MOT Test - quick question..

homeless9

Hi...

This is probably a stupid question....

I have an MOT tomorrow. There is a sidelight bulb that needs replacing. Do I spend 30 to 40 minutes of my time driving to Halfords today to get a bulb and fit it or shall I just let the MOT fail and the MOT guys fit a new bulb and retest?

Is there any benefit to me if I get this fixed before I take the car to the MOT tomorrow? As far as I am aware a retest is free and what do they do in a retest where say it was just 1 bulb that needed replacing, they just go 'Ooooo the bulb is now working, tick box' - retest done?

I had some other advisories last year so I'll likely have them again this year and get them to hold onto my car overnight to fix those issues.

AdrianC

Advisories are "pass - but you may want to know".

Yes, a failed sidelight bulb will be dealt with as "PRS" - Pass, rectify at station - and they'll then charge you on top of the test for any time taken to replace the bulb, unless it's trivially quick and easy.

Your call as to whether it's easier to get it done yourself today or leave it to the garage when they test it.

tedted

depends on the car not all are easy to do and bulbs vary so they may not stock the right one

homeless9

AdrianC said:

Advisories are "pass - but you may want to know".

Yes, a failed sidelight bulb will be dealt with as "PRS" - Pass, rectify at station - and they'll then charge you on top of the test for any time taken to replace the bulb, unless it's trivially quick and easy.

Your call as to whether it's easier to get it done yourself today or leave it to the garage when they test it.

yeah - should be easy for them to fit. Even if they don't have stock that's fine as I'll get them to fix any advisories and pick the car up the next day so they'll have plenty of time to get hold of a lightbulb and fit it.

dipsomaniac

I would replace before you take it for MOT. You don't want to risk them charging you their price for a bulb, fitting charge and any  possible retest fee. 

AdrianC

dipsomaniac said:

I would replace before you take it for MOT. You don't want to risk them charging you their price for a bulb, fitting charge and any  possible retest fee. 

They cannot charge a retest fee for a light, even if the OP took it away, got Halfrauds to change it, then took it back the following day.

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/retests

dipsomaniac

homeless9 said:

AdrianC said:

Advisories are "pass - but you may want to know".

Yes, a failed sidelight bulb will be dealt with as "PRS" - Pass, rectify at station - and they'll then charge you on top of the test for any time taken to replace the bulb, unless it's trivially quick and easy.

Your call as to whether it's easier to get it done yourself today or leave it to the garage when they test it.

yeah - should be easy for them to fit. Even if they don't have stock that's fine as I'll get them to fix any advisories and pick the car up the next day so they'll have plenty of time to get hold of a lightbulb and fit it.

You don't need to fix advisories immediately

Flight3287462

If its an older car just do the MOT first just in case he comes up with a long list that puts you in a dilemma. 

dipsomaniac

AdrianC said:

dipsomaniac said:

I would replace before you take it for MOT. You don't want to risk them charging you their price for a bulb, fitting charge and any  possible retest fee. 

They cannot charge a retest fee for a light, even if the OP took it away, got Halfrauds to change it, then took it back the following day.

https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/retests

Interesting. I just had to pay a partial retest fee (£14.75) when MOT garage repaired bracket on headlight and spring on handbrake. Will start a thread

olgadapolga

Why not just mention it to them when you take your car in? Or ring them beforehand and see what they say? That's what I did when I had a bulb that needed replacing. I was told over the phone that they would sort it out and then MOT the car. They sorted it out and refused to charge me either for the bulb or the work involved in replacing it.

JJ_Egan

MOT tester failed me on HL bulb and replaced it for £13 .