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Question about failing MOT and insurance

I've kind of left it pretty last minute to get my car MOT'd. It runs out today and it's in for its MOT now. My question is, if it fails, but I re-book it in and get the problem sorted in the meantime, is my insurance invalid?
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  • I've kind of left it pretty last minute to get my car MOT'd. It runs out today and it's in for its MOT now. My question is, if it fails, but I re-book it in and get the problem sorted in the meantime, is my insurance invalid?



    Your insurer wouldn't pay out for damage your vehicle sustained if it continued to be used without an MOT or in an 'otherwise unroadworthy' condition. They would still cover 3rd party liability.


    If your car fails, you take it home, fix it, then re-book the MOT and drive straight to it, you'd likely be covered.


    Basically, not having an MOT doesn't automatically invalidate all cover, but the insurer would normally suspend comprehensive cover and your cover level will revert to TP only. However, as I'm sure you know, using the vehicle on the road without an MOT, except to take it to or from a pre-booked MOT test, would be illegal.
  • The insurer cannot invalidate the third party part of your insurance due to the condition of the vehicle. What they do about the comprehensive part is down to their policy wording.

    Any policy wording about requiring an MOT will include the phrase "where required" or something to that effect. This is for two reasons, firstly cars under three years old do not require an MOT and secondly a vehicle being taken to or from a place where a previously booked MOT is carried out or where repairs arising from an MOT failure are carried out is exempt from the requirement to have a valid MOT (it must still comply with construction and use regulations though, so you won't get let off having bald tyres if stopped).
    Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 2023
  • vaio
    vaio Posts: 12,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The real position is that insurers can pretty much never avoid the TP side and can only avoid the "own damage" side if a vehicle defect caused or substantially contributed to the accident.

    Any attempt to limit cover based on lack of MOT will get bounced by the FOS and the ability to avoid the "own damage" cover based on defects causing or contributing to the accident is related to the defects rather than MOT status.

    Obviously a car without an MOT is worth less than one with an MOT so that might get taken into account in the event of a total loss.
  • Thanks. I wouldn't use it if the MOT ran out. And typically it failed on it's tyres. Then the man told me that I need to bring it back within 24 hours for them to re-MOT it for free, only to then follow-up with the killer line "but we can't fit you in". So after one very long debate, I have new tyres and it is now back with them waiting to be passed!
  • Thanks. I wouldn't use it if the MOT ran out. And typically it failed on it's tyres. Then the man told me that I need to bring it back within 24 hours for them to re-MOT it for free, only to then follow-up with the killer line "but we can't fit you in". So after one very long debate, I have new tyres and it is now back with them waiting to be passed!



    Might I suggest, in light of the fact that you forgot about the MOT until the last minute, and you've been driving a car with illegal tyres, that you invest in a calendar upon which to write 'MOT due in a month' on July 8th's square, and some time in future into checking the basics (fluid levels, tyres) on a regular basis?


    No, I'm not having a go, but if you want to worry about invalidating your insurance, I'd worry about potential fines for having illegal tyres and their potential to cause accidents as well.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks. I wouldn't use it if the MOT ran out. And typically it failed on it's tyres.
    Go and THANK the nice MOT man for having spotted those illegal tyres before Mr Plod did.

    Then make a note to check them regularly, along with all those other basic routine checks that you probably don't do, either. Fluids, lights...
  • Some people on this forum have a real stick up their a*se. Why don't you lighten up. I'm not a little girl. And as for the "nice" MOT man, he was a f*cking bell end!
  • And just to add... they were just literally below the legal requirement. In fact, one was passable but I had it replaced anyway.
  • Johnmcl7
    Johnmcl7 Posts: 2,828 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I've kind of left it pretty last minute to get my car MOT'd. It runs out today and it's in for its MOT now. My question is, if it fails, but I re-book it in and get the problem sorted in the meantime, is my insurance invalid?

    Hope you get through the MOT ok this time, in answer to your original question a lack of MOT doesn't automatically invalidate the insurance as some incorrectly believe:

    http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/motor-valuation.html
    Most motor policies contain a specific requirement that the vehicle must be maintained in a roadworthy state. When deciding whether it was reasonable for an insurer to reject a consumer’s claim, we will look for evidence that the loss or damage was mostly likely caused – or was significantly contributed to – because the vehicle was not roadworthy.

    An insurer can also reduce a payout on the basis that the vehicle was not in good condition. In these cases, we will look for evidence that the condition of the condition of the vehicle – or parts of it – were poor to decide whether this deduction is fair.

    If the vehicle did not have a current MOT certificate, we will consider how likely it was that the vehicle would have passed an MOT test. If we decide – on the balance of probabilities – that the vehicle would have failed the test, we are likely to say that a deduction of up to 10% is reasonable.
  • vaio
    vaio Posts: 12,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Some people on this forum have a real stick up their a*se. Why don't you lighten up. I'm not a little girl. And as for the "nice" MOT man, he was a f*cking bell end!

    :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

    That's your nice girly pink image down the drain
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