MOT failed and now expired yesterday - then crashed car.

rainyday87

Hi all, first off I am a long time lurker.. Please go easy on me I'm totally beating myself up for my lack of attention and I'm so worried. 

I took my car for its MOT on Friday. It failed, on far more than I thought it would some major and one serious. I got the serious issue - 1 tyre done at the tester and drove it home.

I'm a single working parent and rely on it for childcare and work and couldn't afford the £1500 quote. My friend's husband is an ex mechanic and offered to take a look at it this evening before the mot expired. But I'd got the expiry date wrong by a day, it expired yesterday.

I was driving over there earlier today before knowing that.. And was pulling out of my drive which is not a nice junction... and I  crashed. I've never crashed in 15 years and my young son was in the back so I'm really shook up. It was my fault, there's a mirror to exit because it's a blind bend. I checked the mirror and pulled out and we were hit on the side.. I always wait a few seconds after checking the mirror but must not have waited long enough.

We exchanged details and I got the car back into the drive with the bumper in my boot😥

Reported it to the insurance online after I'd let my friend know what had happened. Checked the MOT and realised its expired. And although I got the tyre replaced (the dangerous fault) its still got major faults and is not been retested because my friend wanted to tell me exactly what to order for him to do the work.

Now I'm going out of my mind worrying. I have fully comprehensive insurance and extra cover for a replacement car. What is the implications for the mot expiring? I've read my policy document which mentions my duty is to keep the car safe and in good order with a valid mot. But it doesn't give the implications of not having one, or worse, having a failed mot plus a day over the date? 

I was under the impression I could drive it to a mechanic. Friend couldn't come to me because he is ironically currently without a car and two children at home.. But any advice is appreciated. 

Flight3287462

When did the MOT expire?

DB1904

rainyday87 said:

Hi all, first off I am a long time lurker.. Please go easy on me I'm totally beating myself up for my lack of attention and I'm so worried. 

I took my car for its MOT on Friday. It failed, on far more than I thought it would some major and one serious. I got the serious issue - 1 tyre done at the tester and drove it home.

I'm a single working parent and rely on it for childcare and work and couldn't afford the £1500 quote. My friend's husband is an ex mechanic and offered to take a look at it this evening before the mot expired. But I'd got the expiry date wrong by a day, it expired yesterday.

I was driving over there earlier today before knowing that.. And was pulling out of my drive which is not a nice junction... and I  crashed. I've never crashed in 15 years and my young son was in the back so I'm really shook up. It was my fault, there's a mirror to exit because it's a blind bend. I checked the mirror and pulled out and we were hit on the side.. I always wait a few seconds after checking the mirror but must not have waited long enough.

We exchanged details and I got the car back into the drive with the bumper in my boot😥

Reported it to the insurance online after I'd let my friend know what had happened. Checked the MOT and realised its expired. And although I got the tyre replaced (the dangerous fault) its still got major faults and is not been retested because my friend wanted to tell me exactly what to order for him to do the work.

Now I'm going out of my mind worrying. I have fully comprehensive insurance and extra cover for a replacement car. What is the implications for the mot expiring? I've read my policy document which mentions my duty is to keep the car safe and in good order with a valid mot. But it doesn't give the implications of not having one, or worse, having a failed mot plus a day over the date? 

I was under the impression I could drive it to a mechanic. Friend couldn't come to me because he is ironically currently without a car and two children at home.. But any advice is appreciated. 

What did the car fail on?
 
Make, model and age of the car?

They May repair it but if it's a write off the lack of mot will be reflected in the amount they pay out. 

Chris_English

Your insurance company may reduce the payment which they make on your car as they will argue that a car without an MOT is less valuable than a car with one.

That could well be the total effect of your “offence.”

rainyday87

The car failed  on Friday 28th and the mot expired on the 30th so yesterday.

It failed on two tyres, one dangerous one major. I'd got one done at the garage and booked 3 in with a local mobile guy for tomorrow so I didn't have to drive it once it was expired (but then i got the day wrong and drove it expired with the crash) .

Suspension.... Macpherson struts /tiop mount but my mechanic friend was going to check. It has only done 4k miles since last mot and it's never been an advisory. No signs of a suspension issue and apparently Honda jazz' have a floating suspension and lateral movement is normal..

Also track rod end ball joint and dust covers.

I paid £1800 last year. Milage 65k and it was made in 2009

In terms of damage from the crash the front bumper is off including the number plate etc... Front end is bare. Abs light is on and I'm not a car person but.... Then undercarriage is dragging on the ground so I'm thinking it's a write off. 

Thanks for your help so far🙏

If they pay me £500 then I'm OK with that.... My fear is they will totally cancel my car insurance and I'll have no replacement car for work, no pay out and worst of all I will have to cover all the costs of the other driver's damage although his car was drivable with a flat tyre but no bodywork damage.. 

Emmia

What does your insurance policy document say? Does it specify a valid MOT certificate as a condition for insurance?

If it does, then you'll probably find your insurer won't pay out I'm afraid.

Chris_English

Emmia said:

What does your insurance policy document say? Does it specify a valid MOT certificate as a condition for insurance?

If it does, then you'll probably find your insurer won't pay out I'm afraid.

Are you aware of any insurance companies who have such a clause? I’ve not heard of it.

Emmia

Chris_English said:

Emmia said:

What does your insurance policy document say? Does it specify a valid MOT certificate as a condition for insurance?

If it does, then you'll probably find your insurer won't pay out I'm afraid.

Are you aware of any insurance companies who have such a clause? I’ve not heard of it.

I've not bought insurance for a couple of years (no car) but I'm pretty sure my last direct line policy required it...

Edit: cars also usually have to be "roadworthy" as a condition - your MOT failure unfortunately suggests that was not the case at the time of the collision 

Arklight

If having a valid MOT is a condition of the policy then I am afraid your policy was not valid at the time you were driving.

Forget about your car; what was the damage to the other vehicle? How about the occupants? Were they injured? 

As far as I know, your insurer will always be on the hook for 3rd party claims, but if / when they realise your MOT had expired they may well come after you for the balance.

Arklight

Maybe this would help?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5783990/no-mot-at-time-of-car-crash

force_ten

my insurance policy states 

You may drive a vehicle that no longer has a valid MOT, to or from somewhere to get it repaired or to a pre-arranged MOT test, as long as the vehicle is roadworthy. Otherwise this may impact your insurance and you could face prosecution.

so you need to check with your own insurer as people are saying that no MOT does not void insurance but the above quote suggests that it might