Failed MOT - don't need to drive do I SORN?

Car_54

It's not unroadworthy, except perhaps at night. It failed on 'position lights', i.e. sidelights. There are no circumstances in which those  are needed during daylight hours.

Aretnap

Car_54 said:

It's not unroadworthy, except perhaps at night. It failed on 'position lights', i.e. sidelights. There are no circumstances in which those  are needed during daylight hours.

On a slightly pedantic point a car with defective sidelights is illegal to drive even in daylight. There's an exception if you've made arrangements to remedy it with all reasonable expedition (in plain English, if you've already booked it into a garage). 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/23/made

Of course the chances of actually getting into trouble for driving in daylight with a dodgy but switched off sidelight must be negligible.  

idea

Thanks all. Like I said above, I've got no intention of driving it until I can get it booked into the garage to sort. Will just sit tight with it on the drive until the garages open. 

Mutton_Geoff

Aretnap said:

Car_54 said:

It's not unroadworthy, except perhaps at night. It failed on 'position lights', i.e. sidelights. There are no circumstances in which those  are needed during daylight hours.

On a slightly pedantic point a car with defective sidelights is illegal to drive even in daylight. There's an exception if you've made arrangements to remedy it with all reasonable expedition (in plain English, if you've already booked it into a garage). 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/23/made

Of course the chances of actually getting into trouble for driving in daylight with a dodgy but switched off sidelight must be negligible.  

I agree chances of getting caught for it. Until you have an accident and make an insurance claim.

But not relevant as the OP is now waiting for the part.

Car_54

Mutton_Geoff said:

Aretnap said:

Car_54 said:

It's not unroadworthy, except perhaps at night. It failed on 'position lights', i.e. sidelights. There are no circumstances in which those  are needed during daylight hours.

On a slightly pedantic point a car with defective sidelights is illegal to drive even in daylight. There's an exception if you've made arrangements to remedy it with all reasonable expedition (in plain English, if you've already booked it into a garage). 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/23/made

Of course the chances of actually getting into trouble for driving in daylight with a dodgy but switched off sidelight must be negligible.  

I agree chances of getting caught for it. Until you have an accident and make an insurance claim.

Can you see any circumstances where an insurer could claim that lack of sidelights caused or contributed to an accident?

MinuteNoodles

Car_54 said:

Can you see any circumstances where an insurer could claim that lack of sidelights caused or contributed to an accident?

They don't need to. Virtually every policy states you have to keep your vehicle in a roadworthy condition.

born_again

Car_54 said:

It's not unroadworthy, except perhaps at night. It failed on 'position lights', i.e. sidelights. There are no circumstances in which those  are needed during daylight hours.

Unless it a 2011 + car and they are talking about the DRL, which on many cars are LED and are not exactly cheap to replace.

Car_54

MinuteNoodles said:

Car_54 said:

Can you see any circumstances where an insurer could claim that lack of sidelights caused or contributed to an accident?

They don't need to. Virtually every policy states you have to keep your vehicle in a roadworthy condition.

Yes, but AIUI the Ombudsman has ruled that they cannot use that to refuse claims unless the alleged "unroadworthiness" has some bearing on the accident.

idea

Just to update all those that gave advice here. Got a call from local Mazda garage on Tuesday after sending them an email explaining the situation. They said that I'd have to pay £60 for them to look at the lights, but that they would probably fix for free under some sort of customer care thing. Then of course £45 for another MOT.
Anyway, I took it in yesterday. Guy at garage said that there was now no charge for looking at and fixing lights as a recall had been issued and so they fixed for free. Only had to pay for the MOT. Happy that now have car back on the road. Obviously it would have been better if I hadn't had to pay for two MOTs, but happy that it wasn't a cost of hundreds to get it fixed. 
Many thanks to all that gave advice.