Wife away and can't sort MOT and road tax - where does she stand?

shapala

Hi all.

My wife had to take an emergency x number of months away to look after her mum who lives other side of the world. There was no time to organise an MOT as she literally heard about the news and was on a plane two days later. She won't return until Sept at the earliest but the Mot and car tax run out end of June. She's obvs not going to fly home as her mother is utmost important and I don't drive and there isn't anyone else on the insurance to drive the car legally. What are her options please? She's tried to sort the road tax online but it mentions MOT needs to be sorted first. tia.

marcia_

shapala said:

Hi all.

My wife had to take an emergency x number of months away to look after her mum who lives other side of the world. There was no time to organise an MOT as she literally heard about the news and was on a plane two days later. She won't return until Sept at the earliest but the Mot and car tax run out end of June. She's obvs not going to fly home as her mother is utmost important and I don't drive and there isn't anyone else on the insurance to drive the car legally. What are her options please? She's tried to sort the road tax online but it mentions MOT needs to be sorted first. tia.

 Is there anyone who can drive using their own insurance 

TadleyBaggie

Where is the car currently If it is not on the road, she could get the car put on SORN, via the DVLA website.

p00hsticks

Can you find a garage that will collect the car to do the MOT ?

zagfles

Where is the car parked? If on a private drive/garage then could SORN it till she gets back. If on the road then it'll need to be taxed. Do you know anyone who could drive it on their insurance, a lot of car insurance includes driving other cars third party, though damage to the car won't be covered. Otherwise a local garage might be able to send someone to pick it up for a MOT. 

400ixl

As people have put, if it is off the road on private land you could SORN the vehicle which would mean it does not need an MOT and the tax is cancelled. Insurance wise you could consider laid up insurance to give fire and theft cover at the point that runs out (make sure it doesn't just auto renew) or take the risk of it not being insured.

Other alternative as mentioned is to find an MOT garage who will collect and return the car driving it under their own business cover. Do you have a usual garage you can ask?

How old is the car? Many main dealers will do collection for a service and MOT of a car with enough notice for example.

Finally, does anyone you know have the ability to drive any other vehicle on their policies and can take it for you? You wife's insurance will still need to be valid and the cover will only be 3rd party, but would work.

Brie

If you google "mot at home" you should come up with a number of options.  But if you want to go with a national firm you might try Halfords.  Car Collection & Delivery Service | Halfords UK

Never tried this kind of thing myself but it's nice to see it's possible.  It's usually such a faff either having to get an MOT done near work or having someone to pick up and drop off at convenient times rather than sit at a garage for 5 hours while you wait for them to get to your car.

kimwp

Get it towed to and from the garage?

shapala

zagfles said:

Where is the car parked? If on a private drive/garage then could SORN it till she gets back. If on the road then it'll need to be taxed. Do you know anyone who could drive it on their insurance, a lot of car insurance includes driving other cars third party, though damage to the car won't be covered. Otherwise a local garage might be able to send someone to pick it up for a MOT. 

It's parked on a road (we live in typical tenemant flats where you park on the road).

We don't really know anyone here since we moved not long ago.

I might need to look at a local place to collect and return - is this common?

Stubod

..you should find a few relatively local garages that will collect and deliver at a reasonable price...

shapala

Stubod said:

..you should find a few relatively local garages that will collect and deliver at a reasonable price...

And it's fine I don't drive and what happens if the MOT fails? Is the car then held to ransom?