Crazy New MOT system

1jacks64

I spoke to an mot tester at a garage yesterday and he said that most garages are now computerised so that all the results for mot tests go directly to the Dept. Of Transport. He also said that no garages are doing free retests anymore.

As the tester was talking to me he was just sticking his rod up the exhaust of a people carrier to measure the emissions. I tell ya what, if I had one of those emissions rods I'd stick it up the stupid civil servant who thought up these stupid rules regarding mot's, sorn and the general hassle inflicticed on the beleagured motorist.

derrick

From the back of a VT30 (failure sheet)

YOUR VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE TEST

[font=&quot]PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTES[/font]



1.[img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/user/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/img][img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/user/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.gif[/img]Your vehicle does not meet the legal
requirements. If you intend to continue to use
it on the road you should have it repaired
without delay.

2.It is an offence to use on a public road a vehicle
of testable age that does not have a current test
certificate, except when

-taking it to a testing station for test
BOOKED IN ADVANCE

-bringing it away from a testing station after it
has failed the test

-taking it to or bringing it away from a place
where by PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT repairs are to be or have been made to remedy the defects for which the vehicle was failed.

Even in the above circumstances you may still be prosecuted for driving an unroadworthy vehicle if it does not comply with the Regulations affecting its construction and use. Additionally the insurance may not be valid.

3. If you do not agree with the refusal to issue a
test certificate, you may appeal. IF YOU WISH
TO APPEAL against all or any of the grounds
for refusal, you must use a special form (VT17)
which you can get from any testing station or
from a Vehicle & Operator Services Agency
local office. The completed form with the current
appeal fee must be received at the Vehicle &
Operator Services Agency local office within 14 working days pf the date of the refusal notice. If your appeal is successful the fee, or if appropriate part of it, may be returned to you. DO NOT HAVE YOUR VEHICLE REPAIRED before any appeal test is carried out. Any change in the condition of the vehicle may affect the outcome.

4. The fees charged for the re-examination vary
according to the following circumstances:-


a. If the vehicle is left at a station that undertakes repairs for repair and re-examination NO FEE*



b. If the vehicle is brought back to the station and re-examined before the end of the next working day on one or more of the following items: ABS WARNING, BOOTLID, BRAKE PEDAL ANTISLIP, DIRECTION INDICATORS/HAZARD WARNING, DOORS, DROPSIDES, LOADING DOOR, MIRRORS, REAR REFLECTORS, REGISTRATION PLATES, SEAT BELTS (but not anchorages), SEATS, SHARP EDGES OR PROJECTIONS, STEERING WHEEL, TAILBOARD, TAILGATE, VIN No, HORN, HEADLAMP AIM, LAMPS, EMISSIONS, FUEL FILLER CAP, WINDSCREEN and WINDSCREEN WIPERS AND WASHER. WHEELS AND TYRES* (Partial Re-examination)
*Not applicable to Motor Bicycles
**Only one free re-examination is permissible per MOT NO FEE**


c. If the vehicle leaves the testing premises and returns for a re-examination on an item or items other than those listed at 4b above, the vehicle must be fully inspected on all testable items before a test certificate can be issued. This applies even if a "free retest" is offered for marketing reasons.

(Full Examination) FULL FEE

5. Details of the current fees are available from any testing station, where a poster is required to be displayed, or from any Vehicle & Operator Services Agency local office.

[img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/user/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image003.gif[/img]The INSPECTION MANUALS are

comprehensive instruction to the inspection procedures applied during the MOT test and set out in detail the statutory requirements that vehicles have to meet, the methods of inspection and the reasons for failure.

The above Manuals and Test Guide may be purchased by post from the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency P.O. Box 12, Swansea, SA1 1BP

Wig

1jacks64 wrote:

I spoke to an mot tester at a garage yesterday and he said that most garages are now computerised so that all the results for mot tests go directly to the Dept. Of Transport.

Yeah so?

He also said that no garages are doing free retests anymore.

How does he know? It is still at the discretion of the garage to charge whatever they want for an MOT test.

stupid rules regarding mot's

The rules on mot's HAVE NOT CHANGED except they now require computer link.

I was always amazed anyway that garages offered free re-tests in the first place.

misterthrifty

After all of the complaints on here I was nervous about taking my car for it's MOT, particularly as I had...ahem....misplaced my previos certificate and wasn't sure what day it ran out. As it happens, the garage were great, they failed it, gave me a free retest within 14 days, so I had time to do the work and it got passed with no extra charge. I was well pleased!

I presume that now I'm on the new electronic system it's not so easy to have a gap in the MOT?

Mr T

pandapone

I got fed up of all the stress of timing the MOT and new tax disk together on our two cars - so in both cases I bought a six month tax disk with the last new MOT - when that comes for renewal I will get a 12 month tax disk so that the need for a new tax disk and the renewal of MOT will never coincide again in the future.

1jacks64

misterthrifty wrote:

After all of the complaints on here I was nervous about taking my car for it's MOT, particularly as I had...ahem....misplaced my previos certificate and wasn't sure what day it ran out. As it happens, the garage were great, they failed it, gave me a free retest within 14 days, so I had time to do the work and it got passed with no extra charge. I was well pleased!

I presume that now I'm on the new electronic system it's not so easy to have a gap in the MOT?

Mr T

Maybe you were just lucky with the particular garage you went to. Where I live the garages don't seem to be as lenient as that.

1jacks64

pandapone wrote:

I got fed up of all the stress of timing the MOT and new tax disk together on our two cars - so in both cases I bought a six month tax disk with the last new MOT - when that comes for renewal I will get a 12 month tax disk so that the need for a new tax disk and the renewal of MOT will never coincide again in the future.

That is a good little trick. But does that make it harder to get away with now that mot's are computerised.

danny_kie

Hi All,

This is my first post on this forum.

On 28/02/06 I was in a car accident which wrote off my car, I sent the salvage details and new owner details to the DVLA a week later as required.

2 weeks ago, I received a court summons for the £80 that the DVLA is fining me for not declaring SORN for the car, that was written off and sold and all details sent to the DVLA. If it goes to court, £20.00 court charges will be added.

I have been given the opportunity to defend this claim, which I have done and also enclosed a copy of my charges, which I have set at £45.00 p.h. (I do get this rate normally as I am a self employed programmer). I have also advised the court that I will be charging the DVLA £22.50 for filling in the defense forms as they took me 1/2 an hour of working time.

I sent an invoice to the DVLA for the amount and my business charges documentation, as well as a quote for attending court - including hourly charge, not to forget travel expenses too

I received an email from the DVLA requesting what my licence plate was, even though it is clearly stated in all correspondance, of which I have invoiced them again for providing, as well as providing the information - how silly is that btw.

I have photocopies of all the docs I sent to the DVLA originally, including new owners registration,accident report etc. So am quite happy to go to court against the DVLA and will win. I will also quite happily take the DVLA to court if they refuse payment of my invoices.

I for one do not believe in the SORN law as it is ludicrous, by asking law-abiding citizens to declare vehicles off-road, even though they are clearly off the road is tantamount to asking a person to go to a police station and state that they have commited no crimes today. Whatever happened to innocent till proven guilty?

An SORN application may be free, but think of the time it takes to complete, buy a stamp and pop it in the postbox. In my opinion anyone declaring SORN should bill the DVLA for the postage and time taken out to fill in the form and post, or give to a post office clerk.

I hope this has not appeared like a rant, as I do not intend it to be one.

I will update this post as my fun with the DVLA ensues.

Danny

Bossyboots

1jacks64 wrote:

That is a good little trick. But does that make it harder to get away with now that mot's are computerised.

I know this reply was posted ages ago but it is not something they are "getting away with". All they have done is pay for the six month tax disc instead of the twelve and by doing so ensured a large gap between MOT and tax time in the future.

poorbutgettingricher

albertross wrote:

Redux,

I apologise for the rant (which I've removed..), just hate bureacracy, and ill-conceived rules, that tend to produce annoying workarounds by the front-line staff.

Have already accepted your last paragraph, in my original post.

My main complaint about the new system is the timing aspect. You have to apply on-line for a new tax disc 5 days before it expires, you have to have an MOT cert and insurance to do it, you can only apply for a MOT, x days before it expires, if it doesn't arrive in the post in time (or you fail the MOT too close to the deadline), you have to do SORN, and take the car off the road.. etc..

I used to leave it all until the end of the month, this is no longer an option, it has to be planned, or you get fined..

my oh used the online tax and all we needed was the number from the mot and v5, and their insurance checking system made sure it was covered. if your car is on the road it should be insured anyway???