Cheap MOTs: Newcastle, Sunderland and North East England

ianonline

TUS wrote: »

Does anyone know where that Newington Road one is in Newcastle?

As far as I know, Newington Road is the one which runs along the bottom of the park next to Warwick Street (Sandyford/Shieldfield). I've had a look along there and can't see any garage.

Does Newington Road continue on the other side of the pedestrian walkway ... which I guess is accessed by the road near to Byker Morrisons/Byker Bridge?

Any directions would be handy.

Looks like it's actually on (or just off?) Starbeck Avenue (or specifically, where Starbeck Avenue "becomes" Newington Road). I always assumed Starbeck Avenue ran up to the junction with Warwick Street, but apparently not !!:
http://www.motlive.co.uk/station_details.asp?station_ID=11688
The above map indicates the MOT place is on the right (as you look at the map), but it looks like the main depot is actually on the left:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=NE2+1PX&sll=54.993246,-1.596141&sspn=0.103795,0.351563&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Newcastle+Upon+Tyne,+Tyne+And+Wear+NE2+1PX,+United+Kingdom&ll=54.979873,-1.59467&spn=0,0.010986&z=17&layer=c&cbll=54.97994,-1.59477&panoid=qGnqDHejxKW66DICF81KPw&cbp=12,245.34,,0,3.34

Looks like it's called "neighbourhood services", but you can see lots of council vehicles (especially if you look on Google Earth) so it must be where they do all the vehicle repairs / testing.

TUS

ianonline wrote: »

Looks like it's actually on (or just off?) Starbeck Avenue (or specifically, where Starbeck Avenue "becomes" Newington Road). I always assumed Starbeck Avenue ran up to the junction with Warwick Street, but apparently not !!:
http://www.motlive.co.uk/station_details.asp?station_ID=11688
The above map indicates the MOT place is on the right (as you look at the map), but it looks like the main depot is actually on the left:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=NE2+1PX&sll=54.993246,-1.596141&sspn=0.103795,0.351563&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Newcastle+Upon+Tyne,+Tyne+And+Wear+NE2+1PX,+United+Kingdom&ll=54.979873,-1.59467&spn=0,0.010986&z=17&layer=c&cbll=54.97994,-1.59477&panoid=qGnqDHejxKW66DICF81KPw&cbp=12,245.34,,0,3.34

Looks like it's called "neighbourhood services", but you can see lots of council vehicles (especially if you look on Google Earth) so it must be where they do all the vehicle repairs / testing.

Aaaahhhh!! Thanks. Yes, I think Starbeck just runs to the mini roundabout before the hill. I know where that is ... I actually lived in Sandyford for 4 years as a student, so should know better :-p

lynnpin

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum.

This is an absolute gem of information! I was so pleased to find this about Council MOT centres. For years I've been wishing there was a government MOT testing station just like the HGV testing centres.

Sorry if there are any genuine mechanics and garages reading this but my past experience as a lady driver has convinced me that I'm being ripped off every year.

Although I have already booked in for an MOT I would like to ask if anyone has any personal experience of the MOT station based in Newington Road, Shieldfield, Newcastle? I'd love to read your comments please!

The bloke I spoke to on the phone wouldn't win any customer service awards but I'm still hopeful of a better outcome.

donkey1969

mcjordi wrote: »

just to let you know theres at least one council mot centre missing from the list

chilton depot durham county council 01388 816166 (ask to be put through to workshop) they do public mot's

Just tried this today and denied all knowledge of it and refused to put me through to the workshops

mad_rich

ianonline wrote: »

The above map indicates the MOT place is on the right (as you look at the map), but it looks like the main depot is actually on the left:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=NE2+1PX&sll=54.993246,-1.596141&sspn=0.103795,0.351563&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Newcastle+Upon+Tyne,+Tyne+And+Wear+NE2+1PX,+United+Kingdom&ll=54.979873,-1.59467&spn=0,0.010986&z=17&layer=c&cbll=54.97994,-1.59477&panoid=qGnqDHejxKW66DICF81KPw&cbp=12,245.34,,0,3.34

I went there last week. The depot is on the left, but the MoT place most definitely is on the right. In that Google Maps photo, you can see a white van coming out of it, with the words TAXI ONLY on the road.

It all turned out fine, but don't expect it to be easy. It was more like trying to get an exit permit in communist Russia. Because its mostly filled with taxi drivers trying to renew their licenses, it's not immediately clear what you need to do for an MoT.

1. Go to the portacabin on the left (green roof, visible in that Google Maps photo), where your name is checked off a list (because you phoned ahead) and you pay your MoT fee. There's a 2% charge for cards, so bring cash if you can.

2. Cross over to the building on the right, to the right of the workshops, and into a little waiting room. Bang on the internal door a few times, and if nobody comes out, go for a wander around the workshops.

3. Somebody will eventually come to your assistance. You need to show your receipt to prove you've paid. He then wanted to do a 'pre-inspection', which consisted of checking all the doors worked, and that there was enough oil in the engine. Otherwise they won't accept the car. (I had to nip up to the petrol station to get a pint of oil!)

4. You can wait or come back later. Don't expect a phone call when your car's ready.

All the people I spoke to were very friendly, but it's not the same level of 'service' you get from a consumer-oriented garage. In the end, I only failed on one thing (tread depth) and got a free retest the next day, but they don't have to do that.

If in doubt, ask one of the cab drivers. They'll look after you.

tigga_1961

hi does anyone know of any in sunderland or durham please failing that billingham is closest to me, i feel i got ripped off by local garage last yr and dont want to make that mistake again

mad_rich

Just been back to Cityworks in Newcastle again today. A lot easier this time round once I knew the system.

Very friendly and quick. My 12 year-old car passed with flying colours, including a compliment from the tester about how good nick it was in!

It was only £39 as well. I was expecting £54.85, so this was a nice bonus :-)

[Deleted User]

mad_rich wrote: »

Just been back to Cityworks in Newcastle again today. A lot easier this time round once I knew the system.

Very friendly and quick. My 12 year-old car passed with flying colours, including a compliment from the tester about how good nick it was in!

It was only £39 as well. I was expecting £54.85, so this was a nice bonus :-)

What is the 'system'? I would be interested going there next time.

Spannannabanana

Hi,

Since this was in this weeks MSE email I thought I would share my recent experience of the Newington Road MOT centre.

I took my car for her MOT there this morning. She's 13 years old and this was my first time taking a car for an MOT so I was pretty nervous about the whole experience. But I needn't have been.

I rang to book my test at the start of the week, thinking it would be busy and id have to wait a few weeks, but I got a slot for the end of the same week.

Cost of test: £40
Cost of retest: free!

As mad_rich mentioned theres a 2% fee for paying by card so I took cash

As it's been said previously you pull in where it says taxi only on the road, find somewhere to park. Since Mad_rich explained the system its changed a little. They now do everything from the taxi licensing office (not from inside the waiting room). The office is the second door in the green building on the left as you go in (although there were plenty of people around even at 8.20am to direct me). I did have a bit of a wait behind taxi drivers renewing licenses etc so you might want to bare that in mind. After about 10 minutes I handed over my keys, and was told it would be about an hour and to wait in the waiting room. About 25 minutes later I was told it was finished, and I went back to the office and paid and collected my certificate - she passed with no advisories. I'm so pleased!

The car was my mums car before she gave her to me, and looking over the last 5 or so years of the MOT documents its been costing my mum £300-450 a year to get the car MOT'd and serviced. Obviously I didn't get a service done today but at just £40 for the MOT with no repairs to do I would definitely recommend doing this, it's probably saved us a lot of money.

Moto2

Darlington Council now do MOTs
http://www.darlington.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/mot-and-winter-vehicle-checks/