Taking MOT Early Question...?

marbar2k

Ive been searching the net for the answer to this question and there is a lot of mixed views on the matter...

Basically our MOT runs out on the 26/03/12 but the earliest we can have it done is the 28/02/12 to preserve the date and so you dont loose any time.

My question is if I have it done on 28/02/12 and it fails, is it still legal for me to drive up until my MOT expiry date of 26/03/12?? This would give me time to get repairs done conveniently.

Obviously if it was a dangerous fault I wouldn't continue to drive.

Rover_Driver

The requirement is for the test to be carried out every 12 months, so if it expires on 26/03/12, that is when it expires, the fact that it may fail a later test does not change that.

However, if the vehicle became unroadworthy before that date, that is a different matter.

marbar2k

Thanks mate...that was my thought but I just couldn't find an official answer.

Lum

As Rover Driver alludes to, there are two separate offences to be concerned with here.

1) Driving without a valid MOT
2) Driving an unroadworthy car

You can be done for the former even if your is in absolutely perfect brand new condition and you've just left the tyre shop with 4 brand new Goodyears fitted.

You can be done for the latter even if you've just left the MOT place with a pass and no advisories, should something happen to your car to make it unroadworthy.


So should your car fail it's MOT will you be driving without a valid MOT? - no. Will you be driving an unroadworthy car? - depends what it failed on, if it failed on emissions for example, you're fine.

marbar2k

my worry is a split CV boot, that is questionable. Should it be picked up its a fail, but by no means does it make the car a danger or unroadworthy.

s_b

marbar2k wrote: »

my worry is a split CV boot, that is questionable. Should it be picked up its a fail, but by no means does it make the car a danger or unroadworthy.

yes it does because between the last time you looked and it had a split and now, its quite possible all the grease has come out and covered the brake disc and also the joint will run dry causing a horrible motorway crash killing 42 and a half people because your wheel locked or you skidded when you braked
think of the children and get it repaired before you need a joint

marbar2k

I'm quite competent at repairing cars, when I say split its tiny and not spewing grease.

But ultimately the decision is with the tester who may fail it, then I would have to replace it.

That is why I asked my original question...

Joe_Horner

If it's small and a "clean" split with no bits missing then superglue it. Rubber superglues very well and, even if they see the glue line, it's not a fail as long as it's intact. Make sure there's still grease in there before sealing it up though!

the RfR for driveshaft gaiters is:

A constant velocity joint gaiter missing or excessively damaged, deteriorated or insecure to the extent that it would no longer prevent the ingress of dirt etc

If you've sealed it up then it'll prevent the ingress etc, so no problemo

Notmyrealname

marbar2k wrote: »

I'm quite competent at repairing cars, when I say split its tiny and not spewing grease.

But ultimately the decision is with the tester who may fail it, then I would have to replace it.

That is why I asked my original question...

Obviously you're not competent at repairing cars otherwise you'd be replacing it regardless of whether it would pass a MOT or not purely for the reasons Joe Horner stated.

I don't wait until MOT time to fix problems on my car. I fix them when they arise.

mikey72

marbar2k wrote: »

I'm quite competent at repairing cars, when I say split its tiny and not spewing grease.

But ultimately the decision is with the tester who may fail it, then I would have to replace it.

That is why I asked my original question...

That's always a giveaway. You could just wipe it all off just round the corner if it was though.

The last few I changed I used a cone and a stretchy boot, it made life a lot easier.

These have works for me, it's a one size fits all.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-ROVER-BOOTKIT-BOOT-KIT-GAITER-STRETCH-1X-CONE-/130463416654?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e6039c14e