MOT pickle...

princeofpounds

Friend of mine up north is in a bit of a situation with an MOT.

Took car to a garage (first time). Garage took an initial look pre-MOT and recommended that brake fluid and oil needed changing at some semi-extortionate cost.

He refused. Neither needed changing (he knows enough about cars to know this, but nothing about MOT laws) and he strongly suspects they were trying to earn a fast buck. They didn't take this well.

They then do the MOT. They ring up - it's a failure. Why? Nothing to do with the brakes or oil. It's the numberplate. Apparently it's 'illegal'. It's not a custom numberplate or anything like that - as a layman there is nothing wrong with it, looks standard. Problem is they won't tell him WHY it is illegal, but they say they'll provide new plates for over 100 quid.

He's upset, so wants to take it away to another garage he has used before and who he trusts. But the garage tell him that they won't let him take it from their forecourt now it has failed, and if he does they will call the police.

What should he do?

mcjordi

they cant keep the car.. if they refuse to hand over the keys call the police..

Dippypud

princeofpounds wrote: »

Friend of mine up north is in a bit of a situation with an MOT.

Took car to a garage (first time). Garage took an initial look pre-MOT and recommended that brake fluid and oil needed changing at some semi-extortionate cost.

He refused. Neither needed changing (he knows enough about cars to know this, but nothing about MOT laws) and he strongly suspects they were trying to earn a fast buck. They didn't take this well.

They then do the MOT. They ring up - it's a failure. Why? Nothing to do with the brakes or oil. It's the numberplate. Apparently it's 'illegal'. It's not a custom numberplate or anything like that - as a layman there is nothing wrong with it, looks standard. Problem is they won't tell him WHY it is illegal, but they say they'll provide new plates for over 100 quid.

He's upset, so wants to take it away to another garage he has used before and who he trusts. But the garage tell him that they won't let him take it from their forecourt now it has failed, and if he does they will call the police.

What should he do?

Dob them in to these dudes:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/MotoringContacts/DG_10012449

bigjl

Pay for the MOT, take the car away as they have no right to keep it, and they have no right to start work without permission.

The only way they can keep the car is with a lein, and this is only to allow them to get back the money they are owed for works carried out. And possible reasonable storage.

If they are saying it costs £100 to replace number plates then they are taking the mickey.

Pay the bill, request the failure sheet and tell them you will be back after to fix the faults, obviously your friend won't, but I wouldn't tell them this.

Get car rechecked, then if they have been trying it on report them to VOSA.

After reading the OP's post again, i would also visit the local plod and advise them of the situation and that you are going there to collect it, you are legally entitled to take a car home after failing an MOT.

I think only VOSA and Traffic Plod can stop a vehicle from being used on the orad, and that would be for a serious safety reason, not a slightly dodgy numberplate.

Every time I read these stories I am glad I found a reliable MOT bloke well over 10 years ago, never had any problems with MOT's since, if there is a problem and it is simple thing like a bulb or wiperblade he just sends me down to the local factors to buy the part.

skiddlydiddly

£100 for 2 plates, they are having a laugh.There are laws regarding number plate sizing/spacing but this is the 1st time I've heard of a test station refusing to let a car go for falling foul on them.Sounds more like a way to get some extra cash out of your mate.

Chimpofdoom

princeofpounds wrote: »

Friend of mine up north is in a bit of a situation with an MOT.

Took car to a garage (first time). Garage took an initial look pre-MOT and recommended that brake fluid and oil needed changing at some semi-extortionate cost.

He refused. Neither needed changing (he knows enough about cars to know this, but nothing about MOT laws) and he strongly suspects they were trying to earn a fast buck. They didn't take this well.

They then do the MOT. They ring up - it's a failure. Why? Nothing to do with the brakes or oil. It's the numberplate. Apparently it's 'illegal'. It's not a custom numberplate or anything like that - as a layman there is nothing wrong with it, looks standard. Problem is they won't tell him WHY it is illegal, but they say they'll provide new plates for over 100 quid.

He's upset, so wants to take it away to another garage he has used before and who he trusts. But the garage tell him that they won't let him take it from their forecourt now it has failed, and if he does they will call the police.

What should he do?

If the number plates are illegal the police can confirm this.

Is your number plate illegal info

Also, as far as I'm aware, your mate can drive the car home even if it has failed it's MOT (when does his previous MOT expire?) and he can drive it back to another garage as long as the MOT's already booked.

If the plates are illegal and the police stop him, currently, offenders face fines of up to £1,000, withdrawal of the registration mark and MOT failure.

mikey72

MOT stations can't keep a car, even if it is unsafe. All they can do is advise it shouldn't be driven away. Collect the car, and ask for the forms from the garage to contest the fail. See if they are so keen then.

Good link from molerat previously here

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MoT%20-%20Issue%2032%20-%20July%202006.pdf

Incyder

I had a new standard legal rear numberplate made recently, £9.50 (nine quid and fifty pence)

princeofpounds

Thanks everyone, this has give me useful leads to pass on.

Sounds more like a way to get some extra cash out of your mate.

Well that's exactly it. They tried to do it first with the oil and brake fluid and I think the failure is a direct result of him standing up to them on that. His numberplate probably is technically a failure, but he thinks it'll be something like a millimetre or two problem somewhere and they have taken the opportunity to be as 'particular' as possible for revenge.

Then the problem is that they are probably also feeding him BS on the law and keeping it hostage unnecessarily.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

name and shame this garage so we can all avoid it, as many have said they cannot keep the car they can only ADVISE of its state and roadworthiness due to it fail.

as advised really. but do call VOSA (MOT side of the story)and do call trading standards also (they can investigate them more thoroughly as to their work ethics)

Happytohelp

Ridiculous behaviour by the garage. Definitely report them to VOSA.

A couple of useful links for checking the MOT status of a vehicle:

http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECSID-Internet-Status-Request.jsp

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_10020539

By law the garage has to issue a failure sheet which gives a brief explanation of why the car has failed its MOT. If the police pull your mate over and he has never been stopped for the number plate issue before, the worst case scenario is a £60 fine.