MOT Cost Cutting discussion

Money-Saving-King

petetheengine wrote: »

Hi, I'm really dissapoited that you reccomend "council" mot stations are better because they only do mot's.

They are not. I went with a council MOT center solely based on the advice on this site last year & got stung.

Council MOT centers do not give 7 days grace in you fail to get the work done like most other places. Last year my car failed on some minor things I couldn't repair myself. If I took it back a couple of day later I'd get charged the full MOT fee again. With me the council MOT center was just not worth it.

I went with a normal garage this year (yesterday infact) & came much better off than going to a council site. My car failed but the work was done & no retest fee unlike the council places!

New_and_Improved_Me

The best advice for MOT's, that i can give after 23+ years of driving is...'Find a good centre and stick with it'....you get to know the people and build up a working relationship with them.

I ALWAYS got to the same guy for MOT's (On both cars) and never once has he steered me wrong...9 out of 10 times they both pass no faults at all...and if i do have a fault (I am pretty good with cars can see if it's a genuine or bogus fault - Have been tinkering with fixing cars for many MANY years and have even changed CAM belts in my time), they have never been unfair with price.

That’s why i would stick with them...I trust them....enev though i could save a few quid by going elsewhere. I wouldn't because i KNOW some gurages will just try and find faults that don't exist. They have to re-coupd the money from somwehere.

I've been a victom of this in the past. Yes even me, with my mechanical knowledge.....lol

OddballJamie

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

They are not. I went with a council MOT center solely based on the advice on this site last year & got stung.

Council MOT centers do not give 7 days grace in you fail to get the work done like most other places. Last year my car failed on some minor things I couldn't repair myself. If I took it back a couple of day later I'd get charged the full MOT fee again. With me the council MOT center was just not worth it.

I went with a normal garage this year (yesterday infact) & came much better off than going to a council site. My car failed but the work was done & no retest fee unlike the council places!

On minor issues the minimum requirement is a free retest the next working day.
https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/retests

The Council centre I go to gave us a week to get a corroded spring changed. Best to ask before you book it in.

Money-Saving-King

OddballJamie wrote: »

On minor issues the minimum requirement is a free retest the next working day.
https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/retests

The Council centre I go to gave us a week to get a corroded spring changed. Best to ask before you book it in.

I knew it was one day but trying to fit that around work for me was impossible. I'd never use a council one again.

OddballJamie

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

I knew it was one day but trying to fit that around work for me was impossible. I'd never use a council one again.

My local one is fine, as I said best to ask the question first as some indie garages also only allow a day.

smala01

I can recommend MOTEST in Swindon. They do not charge if the MOT fails...

I had my car tested, and failed on a few small points. I fixed them myself at home and took it back to them for a retest - and passed.

quoia

IF you need an MOT before 31/12/13 .....

... and you'd like a FREE WINTER CAR CHECK ....

... AND you would like to pay ONLY £15

... and you can make the MOT appointment in the next fortnight, between 3rd Nov and 17th Nov, .....

then you need to buy the MAIL ON SUNDAY this weekend

If you're not already a member then you need to join their Reward Club (it's free to do so) and enter the code on the back of the newspaper.

This will enable you to redeem this MOT "reward" for FREE - allowing you to get the MOT for £15 and have a FREE Winter Car Check at the same time.

https://mailrewardsclub.mailonline.co.uk/WeekendClub/products/741

The ONLY "drawback" is that this MOT offer is courtesy of KWIK-FIT

https://www.kwik-fit.com

chiaradilo

Hello everyone, do the council centre the MOT even for the motorbike?
thanks

Brian_Steele

Cut price MOTs can be a good idea if you are confident that the car will not fail, but bear in mind that the garage is not a charity. The more they charge for the MOT (and there is a set limit) the less they might be tempted to find non-existent faults. The cheaper the MOT, the more they have to find work to do, in order to justify what they are losing in charging their mechanic's work out below normal levels. Free MOTs are the worst, because they make absolutely nothing if you pass first time.

Certain Fast Fits offering very cheap and convenient MOTs I could name have a well founded reputation for finding faults that do not require attention.

Alternatively, and harder to prove, their estimate of how long something is going to last (which therefore "should be" sorted straight away) can be way lower than a more, let me say, reputable garage.

Brian_Steele

Remember that if you have a pre-MOT inspection and they tell you that the car will not pass, then that means that it is unroadworthy and it is therefore an offence (as well as dangerous) to drive it on the road.

That means that while you are allowed to drive it to a place of repair, you MUST then get it fixed before you next use it.