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

HopeAndDriftWood

If you’ve got somewhere off road to keep the car, and don’t need it, don’t get it done. In that case it’s non-essential and the governments standard advice applies.

If you don’t have somewhere off-road to keep it, or you need to use it, you need an MOT. There has been nothing introduced into law to change the requirement and no suggested leeway. 

If you’re worried about contact with other people, most garages can pick up and drop off. We organised this for my in-laws and there wasn’t an extra fee, but some places might charge one. 

GaleSF63

Is there actually a problem getting it MOT'd?

GrumpyDil

GaleSF63 said:

Is there actually a problem getting it MOT'd?

OP is querying whether it is essential travel to get an MOT because they are not currently using the car. Simple answer is get an MOT or declare the car SORN. 

tripled

GrumpyDil said:

GaleSF63 said:

Is there actually a problem getting it MOT'd?

OP is querying whether it is essential travel to get an MOT because they are not currently using the car. Simple answer is get an MOT or declare the car SORN. 

SORN is only relevant if the vehicle is kept off road. It is also not necessary to declare SORN if the vehicle is still insured and taxed.

GrumpyDil

Agreed about SORN but my understanding is that it is technically an offence to keep a car on the road without an MOT. So if you are not going to MOT the car the appropriate solution would be to park it off road and declare it SORN.
Also might as well save a couple of pounds unless 0 car tax as pointless paying car tax on a car you can't use. 

GaleSF63

GrumpyDil said:

... as pointless paying car tax on a car you can't use. 

Did that many years ago when the tax ran out when the car wasn't being used, but parked on road. (A quiet side road.)

I got fined for it. and when I collected the letter, the smug man in the delivery office greatly enjoyed telling me  what the letter was about. 

Thrugelmir

Seems as if the DVLA have been out in our area recently. When out walking today noticed a couple of clamped cars. Not doubt either untaxed, uninsured or lacking a valid MOT.  

pogofish

Jeremy535897 said:

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.

Insurers also offer layup insurance, specifically to cover SORNed vehicles kept off road.

DCFC79

Any news OP ?