USE?

POSSIBLY GLASGOW COATBRIDGE AREA?

THANX

hello

im new to this and found this a great link!! Anyone know of any of these testing places in glasgow my cars due for mot too!! :)

[Mark_B]

My car need a MOT in the near future :( hopefully it passes :) so where can i take it in the birmingham area in the west midlands???

any ideas????

thank you for your time

mark :D

Could anyone tell me if they know of somewhere in Berkshire to get this done?

Thanks in advance!

does anyone know of council test centre in aberdeen much obliged

[misty]

Aberdeen
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument
MOT tests are carried out at the following workshops, Inverurie, Mintlaw and Stonehaven. Tests are by appointment only and the opening times are 0830hrs to 1600hrs Mon to Thu and 0830hrs to 1500hrs on Fri. There are no appointments at the weekend.

The contact names and numbers are:
Inverurie 01467 627538 ( Alistair Smith )
Mintlaw 01771 623197 ( Robert Bruce )
Stonehaven 01569 763274 ( Dave Adie )

The workshops will only carry out MOT's on cars and light vans up to Transit size ( 3.5 tonnes ) and the charges are £27.00.

Help!

Does anyone know of one these miracles in Glasgow (North).

Thanks,

David

[jack_pott]

Regarding where to get it done, the first place to start is by ringing the local county council.

If anyone's interested this is the contact details for Nottinghamshire County Councils MOT and the link:

It costs £40.75 and has to be booked

Nottinghamshire County Council do have an MOT Testing Centre:

Rolleston Drive Workshops
Arnold
Nottingham
NG5 7JE
tel: 0115 956 7420

Moderator comment:- Sorry but I had to remove this link because it was causing formatting problems in some browsers.

[micro]

Went to this Nottingham one above yesterday. It passed and was ready when they said it was going to be. They also gave me a list of suggested jobs so I could get quotes. Cracking idea if you ask me.

[agent007]

Good thread. I've been using the coupons on the Nationwide Autocentre website to get £10 off the standard fee; but they have failed me on shocks, brakes and exhaust in recent years so maybe I'll try the council next time (car has only done 23K).

[Jucaro]

Hi there,
I'm new to this game,can anyone help with info re MOT in Wrexham/Shrewbury area. ???

Well you're just absolutely brilliant, those are all the ones that I was gong to search! Thanks for sharing the info. And thanks to the thread starter & all participants, fantastically well timed for me & my Red Mean Machine circa 1988...
Good easter to you all. :)
Just to let those of you who live in West/South London that Wandsworth Council do MOT's for members of the public and the workshop can be contacted on 0208 871 6761 and the fee is £40. !The bad news is that the tester is away until 15th March.

Hammersmith & Fulham/Kensington & Chelsea/Merton/Ealing all DO NOT do MOT's and neither does the London Ambulance service.

[MSE Martin]

If any regular readers of this thread have a little spare time on there hands to collate all the centres we know of so far - that'd be great. If you put the details in one post - i can then re-arrange it to the top post.

Any help is appreciated

Martin :)

Having been ripped off in the past I would like to find a council MOT testing station in the Grantham, Lincolnshire area. Anybody know of one?
Thanks.

[Leisa_Hinde]

Could anyone tell me where (if any!) of the Council's MOT Garages in the Stockport area are please.

Thank you in anticipation!

???

[Bambi_Blou]

Ok, there you go Martin...

Government MOT test centres open to the public:
·WYMAS (West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service).
·Essex County Council, Coval Lane, Chelmsford – 01245 435108.
·Morpeth, Northumberland – www.northumberland.gov.uk/drftp/2808.asp.
·Factory Lane, Croydon, Surrey.
·Banbury, Oxfordshire – search under MOT on the Cherwell DC website.
·[possibly…] Ambulance Station near Magic Roundabout, Swindon.
·County Transport, Ripley Road, Ambergate, Derbyshire, DE56 2ER – 01773 856667.
·County Transport, Brimington Road North, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9BE – 01246 450705.
·County Transport, Halstead Garage, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8BJ – 01298 813141.
·Near Wetherby just outside Thorpe Arch trading estate between York and Leeds.
·GMAS (Greater Manchester Ambulance Service), Walmsley Road, Bury Station.
·Bedfordshire County Council Vehicle Depot, London Road, Bedford – 01234 327369 (now privatised and run by Balfour Beatty Plant Services but the staff are unchanged).
·Thamesdown Bus Garage, Corporation Street, Swindon.
·Medway Council – 01634 306000.
·Westside Motors at the junction of Lanark Road and Inglis Green Road, EH13, Scotland (not CC but apparently v. honest and fair).
·Edinburgh City Council, CEC Fleet Services, Gorgie, Russell Road – 0131 337 2307 (choose option 1 for their workshops) OR City Fleet Services, 38 Russell Road, Edinburgh – 0131 347 1950 …….which one is it guys???
·Wandsworth Council, South London – 0208 871 6761.
·Colchester Borough Council, MOT Testing & Vehicle Servicing, Unit 8 Westside Centre, London Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 8PH – 01206 282624.
·The bus depot in Plymouth.
·Inverurie, Aberdeen – 01467 627538 (Alistair Smith), www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument.
·Mintlaw, Aberdeen – 01771 623197 (Robert Bruce), www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument.
·Inverurie, Aberdeen – 01569 763274 (Dave Adie), www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/web/residents.nsf/html/5AZKPF?OpenDocument.
·Nottinghamshire County Council, Rolleston Drive Workshops, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7JE – 0115 956 7420.

NB: Apparently Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Merton, Ealing and the London Ambulance Service all DO NOT carry out MOTs.

And in return, does anyone know of any centres northside of West Sussex (or southside of Surrey)? I've starting looking but no luck so far. In the meantime, if I find anything myself I'll post it here.

BB

[Bambi_Blou]

Sorry, missed out the following:

St. Helen's, Merseyside - www.sthelens.gov.uk/council/services/councilservices.nsf/All/95FE28C11ACC80256CC900550FF7?opendocument&highligh t=mot,testing

BB

[vanoonoo]

nice work BB :D

[Bambi_Blou]

Thanks!! And you're welcome! :)

Now if anyone knows of any more out there, maybe you could add to the list....

BB

Let's just be straight here. The MOT has just become a money maker for the motor trade.

I know this isn't a campaigning site but a couple of observations:-

1. i,m satisfied MOT's are also used by garages to increase their (end of 3 year) warranty work...unneceassrily;

2. whilst safety is important, cars are better built and components more reliable .with 3 year warranties now the norm on new cars, most are regularly serviced for that period. in most of europe the first 'MOT' is due after 4 years then only every 2 years for first 10 years, only then every year and it is done at testing stations rather than garages.

there is no evidence of any lower levels of safety and the 'mot' factors are largely now european standardised.

interestingly my spanish car passed its first test without any problems...spanish testing stations are government franchises, don't do repairs, and are highly efficient...you stay in the car and drive through a number of bays, takes only 10 mins and is cheap...and essentially it covers the same items as uk, indeed the check form is very similar. 5 weeks later i went for a british MOT (required to register here) and they tried to fail it on a number of very unlikely grounds...like suspension items though it had only done 27K kilometres and is generally regarded as THE indestructable 4x4 . when i pointed out the spanish test certificate on the screen and that i would happily appeal, they miraculously took another look and found it fine.

we shouldn't be tolerating this...as well as avoiding garages, write to your MP

Looking desesperately for a similar testing station near Birmingham (MOT due at the end of May). And also I 'd appreciate any advice for chosing a decent and honest garage as I just moved to Birmingham (Selly Oak / Northfield).
Ta
Isabelle

[pingu]

hi
just check with local council if they do MOT and they might just recommend a garage too.

BT motor transport workshops do MOTs as well. Difficult to find out where they are though. Just ask your friendly local BT emgineer and they will usually know the location of the nearest depot.

Hi folks

This is my first time on this board. What a great tip. I didn't realise that County Councils and places like bus depots do MOTs for the public, so many thanks for that piece of advice. I live in Brighton, East Sussex and haven't checked out the council here yet, but for the past 3 years I've been using a garage in Lewes that just does MOTs, not repairs. You won't be surprised to hear that my car always passes without needing costly repairs! This time they simply recommended that a tyre will need replacing in about 3 months' time. For anyone in this part of Sussex, their details are:

Lewes MOTs (used to be called Just MOTs)
Daveys Lane
Lewes
East Sussex
Tel: 01273–488455

Good luck!

:D
Hi , for anyone interested in council run MOT stations in North London, there is on in Enfield- Carterhatch lane, cheers

>:(mines just had it's mot at a ford garage & cost a fortune
i agree that they rip you off never again shall i be taken in by those sharks
thanks for the tip.
going to give the council garage a go the next time

[halloweenqueen]

I'm quite new to this site so please forgive the late questions, is there anywhere in West Norfolk for these council testing places or anywhere I could find out about them here, Regards, Hallow :)

[oscarip]

Anyone know where I can find FREE MOT testing in Merseyside area ? ???


Thank you for your reply ;)

[trafalgar]

Anyone know where I can find FREE MOT testing in Merseyside area ? ???


Thank you for your reply !;)
FREE......let me know when you get an answer and I'll be in merseyside ;D ;D ;D

[WP8800]

Hello Everybody,

I am so pleased that you all feel so warmly to your local garage!

I own my own garage, and we carry out MOT Tests.

I am aware that everybody has a 'Rip off' Story about a Garage, but im sure you will agree most people have one about a plumber/builder/electrician/kitchen fitted etc etc.

To right a few wrongs on this thread:

You DO NOT have 14 days to retest your vehicle for free.

On the back on the VT30 (failure notice) it is explained in detail about the retest rules. It is only free if brought back within 24 hours and only failure on the list of applicable items. (mainly samll things that require no dismantling, i.e. lights, wipers, etc.

MOT tests are carried out by Humans. Every items is checked by our own eyes and the decision made by our own brain. Discrepancies between garages WILL happen.

The Vehicle Operater Services Agency (VOSA) operate the MOT scheme for The Ministry of Transport.
They carry out yearly unanounced visits on every MOT station.
They can turn up at any time and carry out a Quality Control, (they check the tester is carring out the MOT properly)
They also can out incoqnito checks with vehicles with known defects.
They can Quality Control any vehicle which has been for a test that day to confirm the pass and failure items are correct.

They can also immediately close down a station, and send the tester to court and then to prison.

They do all this to keep YOUR vehicles safe and free from major defects.

Your local MOT station/tester has a huge responsability and also does this for Your safety.


Also: The MOT test is a 'snapshot' of the vehicles condition on that day. The scheme is flawed. A few examples:

Certain No.Plates can pass the MOT, but you could drive it away from the station and be prosecuted for not having the correct no.plates on the vehicle.

No.plates lights have to work, but if you remove your No.plates altogether you can still have an MOT and they wont be tested.

There are many, MANY more examples. We as testers have to decipher the manaul and make best decisions from what we view.

A quick note on JackPott first thread. It is true that most Bus stations, councils, ambulance station etc, do offer test only. However they will nearly always charge you for a retest,(24 return excluded as noted earlier).
And, having worked and tested cars for many years now, I would be worried if MY car went through 7 MOT's without something failing, Which might suggest the tester isnt doing the test correctly?

No sour grapes here, but just thought i would give you all some info and a view from the other side of the fence.

Cheers Moneysavers,

Wayne

[WP8800]

Sorry me again,

Just thought, The best way to get cheap MOT bills, is to get a recommendation form a friend, go to the garage, be nice and friendly, dont be demanding about when you want your test, and hopefully the owner will be the same and you will starta beutiful relationship will each other!

I have over a thousand customers now, and lots of them I recognise by their voice on the phone!

Thanks again

Wayne

[trafalgar]

Sorry me again,

Just thought, The best way to get cheap MOT bills, is to get a recommendation form a friend, go to the garage, be nice and friendly, dont be demanding about when you want your test, and hopefully the owner will be the same and you will starta !beutiful relationship will each other!

I have over a thousand customers now, and lots of them I recognise by their voice on the phone!

Thanks again

Wayne
Hubby found a brill garage and wouldn't go anywhere else..we can trust them to do what is needed and do it properly , any probs we go back and they will not charge sometimes on small jobs as they get a lot of custom out of friends and family......so good for all of us ;D

[MSE Martin]

BB sorry for being so slow. Only just noticed you'd done this - thank you so much!

Does anyone know of any Gov VTS centres near Bracknell or Aldershot? ???

The first time I realised that the rest of the UK had a different MOT system that Northern Ireland I was really surprised. I was even more shocked when I realised how dodgy it was. My aunt (who lives in Glasgow) had given me a car but it had to MOTed before I could use it. So we took it to 2 garages for a quote. The first claimed that there was a significant and very serious fault with the car which the second garage didn't. In fact neither garage agreed on anything!

Northern Ireland has the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency which must (required by law) carry out your MOT!

The MOT centres are throughout the province and only carry out MOTs. They are also responsible for driver licensing including driving tests. This means that your car goes through exactly the same MOT as everyone else AND it's all computerised so you get a print out of your test summary containing your new MOT certificate.

Of course it's up to you to bring your car to a garage to make sure it's up to the MOT standard - but if you don't trust them you can always put it in for the MOT get your report back from the MOT centre and then carry out the repairs they specify - but that would mean paying the MOT fee twice and it's expensive at £28, although a retest is cheaper (not sure to what though!). For more info check out the official site www.mot2-ni.gov.uk

Perhaps you should all start dropping a note to your local councils to ask why the rest of the UK is using such an antequated system which is open to abuse instead of a more standardised test that's not dependent on tester or geographic location!

Gail ;)

[chubbybrown4real]

Try BT workshops they are fair too.
also Im unsure if the postal board do them for externals.

There is/was a BT workshop in Inverness

Im sure theres others...
regards


Roy

[jack_pott]

Essex CC do free reteests within 7 days.
I always watch them do my MOT, partly so they can show me what's wrong if it fails, but also so I can see they're doing it properly. I thought that this was just a priviledge at the council's VTS, but they tell me that you have a legal right to watch your car tested whereever you go.
(I thought that MOT's in NI were carried out by the bomb disposal squad. :) )

[masterblaster]

i took my old diesel car to the London Borough of Enfield site. It failed on emissions but the helpful guy told me to simply pour a bottle of red ex in and go for a blast round the m25. came back 2 hours later and it passed with flying colours. Cost of failure only £4.99.
A great tip - thanks

Hi!

My MOT is due mid June and I work in NHS in Peterborough.........any reliable place to have the MOT.................thank you.

[Lardy_Boy]

Wayne, you're not anywhere near Aberdeen are you?! Anyone know of one nearer than Inverurie? Thanks.

Eastbourne Buses in Eastbourne (he said, stating the obvious), East Sussex carry out MOTs at their depot off of Lottbridge Drove.

Last time I checked, they were offering free bus rides to and from the town centre so customers could do a bit of shopping while their cars were being tested.

Eastbourne Buses is owned in part by the town's borough council and has a pretty solid reputation for MOTs.

I just phoned Southampton City Council and they have an MOT test centre on Albert Rd North (near the football stadium). The phone number is 023 8083 4362.

I can't decide whether to use that centre or a local garage. I suppose that if you think there is a chance your car will genuinely fail then it is better at a garage as you can get it fixed and retested without incurring an extra test charge?

[inept]

I'm pretty sure the Cambridge Mill Road depot also do MOT testing available to the public. I seem to remember seeing an advert in a local newspaper advertising the service.

It's located down Mill Road, on the left just before the railway bridge if you're interested,

cheers,
Rich.

[calamityjayneuk]

Here's a good garage in the Gateshead area. They are no council, but only do MOTs and they are all really nice. They did a free retest within 14 days for me and will send a remind out 30 days before the next MOT is due. And they also test motorbikes. It's about £30 for car and £15 for bike.

Metro M.O.T Centre
Longrigg Rd Swalwell
Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne and Wear
NE16 3AW

Tel: 0191 4884235

(no I'm not related, just a happy customer ;))

[PaleScene]

There doesn't seem to be a government test centre anywhere near me (Gloucestershire).

I'm not sure it would be worth an hours drive into Oxfordshire (Banbury) where the car might very well fail, need both fixing and retesting - which brings in loads of complications with driving without MOT, distance and which garage to use - one there or one here.

I've almost ruled the idea out - but not quite... still be nice to go somewhere without bias.

Another thought - my car is old and failed the last MOT on rust. It runs very nicely and is reliable - give or take very occasional mechanical problems - but the rust thing is a looming horror. In fact, last year I was told it wasn't worth having the work done, and that it certainly won't be worth it this year (I disagreed on the former and am now looking for ways round the latter!)

Can you escape the rust thing? The way the garage put it - no, you can't, that's it, after a time a perfectly great car in all other respects just can't go on. <sob>

I e mailed The council about this and heres the reply

With regard to your recent enquiry regarding MOT's.

Any MOT station has to be available for all members of the public as this
is part of the granting of the certificate from the Dept for Transport.

The workshops that carry out MOT testing do have the facility to repair any
member of the publics car but it is at the discretion of the relevant
supervisor as his own core work for the council takes priority.

We also have to be careful that we are not taking trade away from any local
business as previous legislation did not permit Councils to be in direct
competition with local garages etc.

Excellent tip! ;D

South Ayrshire Council MOT centre... Transport Section, McCalls Avenue, AYR. Telephone 01292 267802.

[Shinty]

For those of you in North Lanarkshire, Scotland then you can try to visit their test cente at
http://www.northlan.gov.uk//living+here/roads+and+transport/mots/index.html

or call for an appointment

Administrative Officer
Transport Services
Old Edinburgh Road Bellshill
01698 506284

My car's MOT is not due until Sept so I'll be putting a note of this is my diary.

Thanks MSE !!!

[Bambi_Blou]

Hi all,

Been away so a bit delayed in replying here (also my reply notifications still don't work - any clues mister moderator??).

Firstly: Martin, you're very welcome, pitching in together makes all the difference. :)

Secondly: for those in the West Sussex area, apparently Adur Council used to do MOTs, but I don't know if they still do. For those nearer the Gatwick area, there's Accord, Broadbridge Heath Depot, Worthing Rd., Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 3LZ - 01403 211246. Apparently they used to be part of the Council but changed hands. However the same staff are still there and they still carry out MOTs for the Council.

Lastly: Although we have the initial list of garages embedded at the front of this thread now, there's no way to keep adding to that list easily. Perhaps we should start a new thread that is made up strictly of garage details, so any comments should be kept in this thread, but any contact information added to the new one. That way it would be easy to check if any new information has been added and would also ensure people new to this thread don't miss any useful information without having to read the entire thread. Thoughts anyone?

BB

Hi Guys,
Chichester District Council (West Sussex) have an MOT station at their Westhampnet Refuse Centre, and they also do not do repairs there, so obviously nothing to gain by failing a vehicle ......... need to book in advance, I do not work for them but have taken my car there for about 6 years, a taxi driving friend put me on to them as he must take his taxi there for an annual check up.
Regards to all.
Sam

Anywhere in the Milton Keynes area please?

[jack_pott]

.....driving without MOT....

Can you escape the rust thing? !The way the garage put it - no, you can't, that's it, after a time a perfectly great car in all other respects just can't go on. !<sob>

You can drive home from a failed MOT, and also to a pre-arranged test/repair.
Don't necessarily take the garages word about the rust, my car's rusty, but it's only a fail point if it's structural.

Bedford Street Garage, Bedford Street, Halifax do only MOTs. IIRC there's a limit on the size/type of vehicle due to their emissions unit. Their last charge (end of April) was £30. If in doubt I usually ask in advance about fees and retesting. Often it's 30 days without a further fee whether the 'rules' say so or not.

My tip is to find local car repair places who *don't* do MOTs and ask them where they normally take their repaired vehicles for MOTs. That's where I got the above recommendation when I had a sills job done at a repairs-only place.

The second tip is ask for repairs-only place tips, from the MOT-only places.

Is anyone aware of one of these test centres in the West of Scotland.. i.e. Glasgow? Would be grateful to know, since my little four wheeled bucket is overdue a test!!! Thanks ::)

I've searched in vain for a centre local to me here in Granrham, Lincolnshire. I had to get my car tested at a local garage but thankfully it passed! Fom Martin's list there doesn't appear to be anything in Lincolnshire at all. Does anyone know of one? If so I'll be ready for next year!

Another MOT centre for your list is Eastbourne Bus Garage at Birch road in Eastbourne East Sussex
Regards
Paddy

I have my car tested at Runabout Autocentres in Rugby on Sommers Road Industrial Estate. I have had it done there for the last 3 or 4 years at a cost of £19 ;D :o. They also give you 14 days to have the work done (which doesnt have to be done there) and a free re-test within those 14 days if necessary. They wil charge after 14 days mind.

[Fran]

Newport, Gwent

From Newport Transport ad in Yellow Pages:

"Half price MOT with full service
Free Tea/Coffee
Diesels and Catalysts Tested
Free retest within 14 days

Free bus travel during MOT or repair

01633 220044 !http://newporttransport.co.uk "

I haven't tried them but the free transport could be useful, also free coffee!!

[oscarip]

St. Helens council charges £20.

>:( :-[

Anyone know of non-garage MOT centre in Kent? Pref West Kent? My car needs nest MOT in July.

Thanks ::)

Just got my car back from Birmingham City Council.

Cost me £47.00 but no re-test fee.

It failed first time on a dodgy track-rod end. Bought one for £12.50 locally and got a local garage to fit it for £30.

The MOT tester was very fair and gave me advice to ensure the "borderline" issues were corrected for next year!

I will certainly visit them again!

Birmingham City Council Workshops
Park Lane
Aston
B6 5PL

0121 303 6177

[DianaDrawers]

:o
Another MOT testing centre to add - Harrogate Borough Council, Claro Road. Tel: 01423 556877. My daughter had her L Reg Metro tested today - £40.75 and nothing needed doing to it!!! Thanks folks.

[flipflopnick]

Another MOT testing centre to add,
Cumbria County Highways Depot
Mintsfeet Trading Estate
KENDAL
Cumbria
open Monday to Friday
MOT for cars and Minibus PCV by appointment only.
they need to schedule you into their working week.
Honest reliable unbiased, used them for years.

[Iskin]

Haya
when I called Birmingham MOT City Council Workshop I was told that they do only taxis and their own float... I might try again next year knowing that some people managed.
Meanwhile, I went to RCT garage in Northfield passed the MOT for a bit less than 40 quids . A miracle (car with 95,000 miles) as far as I am concerned because my previous dodgy garagist had already is big smile on his face when reminding me that I would have to come again soon for the MOT.
Cheers

[AnjR]

The following are centres around London:

Barnet
Barking
Enfield
Greenwich
Hounslow
Newham
Tower Hamlets

The MOT enquiry line 0845 600 5977 (number found on MOT cert) will give more details and will search their database for council-run centres in your area.

Hope this is of use to others and thanks to jack_pott for original post. :)

[jackywhizz]

I took my husbands car along to:

Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council's testing centre on Rossmore Road. (tel 0151 3566789 to book)

He couldn't understand why I wasn't using our local ford dealership as normal. Saved £11 and it passed first time. He was stunned!!! ;)

[bell]

Took mine to the North lanarkshire test centre today.

Only £30 for my test and a first time pass with only one advice on a potential problem.

The guy asked why i came to local authority centre so i told him. Cheaper test and a fear of being ripped off by the garages.

All in all a pleasent experience, except for sitting in the car on the bloody lift 7 feet up ;)

Hi

I took my car into First Bus in Leicester. They carryout independant MOT's.

Cost £30 - passed first time!

[jack_pott]

A miracle (car with 95,000 miles) as far as I am concerned

Mines done 180,000 miles, and has passed the last 7 MOT's. That's partly because I use the local authority VTS, and partly because Honda Accords are the most reliable car on the road.

[jack_pott]

!I suppose that if you think there is a chance your car will genuinely fail then it is better at a garage as you can get it fixed and retested without incurring an extra test charge?

No, my local authority retest for free.

took my car to my local council test cenntre , was th worst service and most expensive MOT ever

A friend of mine also takes theirs to be done by BT.
http://www.btfleet.com/

Haven't tried and tested but if someone is looking around Guildford then they can get their car done by the Council at their Depot in Woking Road. The Phone Number is 01483 445091. Good luck!

[jack_pott]

mot centre is in Enfield :)
I would think your best bet would be to ring your local council offices.

[tiger777]

cheers mate just found them the number for Enfield MOT test centre is 0208 376 2181/2182 open 0730 - 1530 ;D

[pebsham]

I live in hastings, East Sussex, not that close to Eastbourne.
Anybody know of a council / transport based MOT centre closer?::)

[Automotove-IT]

I have looked at this thread with interest, and here is some info that may help...

You could try http://www.talab.co.uk/road/psli/category.php?category=218 for a comprehensive list of VI (Vehicle Inspectorate) testing stations in the uk.
or you could try a search at the MOT club http://www.motuk.co.uk/database/search_data.htm
This site offers various bits of information but station do have to subscribe to be listed so not all sites may have entry.

You can also get advise on MOT failures if you feel you have unjustly failed you can Appeal.

You can also search the MOT testers Manual for any questions you may have on MOT proceedures.

You could also try the VI's hotline 0845 600 5977.

One final Tip, look for a garage that offers deals on MOT and a Service at the same time, it saves them time helps to retain customer loyalty and is in many cases is much more cost effective to you, e.g. £100 all-in for an MOT and Service, plus parts used to repair MOT work. in this case there is no retest fee because they should service and inspect the car first, this will spot any potential MOT fails, they should call you prio to the wotrk being carried out if they spot anything, but there only one test, therfore one fee.

(Just in case you all thought I was touting for business... Sorry, I sell to these businesses so have an understanding)

Hope this helps. :)

[Loobeylou]

Regarding testing at WYMAS - is this any WYMAS station or just selected ones?

Tried to look through the entire thread but could not spot anything which gave any further information other than the fact that WYMAS MOT test vehicles.

And, although we had ours done a couple of months ago, does anyone know approximately how much WYMAS charge for testing vehicles?

[Automotove-IT]

There are 4 WYMAS Stations listed on MOTclub site, http://www.motuk.co.uk/database/search_data.htm

You could also try the VI's hotline 0845 600 5977...

;D

[kristalite]

Here's the one for Reigate and Banstead Council. Based at the Town Hall, Castlefield Rd Reigate.

Telephone No: 01737 276650.

This isn't included in the main list at the top of this thread.
They charge at the new rates given from 1st August.

Sadly,he ouldn't MOT my car till 7th Sept...too late for me! Also, they only do minor repairs there. I asked him who he'd recommend should my car need some work and he recommended "Three Arch Garage" in Redhill, near East Surrey Hospital.

[tulips11]

Heres the link for Wigan council - based at Hindley Depot- the council kept very quiet about this facility!!
www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/beng/transport/th_home.htm

[downshifter98]

Hi - after years of my car 'failing' its MOT at the local garage (inspite of it being regularly serviced and low milage) i decided to follow the advice on this thread and visited my local(ish) council centre in Enfield - well what a result - spoke to them on the phone prior to going and the chap was extremely helpful and actually sounded keen for my custom(!) - went at 8:30 on a Friday and joined a queue of 2 other cars - again the 2 men running the testing were friendly and jovial - they gave me tips on a couple of very minor things (and not to do with passing the MOT) and then passed it with flying colours (even adding 5 extra days onto the end date of the MOT as I was testing 5 days prior to expiry). My car is a 10 year old laguna and I am well chuffed - the fee was £42 and this includes free retesting within 10 working days. Only slight downside is that it took just over 90 minutes (each car seems to take 30 minute-ish) but that small wait probably saved me at least £100 (which is what my friendly garage has charged - at least - for the MOT repairs recently). I have now lost count of how much money this wonderful site has saved/made me over the last 6 months - keep up the good work martin and co - your website is an internet GEM. ;D

[richbrown]

For Suffolk County Council Mot's at lodge lane, Great Blakenham, just outside Ipswich call 01473 588600.

[Love-a-bargain]

Can anyone tell me where I can get info on local council or bus depot mot centres? the mot website doesn't seem to list them. I live in south hampshire and my car is overdue for MOT so I'd like to get it done asap!!!

How do you find out who does MOTs (ie council ones, etc)?

[trafalgar]

Look for local gov websites...........wherever you live .........www.#####.gov.co.uk


I've just entered 'mot testing stations open to the public'

and the local gov ones come up ;)

good luck :)

[td]

WYMAS Fleet Care
Ambulance Station
Northside Rd
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD7 2AY
Tel: 01274 521385


Wymas Fleetcare NHS Trust
21 Oakroyd Drive
Bradford Rd
Birkenshaw
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD11 2AH
Tel: 01274 681831

[sailorjohn]

Tesco clubcard vouchers are currently useable with Nationwide Autocentres for MOT and/or servicing. can be used in part or for total cost. Clubcard deal token is worth 4 times the face value of the Clubcard points. I had MOT done for £10.50. failed front brake pads ( rightly so), re-test free. :D :D

[dougal]

Here's the one for Reigate and Banstead Council. Based at the Town Hall, Castlefield Rd Reigate.

Telephone No: 01737 276650.

This isn't included in the main list at the top of this thread.
They charge at the new rates given from 1st August.

Sadly,he ouldn't MOT my car till 7th Sept...too late for me! Also, they only do minor repairs there. I asked him who he'd recommend should my car need some work and he recommended "Three Arch Garage" in Redhill, near East Surrey Hospital.


hmm kristalite,

when i had my camoer van mot'd at the council depot behind the dump on the a23 at salfords, sorry if this is a wee bit parochial for some! they also recommended 3 arch garage.

mind you this may be more to do with them being the rare occurance of an honest garage in this area.

one word of caution over council depots, and most garages ,I guess, is on older vehicles beware of them suspecting you of being an inspectortesting them! also be sure that they are allowing for higher tolerances in older vehicles as they didn't like the wobble in my 18 yearold VW steering which could never reach modern levels.

in general though council mot's are far superior to the last private mot i had done, where the replaced brake pipe wore through after 20 miles having happily been resting on my front tyre!

[stustu92]

I had my car MOT'd at Doncaster council testing station, it cost £25 with a free re test. It didn't need it it passed first time. Its a vauxhall astra thats done 105000 miles so i was well pleased. their number is 01302736851

[homealone]

can anyone recommend a centre in north london????

[sezdav]

hi love_a_bargin,

Southampton MOT testing is:

Town Depot
Albert Road North
Southampton
SO14 5AT

Havent tried them myself but im tempted as my mot runs out next week. Hope this helps. :)

[rialto2296]

does anyone know of a council MOT station in the Durham or Sunderland area

[fatgra]

Thanks

Just had my KA passed first time at -

LEEDS Transport Services 0113 214 3161.

Never had a car pass first time before - I must have been conned out of thousands over the years.

Evetyone must do this!

Fatgra

[fabulous_sweetie]

Thank you thank you thank you for this tip!
For the last 3 years I have had a pre-MOT service and then the MOT at my local garage, and they have ALWAYS found several major things wrong with my car. It has cost me about £500+ each time. I'm sure they're ripping me off because (a) I know nothing about engines and (b) I'm a woman.
Took the car to the test centre in Bedford today, and it passed 1st time, only cost £40 for the test! All that was wrong with it was a slightly worn wiper blade!
So thank you all for saving me money this year, will come in useful for Xmas... :D

[Andrea]

Just looking for someone who lives in Bristol and the nearest I can find seems to be the South Gloucestershire council one.

The address is Broad Lane, Yate.

It's open to the public weekdays 8am to 4.30pm by prior appointment on 01454 863920.

[swindondave]

AMBULANCE STATION, NEAR MAGIC ROUNDABOUT, SWINDON (QUEENS DRIVE) - I am a paramedic working there, unfortunately it is NOT a registered MOT Test Centre (we have to send the Ambulances elsewhere to get tested!) Sorry guys!!

[katglasgow]

Hi just found this thread after Martin's weekly email tips. I've only just became a car user and would pove any advice fellow MSE might have in the Glasgow/Kirkinkintilloch area. I am terrifed of having to take my car to a garage as I dont know much about engines I am a prime target! I have an F reg ford fiesta with 12,000 miles on the clock - 1 previous owner my great auntie - its a fantastic wee car and I'm hoping it will last me for a few years.

[panicos]

MY car has just failed on it's headlights. the garage says I need a new one but. It cost £65 It,s a Ford Mondeo I took it to another garage and he says the head light has passed everything except the head lamp aim so how do I need a new head lamp it says " neanido no pattern" what do I do he also mentioned something about reflector what ever that is the thing is do I need it or not please help I think that when a women walks into a garage they see pounds signs not all of them just some (don't want to offend the good ones)

[columbo]

are you sure you don't pey for a retest

[columbo]

are you sure you don't pay for a retest

[columbo]

i just bought a ford escort i took battery off and found the car radio was keycoded any one know what to do i have no code no.

[minim55]

Does anyone know any council run MOT centres in Bristol? Does Airbus or the main Royal Mail sorting office or Rolls Royce in Filton do them. Would be v grateful for any details. Thanks

[agentorange1971]

http://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/libraries/templates/ourservice.asp?URN=2040&FolderID=0

cheltenham do it!

Hello by the way ...

Andy

[agentorange1971]

i just bought a ford escort i took battery off and found the car radio was keycoded any one know what to do i have no code no.

Did the same to my Vauxhall, went to the local vauxhall garage who un-coded it for £10....

[mamazaac]

Does anyone know if there is one in Exeter please?

[keacae]

Hi keacae here, please can anyone tell me if there is councel mot centre in the Wirral area (Birkenhead, Wallasey, Liscard )ect
regads

[muzzy2556]

would also like exeter/north devon info - nearest appears to be plymouth which is 1.5 hours drive away. thanks

[kdee]

North lincolnshire :

http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Transportandstreets/MOT/

£30!

[Benji]

We have just discovered that this facility is also offered by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Yes we do, the current cost is £25 and the testing station is based at Trostre Depot, Llanelli,SA15 3JY,

If you would like to book a test please contact them on Tel 01554 784138

[joa]

On the list of Council garages that can help, one is listed as:

Thamesdown Bus Garage, Corporation Street, Swindon. ·Medway Council – 01634 306000


Confused? Swindon is in Wiltshire and Medway is Kent. Why would the garage in Swindon use a Kent council number?
Any ideas or just an oversight?

Another thing is that BT Fleet garages do MOTs too. They are a separate company to BT in the main and as any MOT money goes direct to their employers and not in their back pockets, they are also a good bet for honest advice ... well, the one in Maidstone is anyway !!

[dino]

i just bought a ford escort i took battery off and found the car radio was keycoded any one know what to do i have no code no.

Hi Colombo,

I just found out that on e-bay one guy is offering to get your Ford stereo code for 1.99.(he will need your stereo serial number which is usually on the right side of steroe). Just search for focus stereo decode (he does it for all ford models but escord name is not in the heading). Guys e-bay id is paulj1963.
Good luck mate.

[sailorjohn]

If you get Tesco Clubcard vouchers These can be exchanged for Clubcard Deals worth 4 times the face value of the voucher. Nationwide Autocentres accept Tesco Clubcard Deals, so you can have the MOT for £10.50 vouchers. I found them very competent and trustworthy.

[tomek]

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL MOT:

SUFFOLK FLEET MAINTENANCE (Suffolk County Council), Lodge Lane, Great Blakenham, Ipswich IP6 0JE Tel: 01473 830752
Servicing and MOT's

SUFFOLK FLEET MAINTENANCE (Suffolk County Council), Rougham Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds. Tel 01359 270777
-personally tried and tested to be v. nice and helpful. These guys actually want your car to pass!!!

SUFFOLK FLEET MAINTENANCE (Suffolk County Council) Blyth Road Industrial Estate, Halesworth. Tel 01986 874427

[les]

BT Motor transport garages are also open to the public for MOTs

Just ask any telephone engineer you see in a van where the BT garage is and their phone number

[RufusA]

To find your nearest "BT" garage look on their BT Fleet website:

BT Fleet (http://www.btfleet.com/location_network.htm)

Not all appear to do MOTs though.

HTH - Rufus.

[Phil_rich]

Does anyone know of a council testing centre in Herefordshire??????

Thanks Phil

[hibitdat]

Its worth noting that, although not all do, some of the CC's listed DO undertake repairs to public vehicles (as well as provide testing facilities) so be warned. Sadly the only time any car I have owned has failed was the only time I took it to my local County Council testing station (as a Council employee, I get easy online booking too!)

[flick]

Does any body know where in the Northants area that you can get MOTs done

[George_Bray]

The heading of this thread is "Save on MOT bills". I suggest local authority depots are not necessarily the best or cheapest way. I used to use them until my nearest depot closed down. It was a blessing in disguise. Depending on the mood of the tester, I feel the failure rate was not much different, if any, from the commercial garages I use. But the worst disadvantage is that the local authority places charge the full amount of the test fee. Isn't that over £40 now?!

This morning I took my car to a place which does MOTs for only £15, no doubt to attract repair work. But they are fair. My car failed. Good news, it's only a minor thing which I can easily repair and take the car back for a pass certificate within 14 days. The £15 is so low it could almost be viewed as a pre-test fee, to tell you what's what, a month before your existing MOT runs out. If you get a serious fail, seek a second opinion. If the failure is unjustified, report the place to the authorities.

I've been paying £10 or £15 a year for ages. I've saved a fortune. Before that, for a while, the tests were even free. I would never return to using local authority test stations.

[norman]

ref the EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL MOT station :-- the telephone number I gave you is the right one. I JUST COPIED IT off the "flyer" thae COONCIL tucket intul my Council Tax Bill !!!

[norman]

BUT "Westside Motors" is STILL the most honest in EDINBURGH --------- after 14 years and 10 months of looking

[norman]

I was 39 years in ABERDEEN , and with the help of my wee boy -- now 6ft 7" -- and contacting my old pals, the most honest ABERDEEN MOT station turns out to be :--
The ALBYN GARAGE, 25 Albyn Lane AB10 6XF tel 01 224 581 164

[wisewoman]

i just bought a ford escort i took battery off and found the car radio was keycoded any one know what to do i have no code no.
If it is the original radio, find your Ford Main Dealer in your local yellow pages, phone them up with your car reg number, and they will have all codes on a database. There should be no charge.

[GDB2222]

Just came across this for the Barnet Council centre:
Barnet MOT Centre

Mill Hill Depot/Bittacy Hill
London, Mill Hill, NW7 1BL
020 8359 5103

[chrismorgan]

Hi all,
Newbie here, reading thread with interest but cannot find any links to council mot stations in or around The medway towns in Kent, can anybody help, have tried Medway council but they have never heard of such a service :confused:

[gurpalbasra]

I have found an MOT centre in Coventry just off the A46 near Whitley, Call them for more info 02476 832147. They have a 14 day retest policy.

[chloejane]

anypne know where my local council does the MOT as mine is due next month i live near cambridge in suffolk?

[Sazza7]

I am from Northern Ireland, now living in Manchester. At home there are 4 MOT centres in the province, all of which are governement regulated and who do not carry out repairs. As was mentioned before, this means they have nothing to gain financially by failing you. I never had any problems living at home when I went for the MOT except for the odd thing that I would have to go away and get fixed but they were never anything major. However, here, I have had 2 different cars and they have failed every time I have been for an MOT, or something or other that always requires the garage to work on it, which I find quite unbelievable.

I am really pleased to know that the County Council does in fact test cars. I will be doing this in future. that way, it will leave no doubt in my mind as to the honesty of the people carrying out the test. Thankyou very much for your tip. It has been most enlightening

S. Doherty

[weetabix]

A new MOT discussion forum has been created online recently.
It is for mainly MOT testers, but I'm sure that members of the public would be made welcome if they needed to ask them questions about MOT issues...

http://motforum.proboards44.com

[Matt_EA]

You can get an MOT from Suffolk County Council at 3 locations around the county, see this page on their website (http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/e-and-t/sfm/sfm_mot.html).

[brasileiro]

Hi, guys from West Sussex area. There is an official test centre in Lancing. See details below:


((( Adur District Council are licensed to carry out MOTs for vehicles up to 3,000kg (design gross weight).

Booking is essential for MOTs (if you have booked, they can be done 'while-you-wait') and they take just over an hour to complete. They are available between :

8:30am and 3:30pm, Monday - Thursday
and 8:30am and 2:30pm, Friday
MOT related repairs can also be undertaken.

Please book by telephoning (01273) 263148
or e-mail ldsdmt@adur.gov.uk

Commerce Way
Lancing
West Sussex
BN15 8TA )))


Regards,

Brasileiro

[GTG]

Anyone aware of a council MOT testing centre offering their services to the public near Watford in Hertfordshire?

Thanks.