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MOT Cost Cutting discussion

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  • gjsl
    gjsl Posts: 1 Newbie
    I have just phoned the council depots for Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire, while both of them say they are open to the public for MOT testing, they say that Taxi's have priority and there is a 10 week waiting list..........
    Nice idea but seems like in Scotland largest city its not on unless you plan well in advance!!!!!!
  • did you know that you can find an mot station and book online a website 3ws mot247 you have 247 access so that if your mot has run out you're booked and can legally drive to the testing station
  • marcellep
    marcellep Posts: 1,695 Forumite
    I have used Nationwide for years always been fine

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1919219&highlight=
    If I have been helpful - Hit the Thanks button
  • GPR
    GPR Posts: 20 Forumite
    Always found them (10+ years) to be very good (Barnet) and they are open for tests from 7.30 am i think. They have been busier the last couple of years.:j
  • Nationwide Auto Centres are coming up repeatedly which doesn't suprise me.
    I went to them for a service, after an MOT (bad way round I know!) and they 1-tried to rip me off 2-used scare tactics to leave me terrified of what could have happened to me and what might if i didnt fix it asap 3-tried to charge me way over the odds for work 4-were telling me the right break pipe needed replacing when actually it was the left!
    They hold me it needed 700 work and that the break pipe was terrible and could burst at any moment and i quote "imagine if that had happened at 70miles an hour love!" and told me that a load of other stuff needed doing. I went back to MOT place and shouted at them, the guy realised i was upset and scared and put car up on ramps and actually showed me the pipes-he said they were not that bad and usual state and if anything it was left one that needed replacing rather than the right one-which even i could see with my inexperience. The exhaust was fine it turned out (despite them saying it needed replacing!).
    I complained to foxyladies driving club who recommend Nationwide Auto Centres and they arranged a check at another centre in Cambridge which was pointless as they jsut stuck up for there mates. At this point i should have gone to trading standards.
    I found an independant guy, who is awesome-he checked it, shows it to me, and shows me any parts afterwards too-he relys on word of mouth recommendations and even came out once when i had a problem and refused to let me pay him anything as he didn't do much to fix problem (lose wire).
    Don't trust Nationwide Auto Centres esp in cambridge !!!
  • I've taken my 2 cars to the same place for the last 8 years.

    They failed only once each + they'll give you advice on what nearly failed the test with an indication of rough price to fix if you ask them.

    I'll never to anywhere else, neither should you !:cool:
  • Hi, I am sick and tired of everybody thinking that all MOT test centres are the same that offer servicing at the same time. I know there are a few rogue ones out there but the majority of us hard working garages are here for the personal safety of our customers on the road, I run a test station which offers servicing and MOT's, which includes a free mot if you have a full service, but it doesnt mean we will fail a vehicle just to get the work as you seem to think we all do, we are very strict on our MOT's merely because we dont want anything to happen to our customers, Vosa have specific rules and regulations as to what to fail and what not to fail and if you think your car has failed when it shouldnt have then you have the ability to report it.
    Instead of whining about it and associating every MOT centre with the rogue ones, complain and Vosa will investigate and if you are correct then that MOT station can be shut down
  • I work for an honest independant mechanic. We do a pre-MOT (approx £15-£25 depending on what needs doing) when we sort out the bulbs, check all the obvious things then take the car to another garage for an MOT. If it fails we then do the repairs and take it for a free re-test. We charge full rate of £54 and have plenty of customers who come back each year. Since we are in a holiday area we also have customers from the caravan sites nearby. Honesty and fair prices are what matters, if you've been ripped off find a new mechanic
  • darich wrote: »
    Always beware of reduced rates or even free MOTs. The garage will invariably find a "fault" and claim something requires to be replced.

    I found out recently that many local council depots can carry out MOTs. They're more likely to give you an impartial test because they don't sell parts and can't make any money by saying your car fails on any given item.

    You'll pay the full price for the test but it's worth remembering and avoid the garage trying to sell you brakes, shockers etc and many other components that are difficult to check.

    These are not difficult items to check, by merely looking through your wheels you are able to check your brake pad thickness quite easily, and just bouncing the suspension will tell you if your shockers are not working correctly, you will also find that cut price MOT's are there simply because there are other MOT garages offering cheaper MOT's which then becomes a price war. if you want to avoid an MOT failure it is fairly simple to check over the majority of Vosa's failure items before you take it, which many people do not do.
  • whilst i agree with the majority of the info in the cheap mot tests, I feel I ought to point out that reputable garages do not look for repairs which cause a car to fail an mot. My husband has been in the trade over 50 years and has tested for over 40 years, he built up a very reputable business and he has customers come to here from miles away because he is good at what he does.
    Don't assume all garages are the same, yes there are some disreputable garages out there you have to find someone you can trust!


    Again I cannot stress enough that if you think your car should have passed and it has failed then REPORT it to Vosa
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