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MOT Cost Cutting discussion
Comments
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Hi,
I absolutely dread the month of Aug as both my cars are due for their MOTs.
I genuinely find this sector untrustworthy and always find I have been done in by jargon that gets thrown at you. I am quite competent in doing car maintenance myself, but not having the correct tools is a big hindrance.
I've been using a garage since 2001 for MOTs for both my cars...
E.g. In 2010 I had an advisory put on to say drivers side REAR wheel needing replacing in about 1-month. To be honest, there was plenty of tread left on it according to me. I kept meaning to do it but never did, and in Aug 2011, I took it back to the *same* garage for its MOT.
It failed on TWO things:-
1. Lamba Sensor (sitting on the exhaust manifold)
2. Drivers side FRONT wheel
The fact that the same garage put on an advisory to make sure I replace the REAR wheel in 2010 passed it a year later! Furthermore, when the lamba sensor was replaced, they did NOT re-test the car for its emissions after installing the new one - so how could they have verified the new lamba sensor was now working to the guidelines - unless it is assumed it will be fine?
Given the fact they have 10-years' of my business, I am still reluctant to take it elsewhere, as much as I would like to do, only to be told many other points on the car need attention.
Red.0 -
i am a bit puzzled though why would you still go back there?What goes around-comes around0
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Whenever MSE talks about council-run MOT centres and It's not just council-run MOT centres, remember that some technical colleges run Auto Engineering apprenticeship courses, and have to have an MOT centre, open to the public, for certain kinds of course. Eastleigh College in Hampshire is one such, and surely cannot be the only one.
These places have all the benefits of council run MOT centres but perhaps the drawback of taking very few bookings (maybe just 2 MOTs per day) and often less out of term time!0 -
Just got my car back from its MOT today. After reading the advice on this thread I booked it into Wandsworth Council's depot.
What fantastic service! The lady receptionist was friendly and efficient, and the car passed without any warning notices. I was a little worried as we'd received a couple of warnings from Kwik Fit last year.
Dropped it off at 10am and it was ready by 2pm. (Would have been earlier but they close for lunch 1-2pm). £50.
I'll definitely be going back here next year.0 -
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Council MOT Test Centres [/FONT]
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
Tel: 01467 627538
Mintlaw
Aberdeenshire
Tel: 01771 623197
Stonehaven
Aberdeenshire
Tel: 01569 763274
Powis Terrace, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Tel: 01224 489324 / 01224 489413
Dundee Contract Services, 353 Clepington Road, Dundee
Angus
Tel: 01382 434773
County Council Vehicle Depot, London Rd Bedford
Bedfordshire
Tel: 08453 656150
Fleet Transport, Central Depot, Kingsway, Luton, Beds, LU4 8AU
Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 546839
Sandy Park Rd , Brislington, Bristol
Bristol
Tel: 01179 036319
Broad Lane, Engine Common, Yate, Bristol BS37 7PN
Bristol
Tel: 01454 863920
Synergy Park, Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes, MK6 1LY
Buckinghamshire
Tel: 01908 252845
Peterborough City Council Depot, Nursery Lane, Fengate, Peterborough, PE1 5BG
Cambridgeshire
Tel: 01733 425466
City Services Transport Depot, Mill Rd, Cambridge, CB1 2AZ
Cambridgeshire
Tel: 01223 458265
Clair Road, Cardiff
Cardiff
Tel: 02920 343581
Trostre Depot, Trostre Road, LLanelli, SA14 9RA
Carmarthenshire
Tel: 01554 784 138
Glanyrafon Ind Est, Llanbadam Aberysthwyth, Cerdigion
Ceredigion
Tel: 01970 636713
Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington WA4 6PT
Cheshire
Tel: 01925 634296
Direct Services, Pyms Lane, Crewe & Nantwich
Cheshire
Tel: 01270 537777
Newby Road Industrial Estate, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 5DA
Cheshire
Tel: 0161 482 7235
Cornwall Transport Organisation Engineering, Cornwall County Council Workshops, Bodmin
Cornwall
Tel: 01872 327827
Cornwall Transport Organisation Engineering, Cornwall County Council Workshops, Scorrier
Cornwall
Tel: 01872 327335
Newington Road, Shieldfield, Newcastle
County Down
Tel: 01912 783867
Service Direct depot, St Johns Road, Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Durham, DH7 8YQ
County Durham
Tel: 01913 862714
Local Environmental Services Central Depot, Park Road, Gateshead, NE8 3HN
County Durham
Tel: 01914 337433
County Transport, Ripley Rd, Ambergate
Derbyshire
Tel: 01773 856667
County Transport, Halstead Garage, Buxton
Derbyshire
Tel: 01298 813141
County Transport, Brimington Rd North, Chesterfield
Derbyshire
Tel: 01246 450705
Ivybridge MOT Centre, Blachford Road, Ivybridge PL21 0AE
Devon
Tel: 01752 698835
Aspen Way, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7QR
Devon
Tel: 01803 402 966
Wanchard Lane, DT2 9RP
Dorset
Tel: 01305 228132
CEC Fleet Services, Gorgie, Russel Rd
Edinburgh
Tel: 01313 372307
Langston Road, Epping Forest, IG10 3UE
Essex
Tel: 0208 532 0357
Coval Lane, Chelmsford
Essex
Tel: 01245 435108
Rainham Road North, Barking & Dagenham, RM10
Essex
Tel: 02082 272614
Vehicle Servicing, Westside Centre, London Rd , Stanway, Colchester
Essex
Tel: 01206 282624
Fleet Services, Denburn Yrd, KY1 2HD
Fife
Tel: 01592 551199 (switchboard)
MOT Inspection Centre, 73 Hawthorn Street
Glasgow
Tel: 01412 87 3326/3328
Swindon Rd Depot, Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Tel: 01242 264184
LeyDat Services, Unit G5 Innsworth Technology Park, Innsworth
Gloucestershire
Tel: 01452 731263
Albert Rd North (City Council), Southampton
Hampshire
Tel: 02380 834362
Eastleigh Borough Council,Hedge End Depot, Botley Road, Hedge End, SO30 2RA
Hampshire
Tel: 02380 688389
The Forstal, Beddow Way, Kent, ME20 7BT
Kent
Tel: 01622 605 800
County Workshops, The Forstal, Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7HB
Kent
Tel: 01622 605800
Old Edinburgh Rd, Bellshill, ML4 3JF
Lanarkshire
Tel: 01698 506284
Layton Depot, Plymouth Road, Blackpool, FY3 7HW
Lancashire
Tel: 01253 476291
Cowpen Lane Depot, Cowpen Lane, Billingham, Stockton-on-tees, TS23 4DD
Lancashire
Tel: 01642 527167
Operational Services Depot, Moorhey Street, Oldham
Lancashire
Tel: 0161 770 4446
Hindley Depot, Wigan
Lancashire
Tel: 01942 705122
Hardshaw Brook Depot, Parr Street, St Helens, Merseyside
Lancashire
Tel: 01744 456757
Stretton Way Depot, Huyton Industrial Estate, Knowsley, L36 6JF
Lancashire
Tel: 0151 443 2816
Transport Services & Vehicle Workshop, Bradley Fold Depot, Bradley Fold Trading Estate, Bradley Fold Road, Bolton, BL2 6RS
Lancashire
Tel: 01612 536699 / 0161 253 6662
Dewhurst Row, Holme Road, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6BB
Lancashire
Tel: 01772 620 933
84 Syston Street East, Cobden Industrial Estate, Leicester, LE1 2JW
Leicestershire
Tel: 01162 519185
Mill Hill Depot, Barnet, London
London
Tel: 0208 3595103
Tower Hamlets Vehicle Workshop, Silvocea Way, Blackwall, London, UK, E14 0JJ
London
Tel: 02073 641069
Waltham Forest Transport Services, Low Hall Depot, Argall Avenue, London, E10 7AS
London
Tel: 02084 962555
Rutlish Auto Care Centre, 144 Kingston Road, Merton, London, SW19 1LY
London
Tel: 02085 423269
1 Dormay Street, Frogmore Complex, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1EY
London
Tel: 0208 8716761
Fleet Management, Birchmere Depot, Birchmere Business Site, Eastern Way, Thamesmead, Greenwich, London, SE28 8BF
London
Tel: 02089 214561
Bridge Rd Depot, Pears Rd, Hounslow, TW3 1SQ
London
Tel: 02085 835430
80b High Street, Bonnyrigg
Midlothian
Tel: 01316 603486
Northumberland County Council, Morpeth
Northumberland
Tel: 01670 510153
Rolleston Drive Workshops, Arnold, Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Tel: 01159 567420
Transport Services Division, Cowley Marsh Depot, Marsh Road, Oxford, OX4 2HH
Oxfordshire
Tel: 01865 252900
Thorpe Lane Depot, Cherwell
Oxfordshire
Tel: 01295 221940
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73 2RR
Pembrokeshire
Tel: 01437 764 551 ext 5938
Unit 28, Thornton, Industrial Estate, Pembrokshire, SA73 2RR
Pembrokshire
Tel: 01437 775 440
Ffrwdgrech DSO Depot, Ffrwdgrech Industrial Estate, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8DR
Powys
Tel: 01597 826000
Limerick Rd, Dormanstown
Redcar & Cleveland
Tel: 01642 444979
McCalls Avenure, AYR
South Ayshire
Tel: 01292 267802
Beacon Business Park, Weston Road, Stafford
Staffordshire
Tel: 01785 854832 / 01785 854833
Northwood, Stoke On Trent
Staffordshire
Tel: 01782 232297
Lodge Lane, Great Blackenham, Nr Ipswich
Suffolk
Tel: 01473 588600
Blythe Rd Industrial Estate, Halesworth
Suffolk
Tel: 01984 874427
Rougham, Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
Tel: 01359 270777
Factory Lane, Croydon
Surrey
Tel: 02082 552758
Woking Road, Guildford
Surrey
Tel: 01483 445091
Colas
Sussex
Tel: 01273 815850
Accord, Broadbridge Heath Depot, Worthing Rd, Horsham
Sussex
Tel: 01403 211246
Eastbourne Buses, Birch Road, Eastbourne
Sussex
Tel: 01323 418077
S. Tyneside Council, Middlefields, Heddon Way, Tyne Dock, South Shields, NE34 0NT
Tyneside
Tel: 0191 427 2024
County Fleet Maintenance, Unit 6, Coleshill Depot, Coleshill Hth Road, Coleshill, B46 3HL
Warwickshire
Tel: 01675 464888
St. Marys Road Depot, St. Marys Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 5AR
Warwickshire
Tel: 024 7637 6031 ext. 6031
Richmond Street, Clydebank
West Dunbartonshire
Tel: 01389 738741
Montague Street, Bordesley, Birmingham, B9 4BA
West Midlands
Tel: 0121 303 3311
259 London Rd, Coventry, CV3 4AR
West Midlands
Tel: 02476 832147
Fleet Services Public Works Depot, Norfolk Place, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, WS2 7BA
West Midlands
Tel: 01922 653716
Calne Test Station
Wiltshire
Tel: 01249 812351
VOSA Test Station, Wiltshire County Council, Devizes
Wiltshire
Tel: 01380 725854
Six Ways Depot, Worcester
Worcestershire
Tel: 01905 753000
Vehicle & Plant, North Bridge Doncaster, DN5 9AN
Yorkshire
Tel: 01302 736851
Shearbridge Depot, Shearbridge Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1PU
Yorkshire
Tel: 01274 431000
Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesborough
Yorkshire
Tel: 01642 264586
Amos Fleet, Battinson Rd, Halifax
Yorkshire
Tel: 01422 355419
Vine Street, Huddersfield, Kirklees, West Yorkshire HD1 6NT
Yorkshire
Tel: 01484 223 127
225a York Road, Leeds, LS9 7QQ
Yorkshire
Tel: 01132 143161
Claro Rd, Harrogate
Yorkshire
Tel: 01423 556877
Newton Bar Depot, Wakefield
Yorkshire
Tel: 01924 3064310 -
I need some help with my MOT dilemma.
Halfords Autocentre have failed my vehicle today, all genuine reasons for failure as far as I can tell, but have quoted an astonishing £400 for repairs! I subsequently took the car away and enquired at a small independent garage who are fixing it all for £80. The small garage do not carry out MOTs.
Should I take my vehicle back to the original Halfords for a retest (which I can do within 10 days but will cost £27)? My worry is they will be a bit cheesed off with the fact I chose not to use them for repairs therefore might find more faults/make out repairs were not good enough. OR Do I pay for a brand new test at another garage, show them the refusal certificate so they can see what has been repaired. Another worry is if I take it for a brand new test they will uncover more faults which I know exist but were not picked up today.
Many thanks for your help.0 -
That's a pretty tough call, curryeater, and is one of the "risks" of either using large chains or "shopping around" for the best deal each year rather than finding a local place that you can trust and sticking with them.
Bear in mind that, on a partial retest (which is what you're eligible for at Halfrauds), the tester is perfectly entitled to find new fail items and is certainly expected to fail repairs that have been done to a poor standard.
There are also some new "fail" items coming into force on Monday, which your car will have to pass even if it's a partial retest, although if any of them was likely to be a problem you should have had an advisory note for them on the first test.
Can you give some indication of what the failures were? That might help to give a better idea of how likely they are to be able to fault the repairs (eg: replaced indicator bulb either works or doesn't but a headlamp bulb might affect alignment)
Also, any clues about what the "other issues" are? You may be surprised and find that they weren't picked up because they're not in the test, or aren't "faulty enough" to warrant a fail (although, again, should really have been advised if that was the case).0 -
Useful advice. I used Tower Hamlets council’s testing station yesterday - they were very helpful and fitted me in straight away even though they had reduced staff due to the Easter break. I was also 15 mins late (it's a little tricky to find if you don't know the area) but they still managed to fit me in. Charged £50 - they only take cash or cheque. Very good, friendly service - would happily recommend and use again. Address below:
Blackwall Transport Complex
1 Silvocea Way
London
E14 0JJ
Tel: 020 7364 10690 -
Update from my last post - seems that VOSA are faffing about and haven't activated the new fails yet. Even the testing world is wondering what they're playing at (although not much new there!)0
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Hi All,
My cars MOT is due, and following the advice in the article (and on this thread) I would like to use a council run MOT test centre. I can't, however, find any address online for either of the nearest local councils.
Does anyone know if there is such a test centre in either Stirling or Clackmannanshire council areas?
Any replies gratefully received!0
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