Vehicle Testing - What A Scam

ballyblack

Bye the way anybody know if there are any female testers at the MOT centers?

I have never noticed any.

strange?

IvanOpinion

ballyblack wrote: »

Bye the way anybody know if there are any female testers at the MOT centers?

I have never noticed any.

strange?

Maybe they are out the back in bikinis doing the car wash

Ivan

Colin_Kee

I read the comments with interest but a few points to note,

Easymoney: You say
"In the mainland it is not unknown for those garages with repair and MOT facilitiy to stick the arm in and take advantage of those who are mechanically ignorant."

Darwin-Rover:- You say
"I would say a lot of garages in GB see someone young or a dizzy blonde and probably make up things that need to be fixed on the car".

What stops a garage over here sticking the arm in and take advantage of those who are mechanically ignorant or making up things that need to be fixed on the car prior to the car going to the test centre?? I've had first hand experience of this over here where they told my wife one thing and me another, I let them know about it too.

I take the point of the Paramilitary involvment but from my experience in England, you take the car to the garage, they do an assesment of the car, they list the things that need sorted and give you a price. If you think they're taking the !!!!, you take it somewhere else or check it out yourself. I've never had any experience of someone ripping the !!! out of the MOT in England and any garage I've paid over here to get my car up to MOT standard has always been similarly priced in all honesty.

Thing is, most test centres are at least a month behind in terms of appointments, I've just yesterday booked mine in for 28th June, that was the first appontment they had available.

I can see where your all comming from but I don't agree that the garages would stick the arm in, natural competition between garages would limit that. I just think it's a complete waste of time & money. I England I could book my car into the Garage and have the thing fixed (if required) MOT'ed and back on the road within a few days, job done. Over here you have to make an MOT Appointment, (Usually a month away by which time the old MOT has run out) book the car into the garage, leave the car at the garage, get the garage to take the car to the test centre (Or you have to take a day of work) All cost money!! I still think the GB system is better..

ballyblack

I've just yesterday booked mine in for 28th June, that was the first appontment they had available.

A tip for you.

Ring the telephone number on your appontment card about 9.30am any morning. There are always cancellations and you should get a test within a day or so. No need to wait over a month.

NB. you must have your appontment details to obtain the cancellation

Easymoney

Quote Colin_Kee 'What stops a garage over here sticking the arm in and take advantage of those who are mechanically ignorant or making up things that need to be fixed on the car prior to the car going to the test centre?? I've had first hand experience of this over here where they told my wife one thing and me another, I let them know about it too'

There is nothing to stop local garages from sticking the arm in. They all do that rubbing the chin with sharp intake of breath.... its gonna be costly

My point was to take the car through the MOT without a pre-check, unless there is an underlying problem with the car.

That way you get you car checked all be it for £30.50, If there is an obvious problem then they will fail you or give an advisory warning..... Then go to your local garage and ask them to perform the necessary repairs.

Most car handbooks now have a recommended service plan, at 12k oil change, oil filter etc, at 24k brake pad change, oil change etc

If your car is regularly serviced for the routine things then you should have an idea of what you will be paying for. Most of the variation in price is with labour costs.

Dearest place in town is Charles Hurst who charge around £75 an hour to get some numpty 16yr old to work on your pride and joy.

In Norn Iron there is a higher disposable income than the mianland (referring to Council tax and higher rates). This means that peeps are more than happy to pay off a car HP and change every 3 years. Many people change just before the balloon payment. Thus, avoiding huge financial burden and the dreaded MOT.

Besides there are limited garages who work on 2nd hand cars here, all the more reason why people pay through the nose from the main dealers.

ballyblack

THe main reason Main dealers charge £75+ for labour is to do with their overheads ....the cost of property, rates, wages, insurance etc

Its nothing to do with the skill involved in the repair/fitting of parts.

Best to find an small independent, but I agree this can be difficult but its not impossible as there are still a few around

Colin_Kee

Easymoney, I get your point. Just seems a lot of hassle (I do like a quiet life) As far a disposible income goes. Would agree with you but thats changing now with house prices, new rates, water bills on the way etc.. Thats one thing I've always noticed. Peps in Norn Iron always drive flashier cars in general than those in GB. (Newer models, Alloy wheels, etc. etc) Seems like crying wolf what with everyone complaing about high house prices while all driving flash cars. (You can't live in a car)

ballyblack

some failure points on Mot that is avoidable;

Check all your lights for a blown bulb....brake lights, reversing, fog lights etc.

Check your headlight alignment.......you'll need a garage to do this quick check

check your tyres & exhaust

handbrake adjusted and working properly

seat belts working?

........and finally wash the car properly

dmxdave

wishiwasarichgirl wrote: »

does anyone know if the english MOT cert. is the same as the NI one? cos my cars due for its 1st MOT soon, and it will be done in England, but I still get it taxed in NI and will have to show the MOT cert.

Should be ok as a couple of years ago when the major upgrade in the test centres was the going on the waiting lists were really bad and alot of people had a day trip to Stranraer was a popular option!

ballyblack

is the english MOT cert. is the same as the NI one?

Both are valid in NI & UK