MOT Question

MrBen_4

My MOT expires on the 5th March. The soonest I can get it done (with relative convenience) is the 7th. Is this going to be a big issue? Am I going to get arrested!? The place I've booked into for service and MOT have recommended it's done before the expiration, as it's the law - however, are happy to carry out the work as planned as it's my decision. It would cause significant logistical problems if I booked my car in for a solo MOT at an earlier date.

nic_santorini

The law states that you can drive an un'mot'd car to a 'pre-booked MOT test at a designated MOT testing station. If you got stopped by the police and asked to produce - you would have to get the garage to state that you had a pre-booked appointment and you will be ok. If you stop off at the sweet shop or curry house along the way - your defence disappears - it has to be the shortest route to the MOT testing station without stopping off anywhere.
Hope that helps.

Rikki

You can have the car tested before the MOT expires.
Take your old certificate with you and its 12 months from the date of your certificate.

edit: I believe its up to 1 month before.

pinkfluffybabe

You should have it done before it expires. It's not about relative convenience, its about making sure the car you are driving is safe so that you are not a danger to the lives of other road users.

emeraldbugle

People like you should not be allowed on the road, of course it needs to past its MOT before the expiration date.

reheat

MrBen wrote:

My MOT expires on the 5th March. The soonest I can get it done (with relative convenience) is the 7th.

Sorry Mr Ben but you've landed yourself in a situation where your "relative convenience" doesn't really count. If you drive a car with no MOT then you are automatically uninsured as well - no insurance covers you in an un-MOT'd car. Given the grief/harm that uninsured drivers inflict on innocent people, I can't find much sympathy for your situation. If you must overrun your MOT then whatever you do don't use your car in between time.

Another problem you may now run into is the new electronic tracking the DVLA do on MOT stations etc. Their computers will know you've been a few days without an MOT - not sure what paperwork you may have to fill in assuring them it's been off the road whilst without an MOT.

Bossyboots

The DVLA have nothing to do with MOTs do they? Apart from being able to issue tax online if you have an electronic one, there is no reason at all for the DVLA to query a gap in MOT. It is not for them to take issue with where an un-MOT'd car is parked, that is a job for the police and/or local council.

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

reheat wrote:

Sorry Mr Ben but you've landed yourself in a situation where your "relative convenience" doesn't really count. If you drive a car with no MOT then you are automatically uninsured as well - no insurance covers you in an un-MOT'd car. Given the grief/harm that uninsured drivers inflict on innocent people, I can't find much sympathy for your situation. If you must overrun your MOT then whatever you do don't use your car in between time.

Another problem you may now run into is the new electronic tracking the DVLA do on MOT stations etc. Their computers will know you've been a few days without an MOT - not sure what paperwork you may have to fill in assuring them it's been off the road whilst without an MOT.

Wouldn't make any difference. What if your car is off the road having repairs done? It makes no difference whether you have it MOT'd in time or not. What does make a difference is people knowingly using a car without a valid MOT certificate.
As Bossyboots said, its nothing to do with the DVLA. It's VOSA that deal with MOTs

reheat

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle wrote:

Wouldn't make any difference. What if your car is off the road having repairs done? It makes no difference whether you have it MOT'd in time or not. What does make a difference is people knowingly using a car without a valid MOT certificate.
As Bossyboots said, its nothing to do with the DVLA. It's VOSA that deal with MOTs

Yes you're right I got it wrong, VOSA not DVLA ... but whoever it is they can know someone's been MOT'less. If a person doesn't have the integrity to ensure their car is MOT'd then maybe the possibility of legal aggro might encourage them.

MrBen_4

Wow. British bureaucracy at its finest!

reheat

MrBen wrote:

Wow. British bureaucracy at its finest!

It's not bureaucracy Mr Ben, it's humanity. If you or someone you love are unlucky enough one day to be the victim of someone driving without insurance you may understand.