M.O.T. testing

letsbehonest

I have just gone through the annual blood letting ritual of taking the car for it's MOT, I knew that a new system had come into force this year were all tests are now recorded on computer.
Why the vent, well maybe just a little bit peeved. £40.15 for a test :mad: It did fail on a minor point, a rear whell bearing showing slight amount of play and I mean a slight amount. Did the job well within the 14 days aloud for re-test. went back and they did the complete test again I mean they tested everything, this means I could be charged with another £40.15 total £80.30p for an MOT, I was not charged again. because the garage I use is pretty decent. We have to do a full re-test this is the new government directive I was told and I have to allocate a man at least 30 mins for this work and everything cost's.
MOT...... money on tap

hjb123

Oh dear,

I wouldnt be impressed if my garage charged me twice for the MOTs but I guess that the government is trying to make money to send abroad rather than letting the people in their own country keep it!

H

PS. Luckily my 10year old car passed its MOT with flying colours just before Christmas not needing any work - they said it wouldnt be the same next year!

Moneyfornothing_2

Unless the item is fixed 'there & then' at the garage (a bulb replaced etc...) then by rights they have t do a full re-test and charge.
Many garages do not charge but it is worth finding out when you book if the re-test is free.
The government want older cars off the road, making it harder (and more expensive) to get an MOT is their way of trying to do this.
One of the first things Blair & co did when they came to power was to put an end to the 'free road tax' for cars 25 years and older. :mad:

1jacks64

Take a look at the thread I started on the motoring board. It makes quite interesting reading on this MOT hassle:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=128780

Stonk

There are still plenty of places charging less than the statutory maximum fee, although I have noticed more places now do charge the full £40, saying "it's all done by computer now, a lot more work", etc.

Likewise, many places are quoting the new rules to justify charging a retest fee where they previously did not. Nothing has actually changed, really. They are using the excuse of the new rules to squeeze a bit of extra money from us.

Shop around.

Wig

letsbehonest wrote:

We have to do a full re-test this is the new government directive I was told and I have to allocate a man at least 30 mins for this work and everything cost's.

It's not a new rule, if he was doing partial tests before after 24 hours he was breaking the law/rules it's because of people like him that they have the new computer link up.

There is only a couple of ways to get a partial re test, if the car is fixed there and then on a qualifying parts, or if you get it back within 24hrs assuming it failed on qualifying parts. Wheels are qualifying parts but not sure if wheels include wheel bearings (I doubt it).

tomos42

My local garage will do a mock MOT for you (i.e. test everything but not issue the certificate) for half the price of a normal MOT. If it passes then the'll give you a certificate for the full £40. If not then you've only lost £20.
I think they'll even honour the re-test rules.

I'm sure if you shop around the local garages you'll find one offering something similar.

Tom

Swattie

I normally have a full annual service and MOT on the same day each year.

My garage first takes my car to the MOT testing station for an MOT check - then whilst doing the service they rectify anything that the car may fail on and then pop it back for the full MOT test.

If I do the service at the same time as the MOT I get the MOT for half price.

There are probably cheaper ways of doing it, but the garage, though not cheap, is reasonable and is also part of a national chain, so there is some element of guarantee given on certain parts. And I have peace of mind.

aeuerby

Our car needed it's mot last week. Hubby took it to where he'd had his bike done last year. They wanted £40.00. As it happened their "just turn up and we'll do it" policy didn't quite work as there were 4 or 5 cars ahead of him in the queue and they reckoned it takes 45 minutes each now.

So he came home and booked in at the local council testing place. They charge £35.00 plus a £10 retest fee if necessary. At least going there they didn't fail the car in the hope of getting more money out of him as some garages have been known to do...Unfortunately for the garages he does any work necessary himself!:D

Still alot of money for 30 - 45 minutes work. As for the comment "it's all done by computer now, a lot more work", I thought computers were supposed to make things easier

Angela.

blossom30

Swattie wrote:

I normally have a full annual service and MOT on the same day each year.

My garage first takes my car to the MOT testing station for an MOT check - then whilst doing the service they rectify anything that the car may fail on and then pop it back for the full MOT test.

If I do the service at the same time as the MOT I get the MOT for half price.

There are probably cheaper ways of doing it, but the garage, though not cheap, is reasonable and is also part of a national chain, so there is some element of guarantee given on certain parts. And I have peace of mind.

Hi Swattie, our car is due it's 1st M.O.T and we are doing the service+M.O.T together @£89. The car was due a service and this made more sense. It is still under a 3 year warranty as it is a fiat ,so any major problems should be covered under this policy.