MOT - paying twice!

jet_pack234

I recently took my car for an MOT at a well known National testing station. I booked online and got a discount. Unfortunately for me my car failed but it was nothing serious just a couple of brake hoses which I plan to replace myself. When I enquired about how long I had before the free re-test expired I was annoyed to find that I had to book it in all over again and pay for an entire re-test when it seemed to me that all was required was someone to inspect my work and certify as safe. It was explained to me that this is because my car had never been through the new MOT system and that a full retest was neccessary because they had to book a slot on the computer. I understand that the whole MOT system has gone computerised and I'm all for stopping car related crime but this system effectively doubles the cost of an MOT to any vehicle that fails. It also penalises those of us with older cars. Apparently I wouldn't have to pay for another MOT if I left my car there for repair. Again this is playing into the hands of these people. It also encourages the testing stations to fail a vehicle just so they can charge for another MOT. No wonder they can offer a disscount when MOT failures means twic ethe money for them. This offsets those cars that pass first time.

I'm interested to see what other people think.

Bossyboots

I think you should use a local garage and build up a relationship with them. That way you don't get taken advantage of.

We are always satisfied that when our garage says something needs doing, that it does because we have known them for years now and they go out of their way to help us. My OH's car failed on his tyres (yes he has had a lecture about how he could have checked them himself) so he had to go and get them changed. He had his MOT late in the evening so no chance of getting tyres then. The garage booked him in for the next day for "another" MOT but did not charge him for it. They just checked his tyres again and issued the MOT. Incidentally, this was the first time his car was tested under the new system and he was never told that if he took the car away he would have to pay for the re-test.

barnabee

I agree. Under the new retesting rules though retests are only free (when the vehicle has been removed from the garage and returned by the end of the next working day) if any of the following items fail - List of items here. Building up a relationship with a testing station is good advice - I normally get my tests done for £26 and get free transport during the day my car is booked in.

Astaroth

A few years ago I went to a testing centre that wasnt able to do the necessary repairs and was told that if I took the vehicle off site then I would have to pay for a second test but if it was fixed on site (which they couldnt do) it would be free.

Now just use a local garage and dont have to pay for retests.

mr_accountant

This retest stuff is at the discretion of the testing station. I have just used my local council station and it costs £40 Inc a free full 7-day rest, so i don’t know where all this taking of the premises milarky has come from. I know this council run station is totally independent and specialist, they only do mots, and yes they are fully computerised, infact i took my car for a retest this week (after it failed on one small item [which I knew beforehand]) and it passed.

This system is still open to abuse from rip off garages- the motivation is still there to fail and make profit on the work done- absolutely farcical

velocity_boy

Bossyboots wrote:

I think you should use a local garage and build up a relationship with them. That way you don't get taken advantage of.

We are always satisfied that when our garage says something needs doing, that it does because we have known them for years now and they go out of their way to help us. My OH's car failed on his tyres (yes he has had a lecture about how he could have checked them himself) so he had to go and get them changed. He had his MOT late in the evening so no chance of getting tyres then. The garage booked him in for the next day for "another" MOT but did not charge him for it. They just checked his tyres again and issued the MOT. Incidentally, this was the first time his car was tested under the new system and he was never told that if he took the car away he would have to pay for the re-test.

our family cars have gone to the same garage for as long as i can remember, at one time we had three cars in the family and they have all been there.
for as long as i have had a car they have all been tested by exactly the same guy and when i have needed things from there, they have always been reasonably priced.
my dad takes his works vans there (its not his company, just think they nominate him for the job cos he is trained mechanic) so they all know him.

keep an ear to the ground for a good local tester and you can't lose