Repeat MOTs

fred246

When I was a student I took my old banger to the local garage for an MOT. I got a list of failed items with a repair estimate. I took the car home and my dad said "Nah-take it to our usual garage". I took it there and it failed again but on totally different items. The repair bill there was much cheaper. I always wondered if you could keep going from garage to garage until you found one that passed it or failed it on cheaper jobs. Does the change to electronic MOTs make a difference to this? Can you go to multiple garages for MOTs or does the system flag this up? I know MOTs aren't cheap.

a.turner

fred246 wrote: »

When I was a student I took my old banger to the local garage for an MOT. I got a list of failed items with a repair estimate. I took the car home and my dad said "Nah-take it to our usual garage". I took it there and it failed again but on totally different items. The repair bill there was much cheaper. I always wondered if you could keep going from garage to garage until you found one that passed it or failed it on cheaper jobs. Does the change to electronic MOTs make a difference to this? Can you go to multiple garages for MOTs or does the system flag this up? I know MOTs aren't cheap.

The second and subsequent garages can see the previous fails.

fred246

a.turner wrote: »

The second and subsequent garages can see the previous fails.

But would they look? Do they look?

nickcc

fred246 wrote: »

But would they look? Do they look?

They should check before carrying out a test/retest.

Joe_Horner

Absolutely no reason why you shouldn't - apart from it will probably end up costing more than just doing the repairs in most cases.

Previous tests can be looked up (by anyone now, not just testers) but a tester's job is to inspect the vehicle "as presented" and to personally assess its condition at that time.

Looking back to see what previous fails / advisories exist is't a part of that - why does it matter what someone else has failed it for when you're going to be inspecting it yourself and reaching your own assessment?

debtdebt

nickcc wrote: »

They should check before carrying out a test/retest.

I understand checking previous fails for a retest but why should they check before a standard test?

nickcc

debtdebt wrote: »

I understand checking previous fails for a retest but why should they check before a standard test?

Probably because the tester wouldn't want to miss something that's marked as outstanding. No ones perfect and very few testers would want to risk loosing their testing certification.

Herzlos

Is the hope here that you'll eventually find someone who misses an expensive issue? MOT is a basic test of roadworthiness; if it's failing for stuff it's usually dangerous so just take it somewhere you trust and get it fixed.

I'd be suspicious of the completely different sets of fails, was the first place something like a national tyre fitting chain?

TonyMMM

I used to know of a garage (in London) where it wasn't even necessary to take the car with you to get an MOT issued.

That was pre-computerised system days, but all systems are open to abuse if people want to work that way.

AdrianC

nickcc wrote: »

Probably because the tester wouldn't want to miss something that's marked as outstanding. No ones perfect and very few testers would want to risk loosing their testing certification.

Which is exactly why a competent tester won't believe anything but his own eyes and what's parked in front of him. He won't look at previous tests and fails, simply because they aren't relevant to his inspection of the vehicle.

debtdebt

nickcc wrote: »

Probably because the tester wouldn't want to miss something that's marked as outstanding. No ones perfect and very few testers would want to risk loosing their testing certification.

Think you're making things up to suit your own argument there. Why would a tester rely on the views of someone else? They should be relying on themselves and the MOT guidelines.