MOT pickle...

Flyboy152

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?

So.....let them call the police, I am sure they will tell them where to go.

Flyboy152

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Good suggestion, as the car hasn't moved off their premises before the retest with the new plates, they cannot magicly find anything else wrong with it and fail it on something else.

Unless they have deliberately damaged the plates themselves.

davemorton

Shameless bump to ask the OP to name and shame.

Strider590

Wow, what a bunch of losers!

I wonder if maybe they caused some damage and now want this £100 to cover the cost......

atrixblue.-MFR-.

wounders if they will now add storage fee's?

davemorton

Yet another thread that doesnt get updated, oh well, guess we will never find out the outcome/name of the garage.

Wig

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Good suggestion, as the car hasn't moved off their premises before the retest with the new plates, they cannot magicly find anything else wrong with it and fail it on something else.

The car can be removed from the garage and returned with new plates before the end of the next working day (a bit late now) for a free partial retest.

But I liked Kilty's idea of just taking the new plates there with you.

Hammyman wrote: »

BTW, depending on the year, a numberplate is illegal if it doesn't have the name of the company that made it and their postcode on at the bottom if its a replacement.

Also the BSAU number needs to be there. However they did stop failing number plates for these reasons about 2 years ago under orders from VOSA, not sure if VOSA has given the go ahead to allow them to fail them again on these minor points???? I'll find out.

What can a numberplate fail on?
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_630.htm

shaun_from_Africa

You could even attach the new plates over the old ones with double sided tape as a (temporary) fix

Probably not a good idea as this might give the garage another reason to fail the car again (and use up the free re-test).
One of the items looked at for the MOT is security of attachment of the number plate, and the assessor has to decide if it is "so insecure that it is likely to fall off"

Wig

Wig wrote: »

Also the BSAU number needs to be there. However they did stop failing number plates for these reasons about 2 years ago under orders from VOSA, not sure if VOSA has given the go ahead to allow them to fail them again on these minor points???? I'll find out.

Ok here's the answer, they can no longer fail on postcodes and BSAU markings

Annex A
The references in the following table list the specific Reasons for Rejection to be re-introduced and which will be available for selection on the VTS Device from 27 April 2009:

Failure Text Class I & II III, IV, V & VII

• A front registration plate does not have black characters on a white background N/A RfR 2.a
• A rear registration plate does not have black characters on a yellow background RfR 2.a RfR 2.b
• The registration plate background overprinted or shadowed with text e.g. vehicle manufacturer name RfR 1.e
• A registration plate obviously displaying a honeycomb or similar effect background RfR 3.c
• A registration plate with a non-reflective border obviously wider than permitted or positioned too close to the characters RfR 4.h

The references in the following table list the specific Reasons for Rejection which are now obsolete and will remain unavailable for selection:
Failure Text All Classes

• A registration plate obviously not displaying the name and postcode of the supplying outlet RfR 3.a
• A registration plate obviously not displaying a BSAU 145d marking RfR 3.b
• A dual purpose registration plate displaying a symbol other than an acceptable international symbol or flag RfR 5

mrbadexample

bigjl wrote: »

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.

VOSA can issue a delayed prohibition notice for an illegal number plate. i.e. 10 days to have it fixed or the car is off the road. New MOT required to have the prohibition removed.

Edit: I should add that although they can, it'd be a pretty rare set of circumstances.