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Driving an Untaxed Car WITH insurance and MOT

lvm
lvm Posts: 1,544 Forumite
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I've looked a couple of places for details but can't seem to find a specific answer.


I know that you are able to drive an untaxed car if you are insured and driving to a prebooked MOT.


BUT...what if the car had, for example, 6 weeks or 2 months before the MOT expired (or even more!)? I'm sure I've read you can't MOT a car with more than a month/4 weeks MOT until current one expires so could it even be booked for an MOT - even if it wasn't actually MOT'd but was taken to a garage for a service/check-up?


Just curious as me and a friend looking at auction cars - bought a couple in the past few weeks but most don't have tax. We actually got stopped by the police a couple of weeks ago for driving too slowly (he was driving, not me!) and they didn't even notice that the car didn't have a tax disc but ran name through system and checked insurance before letting us drive off.


I'm not interesting in taking a chance so if it's a "definitely can't do this" then that's fine!


Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • salubrious
    salubrious Posts: 210 Forumite
    You can mot the same car every day of the year if you wished, it's fine.
  • lvm
    lvm Posts: 1,544 Forumite
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    salubrious wrote: »
    You can mot the same car every day of the year if you wished, it's fine.

    Really? But why does it say something like "To preserve the ***something or other*** of the car, you may not present it for MOT until **date here which is a month before expiry**"??
  • Rover_Driver
    Rover_Driver Posts: 1,520 Forumite
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    You can have a vehicle tested at any time, and the certificate will be valid for a year from that date.


    If it passes the test within a month of the expiry of the old certificate, the new one will be valid for a year from the expiry of the old one.
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
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    edited 2 May 2014 at 6:56PM
    lvm wrote: »
    Really? But why does it say something like "To preserve the ***something or other*** of the car, you may not present it for MOT until **date here which is a month before expiry**"??

    If the mot expires on the 28th may 2013 for example, you can have it tested on the 1st onwards and if it passes the next mot is due 28th may 2014 no matter what date it passed - this is preserving the anniversary of the mot.
    If you take it in during April, say 28th April, the next due date will be 28th april 2014. You haven't been allowed to preserve the date.

    But you can mot a car whenever you wish . Just when you do it affects whether the anniversary date is preserved or not.

    You may only drive to and from a prebooked mot without tax. Or have a 14 day grace period if you have bought one online . Otherwise driving without valid tax will often see it seized!

    Sounds like your a motor trader - why not buy a trade plate . Something like £100 for 6 month and will allow you to drive cars (only one at a time) for the purposes you describe
  • lvm
    lvm Posts: 1,544 Forumite
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    Thanks everyone!


    Totally didn't realise you could MOT a car any time you like.


    That's a great help :-)
  • Nodding_Donkey
    Nodding_Donkey Posts: 2,738 Forumite
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    It's a bit worrying that a wannabe car dealer doesn't understand the basics.
  • lvm
    lvm Posts: 1,544 Forumite
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    It's a bit worrying that a wannabe car dealer doesn't understand the basics.



    Who said I was a dealer??
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
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    It's a bit worrying that a wannabe car dealer doesn't understand the basics.

    And less worrying that a wannabe dealer is actively trying to find out what the law his in his proposed industry. Not everybody was born with superior knowledge like your good self.

    *assuming ops actually starting out anyway
  • lvm
    lvm Posts: 1,544 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    arcon5 wrote: »
    And less worrying that a wannabe dealer is actively trying to find out what the law his in his proposed industry. Not everybody was born with superior knowledge like your good self.

    *assuming ops actually starting out anyway

    Thanks for your much more polite message.


    I'm not a dealer or trying to be one. Just happens that my flatmate needed a new car at the same time my friend was buying one for his daughter so we went to see an auction. I could be doing with a new car too so just considering my options.
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