MOT Expiry & Booking Question

dean_wales

Hi,

So my MOT has just expired and I hadn't realised it was due. It's a well used but also well maintained 2001 Honda Civic.

I have only just moved to Exeter and there is no council MOT centre here for me to go to. I am nervous about getting ripped off by an unknown garage looking forwork etc.

I do all car maintainence myself and have done the Hayne pre MOT checks.

Question is:

I am going back to Wales next weekend and I could book my old local garage to do it who I know and trust. He would also allow me to drop by and do any repairs needed.

Would I be covered legally next week while I commute the few miles to work?

Thanks,

Dean.

wealdroam

dean_wales wrote: »

Would I be covered legally next week while I commute the few miles to work?

No... your MOT has expired.

housesitter

Lack of MOT may invalidate insurance (check your docs, it varies) but more often than not it's just a case of a devalue if something happens and you need to claim.
If it's a 3rd party at fault incident then AFAIK it doesn't matter (ie: they aint getting out of the claim for damage to your car!).

The fine for lack of MOT if caught is something like 60quid and no points. But they may examine your insurance docs (see above) for extra marks on the truncheon.

If you find a nonchain MOT place, a little back street, stick your head under the car looking to examine it,mention you DIY and have a good banter with the tester, unless you get an (insert expletive), you'll likely get an honest test and maybe even a couple of favourable advisories...

Plus a great way to meet people in your new area

DaveF327

You may only legally drive your car on a road to and from a pre-arranged MOT appointment, or to a pre-arranged appointment for necessary repairs to be carried out.

If the police stop you, they will ask for evidence of your appointment.

Your best bet is to book in for an MOT to take place on Monday close to your place of work, leave your car there and walk to work. Your journey there and back will be completely legal.

forgotmyname

Lack of MOT may sentence you to death etc etc ..

But as mentioned. The MOT has expired unless your going to or from a pre-booked MOT or to a pre-booked garage to have MOT work done.

Cornwall to S.Wales is too far and quite possible to get pulled up on the way as its computerised and will flag up any ANPR camera.

Try getting your car out of the pound when its not got an MOT.
Recovery truck needed.

McKneff

paddedjohn wrote: »

Rubbish Rubbish Rubbish.....why do people always spout this scaremongering Shiite about insurance being invalidated when it is not true.

Calm down PJ, you'll give yourself an ulcer;)

But I agree with you

paddedjohn

I've already got one hahaha

Joe_Horner

forgotmyname wrote: »

Lack of MOT may sentence you to death etc etc ..

But as mentioned. The MOT has expired unless your going to or from a pre-booked MOT or to a pre-booked garage to have MOT work done.

Cornwall to S.Wales is too far and quite possible to get pulled up on the way as its computerised and will flag up any ANPR camera.

Try getting your car out of the pound when its not got an MOT.
Recovery truck needed.

Generally on the nail, but got to take issue with the bolded parts.

The rules don't specify a garage for the repairs, just a "place where repairs are to be done" in relation to the failed items As long as it's pre-arranged you can legitimately drive round your mate's house if he happens to be handy with spanners.

Distance is no object for either the MOT appointment or the place of repair. You're perfectly entitled to live in Penzance and book your MOT (or drive to your mate for repairs) in John O'Groats if you want.

Finally (and the point that really needs correcting): Exeter is in Devon, which is the greatest County on earth, not Cornwall, which is a (very close) second only to Norfolk in reputation

Notmyrealname

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Distance is no object for either the MOT appointment or the place of repair.

Good luck convincing the traffic officer why you can't go to any of the 100+ MOT stations you'll have passed along the way as he's calling out the tow truck to have your car towed away especially with a suitcase in the back.

If you decided to go this route, get stopped and try to play the big man I would damned well make sure that your vehicle is up to MOT pass standards because the traffic officer can just call out VOSA, get them to do an examination of your vehicle and issue a prohibition notice if they find anything. And then they can prosecute you under whatever various C&U and RTA regs you've broken because of the defects.

Joe_Horner

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Good luck convincing the traffic officer why you can't go to any of the 100+ MOT stations you'll have passed along the way

Not his concern

Notmyrealname wrote: »

as he's calling out the tow truck to have your car towed away especially with a suitcase in the back.

That would be an unlawful seizure then.

Notmyrealname wrote: »

If you decided to go this route, get stopped and try to play the big man I would damned well make sure that your vehicle is up to MOT pass standards because the traffic officer can just call out VOSA, get them to do an examination of your vehicle and issue a prohibition notice if they find anything. And then they can prosecute you under whatever various C&U and RTA regs you've broken because of the defects.

VOSA have pretty clear guidelines for what warrants (and doesn't warrant) an immediate prohibition notice. They're available here

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/Categorisation%20of%20Defects.pdf

Basically, if you haven't got tyres under the limit or stuff falling off / about to break then an immediate prohibition isn't justified.

If you have anything like that then you shouldn't be driving to an MOT test anyway, even if it's 100 yards down the road - hence the warning about "you may still be liable for prosecution if your car isn't roadworthy".

For any "normal" defects that you might be unaware of on your way to an MOT you would receive either an advisory or, at worst, a delayed prohibition (from 3 to 10 days delay) with which you can continue on your merry way. The number of less serious faults doesn't make a difference.

Besides that, you don't need to "play the big man" anyway - just politely refuse the fixed penalty and take your day in court. The court WILL find in your favour because they deal in what the law says, and the law says you can book an MOT in John O'Groats from your bungalow in Penzance if that's what you want

s_b

dean_wales wrote: »

Hi,

So my MOT has just expired and I hadn't realised it was due. It's a well used but also well maintained 2001 Honda Civic.

I have only just moved to Exeter and there is no council MOT centre here for me to go to. I am nervous about getting ripped off by an unknown garage looking forwork etc.

I do all car maintainence myself and have done the Hayne pre MOT checks.

Question is:

I am going back to Wales next weekend and I could book my old local garage to do it who I know and trust. He would also allow me to drop by and do any repairs needed.

Would I be covered legally next week while I commute the few miles to work?

Thanks,

Dean.

an mot is not a problem to someone who knows their car and how to keep it in a roadworthy and passable mot condition
you obviously know better than us so go to wales buoy
gods speed