Mot q

Ebe_Scrooge

I agree with MrMot. The law is pretty daft, actually - you must have a valid MOT, but this in itself does not say anything about the roadworthiness of a vehicle - except at the precise moment the car is tested. It always used to say something like this on the back of the certificate - "This certificate should not be taken as evidence of the roadworthiness of the vehicle", or words to that effect ( not sure if it still says this ).

But as has been pointed out earlier, you can be prosecuted at any time for driving an un-roadworthy vehicle, irrespective of the state of your MOT certificate, even if it was issued yesterday.

And what is "unroadworthy" ? Bald tyres, non-operational brakes - obviously. Failed rear light ? Technically yes, in practice you're unlikely to be fined for it. Over my many years of driving, I've been stopped 3 times for having a rear light out. Twice the PC was fine, very friendly, "just get it fixed first thing tomorrow morning" and I was on my way. Once, the woman that stopped me gave me a right grilling - "Do you realise I could issue an on the spot fine, refuse to let you drive any further until it's been fixed .... " etc. The full 10 minute lecture ! She did let me off in the end, though, when I promised to fix it as soon as I got home.

Anyhow, I digress. The key point is that having a valid MOT certificate and having a roadworthy vehicle are 2 totally separate issues. With no MOT you're not allowed on the road, unless driving to a pre-booked test. With MOT you're fine to drive, but it's your responsibility to make sure the car is roadworthy.

So to the original point - driving back from a failed MOT, with your old certificate still valid - you wouldn't be done for "Driving with no MOT", but may, if stopped, be done for "un-roadworthiness" - as you can at any time.

< As an aside, would having no MOT flash up an alert on the police ANPR kit ? >

Quentin

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

NO NO NO

If it fails, it no longer has an MOT. It's a computerised system, unlike the days of old, when the paper certificate really mattered.

OP, ignore this!

The correct answer to your question is that if your early test fails, your car is still covered by the May MOT until its expiry date.

(Prophet of Doom is guessing at this answer)

Quentin

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

....< As an aside, would having no MOT flash up an alert on the police ANPR kit ? >

It does .

Ebe_Scrooge

Thought it probably would, same as having no insurance or tax. Thanks.

Ultrasonic

castle96 wrote: »

my cars MOT expires May. If I take it in now for one and it fails, can I still run it until May?

Out of curiouslity, why would you want to do this?

Quentin

People often do it when wanting to sell immediately with 12 months MOT.

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

If he has 4 bald tyres he cannot (legally) drive it for an MOT! The car isn't roadworthy so no valid insurance. .........

I thought it was long established that lack of MOT doesn't affect insurance and being unroadworthy can only affect it if the fault caused or significantly contributed to the accident.

I'm also pretty sure that these only affect "own damage" claims so innocent third parties will get paid and there is no chance of a conviction for no insurance

Quentin

You know full well no MOT doesn't invalidate your insurance!

I didn't say it does!

But you are legally bound to keep your car roadworthy!

vaio

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

........As an aside, would having no MOT flash up an alert on the police ANPR kit?

Allegedly yes but a couple of years ago my MOT ran out in May or June and I didn't notice until I tried to renew the tax the following Jan. During that time I must have covered the thick end of 10k miles, up & down the M1/M25/M4, into central London multiple times and across the channel twice and didn't get pulled..

Whether this is because ANPR doesn't do MOT or no MOT on its own is so low level they don't bother or was I just lucky I don't know

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

You know full well no MOT doesn't invalidate your insurance!

I didn't say it does!

But you are legally bound to keep your car roadworthy!

Yep, but you did say that using an unroadworthy car invalidates your insurance which is not the case.

As mentioned above, it might affect an "own damage" claim but only if the fault caused or contributed to the accident.. RTA cover won't be affected.