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

Jeremy535897

mattyprice4004 said:

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 

Once the MOT expires, it wouldn't be legal to drive it anywhere except a test centre, and you need proof of a pre-arranged booking.

savings_sos

tripled said:
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.

Well that's what I thought, as the Gov is saying to stay at home to reduce transmission and the DVLA is not losing any money as we are still paying them road tax.

savings_sos

Aylesbury_Duck said:

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. 

Once you SORN the car, is the car insurance still valid for theft on a driveway?

Thrugelmir

savings_sos said:

tripled said:
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.

Well that's what I thought, as the Gov is saying to stay at home to reduce transmission and the DVLA is not losing any money as we are still paying them road tax.

Taking a car to an MOT doesn't appear to require much risk of transmission. Why would it? Person to person contact is minimal. 

vacheron

savings_sos said:

Well that's what I thought, as the Gov is saying to stay at home to reduce transmission and the DVLA is not losing any money as we are still paying them road tax.

Maybe it's not about the government getting money? Maybe it's about making sure unsafe cars aren't a danger to the general public? 

Consider scenarios such as:

• Handbrake cable snaps and car rolls into people or into traffic. 
• Car leaks oil onto the street causing someone to have a potentially fatal slip. 
• Corrosion or other damage such as protruding bodywork causing injury to someone passing by.
• Rear light cluster is missing or damaged and the subsequent lack of rear reflectors means someone doesn't see it as well and has a crash. 

A car can only be on the "road" if it is "roadworthy", and the way to prove that it is roadworthy is to get an MOT.

I just had mine done along with my service, plus the garage I use come and collected it, so I didn't even have to go anywhere! 

Jeremy535897

savings_sos said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

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. 

Once you SORN the car, is the car insurance still valid for theft on a driveway?

It would normally be. Problems arise when owners make a SORN in respect of a vehicle and then cancel the car insurance.

Aylesbury_Duck

savings_sos said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

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. 

Once you SORN the car, is the car insurance still valid for theft on a driveway?

Normally, yes, but well worth checking with your insurer.  Your terms with them may oblige you to tell them you've SORNed it and aren't using it, because it will probably mean a change to your risk profile.

molerat

vacheron said:

A car can only be on the "road" if it is "roadworthy", and the way to prove that it is roadworthy is to get an MOT.

I had a car that was not "roadworthy" and it passed the MOT every year so the MOT doesn't prove that at all, just that the points decreed by regulation to be tested meet that standard.

vacheron

molerat said:

vacheron said:

A car can only be on the "road" if it is "roadworthy", and the way to prove that it is roadworthy is to get an MOT.

I had a car that was not "roadworthy" and it passed the MOT every year so the MOT doesn't prove that at all, just that the points decreed by regulation to be tested meet that standard.

OK, we could argue semantics regarding my wording, and if you were happy to risk the safety of other people and a potential dangerous driving offence by "driving a dangerous vehicle knowingly" then that is between you and your conscience. 

All I am saying is that having a valid MOT would, to the majority of people, be seen as being diligent in your duty as a vehicle owner towards the safety of the general public, and that is also how it is perceived in law.  

jimi_man

Jeremy535897 said:

mattyprice4004 said:

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 

Once the MOT expires, it wouldn't be legal to drive it anywhere except a test centre, and you need proof of a pre-arranged booking.

That’s a very interesting one. You’re right, however the offence is committed by being on the road irrespective of whether it’s being driven or not. It’s not a greater offence by driving it. So if you’re going to continue committing the same offence then I would imagine there would be some mitigation if you were removing the vehicle from the road to a private place in order to stop committing the offence.