Do we need to get an MOT, if we don't use the car during lockdown?

couriervanman

savings_sos said:

JGB1955 said:

Whilst government advice is only get an MOT "if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home".  The flip side is that (in those circumstances) you need to SORN it, otherwise you are breaking the law.  

They should make the guidelines clearer then.

Sounds like a person I know........"lock down rules are so complicated to understand"......only complicated if you want to make them complicated

tripled

couriervanman said:

savings_sos said:

JGB1955 said:

Whilst government advice is only get an MOT "if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home".  The flip side is that (in those circumstances) you need to SORN it, otherwise you are breaking the law.  

They should make the guidelines clearer then.

Sounds like a person I know........"lock down rules are so complicated to understand"......only complicated if you want to make them complicated

I wouldn't say that the "lockdown rules are complicated to understand", but I would say that it is frequently unclear what is law and what is guidance, especially when written in an instructional tone. You can't expect the majority of people to check the legislation to clarify it, and even then there is often a degree of ambiguity.

In my view it is entirely reasonable for someone to to interpret "getting an MOT, if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home" written in the official government guidance as meaning that if you don't need to drive then you shouldn't be getting an MOT done.

Dullville

Carrot007 said:

Thrugelmir said:

Not having an MOT will invalidate your car insurance as well. 

Very unlikely.

Though not getting a mot will open it up for a fine if kept on the road. Though my current car was my dad's and as he though it's was mot'd at purchase it was on the road for 6 months ish withough mot before I took it over. However getting cought depends on the police presence and you neighbours and should not be assumed.

To OP: I just serviced & and mot'd mine (you should always service too). My local guy had corenered off the acces point to the room, wears masks, and let's you pay and talk from the entreance. It's all good. I hope other palces would too.

Of course it will invalidate your car insurance!

GrumpyDil

This has been discussed to death on the Motoring forum but in essence it really won't invalidate your insurance. 

Aylesbury_Duck

tripled said:

couriervanman said:

savings_sos said:

JGB1955 said:

Whilst government advice is only get an MOT "if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home".  The flip side is that (in those circumstances) you need to SORN it, otherwise you are breaking the law.  

They should make the guidelines clearer then.

Sounds like a person I know........"lock down rules are so complicated to understand"......only complicated if you want to make them complicated

I wouldn't say that the "lockdown rules are complicated to understand", but I would say that it is frequently unclear what is law and what is guidance, especially when written in an instructional tone. You can't expect the majority of people to check the legislation to clarify it, and even then there is often a degree of ambiguity.

In my view it is entirely reasonable for someone to to interpret "getting an MOT, if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home" written in the official government guidance as meaning that if you don't need to drive then you shouldn't be getting an MOT done.

Which is fine and clear, but that still doesn't remove your obligations as a car owner.  If you have somewhere private to park it, you can then SORN it and leave the MOT until you want to use the car again.  OP wants to leave it on the street, so that option isn't available to them.  Nowhere in the guidance does it say the COVID guidance overrules your basic responsibilities as a car owner. 

jimi_man

Dullville said:

Carrot007 said:

Thrugelmir said:

Not having an MOT will invalidate your car insurance as well. 

Very unlikely.

Though not getting a mot will open it up for a fine if kept on the road. Though my current car was my dad's and as he though it's was mot'd at purchase it was on the road for 6 months ish withough mot before I took it over. However getting cought depends on the police presence and you neighbours and should not be assumed.

To OP: I just serviced & and mot'd mine (you should always service too). My local guy had corenered off the acces point to the room, wears masks, and let's you pay and talk from the entreance. It's all good. I hope other palces would too.

Of course it will invalidate your car insurance!

That’s a widely held myth - sadly there are still even a few police officers that believe it. The truth is that it does not make your insurance invalid for the purpose of the Road Traffic Act. Therefore you cannot be prosecuted for no insurance. 

However if you have an accident due to a vehicle MOTable defect and you don’t have an MOT, the insurance company can and do refuse claims so you might be liable for the costs. 

As others have said. If it’s on a road it needs an MOT. If it isn’t then it doesn’t - as long as you SORN it. 

If you Hunt around, an MOT can be had for half price so it’s not a huge expense assuming your car is kept in good condition. 

Greatgimp

Perhaps the OP wants to delay spending on it to get the vehicle through the MOT.

jimi_man

It’s possible but then it needs to be off the road. 

macman

The only impression I got is that the OP doesn't want to have to go out to get the MOT. In which it should be perfectly possible to pay the garage to collect, test, and redeliver. At an extra charge of course.

mattyprice4004

Greatgimp said:

Perhaps the OP wants to delay spending on it to get the vehicle through the MOT.

Then they need to find a friend or family with driveway space, as it can't stay on the road