Ghost MOT

[ver01@]

I have a strong suspicion that a car I test-drove recently has not had a proper MOT. Supposedly had an MOT a month ago (no advisories), but the front suspension is making clunking noises when going over bumps and there is uneven tire wear. There were also a few other things (CV joint boot split) which unless it happened after the MOT would have been a fail or at least an advisory. Do I report this to DVSA?

 

[ver01@]

Dealer vehicle but not sure if the MOT was done (bought) by the previous owner or the dealer. Will let others find out.

 

[ver01@]

This is not an appeal. I don't own the car. I'll see what the DVSA says as they may have received similar reports from the same MOT testing station.
The CV joint is split but you can't prove it was split at the time of the test.
The uneven tyre ware should have been at least an advisory as tread it's 2mm at most and definitely <1.6mmm in the inner third.

 

[ver01@]

From what I recall not more than a couple hundred miles.

 

[ver01@]

Unless you want to actually appeal an MOT the DVSA won’t do or say anything.
Why would they?

We will have to see but I expect they can use that info especially if concerns have been raised previously.

 

[ver01@]

Receiving similar info and concerns from multiple sources is a good start.

 

[ver01@]

From the official source

Report an MOT tester

Find out if you can report an MOT tester or centre for fraud, how to report them (including without giving your name), and what will happen next.

www.gov.uk

"You can report an MOT tester or centre to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you think they’re breaking the law. This includes if they are:

• giving an MOT certificate to a vehicle they know should have failed
• giving an MOT certificate to a vehicle they have not tested
• taking bribes for MOT certificates

There is a different process to appeal an MOT result if you think the tester got it wrong."

 

[ver01@]

I should imagine most people who get their car through an MOT wouldn't bother trying to go after the MOT station that passed it.

Potential buyers would though, especially if there is a chance that the dealer is involved.

 

[ver01@]

Potential buyers should be doing their own evaluation.

If the dealer is selling unroadworthy cars, then this is for Trading Standards.

An MOT tester isn't going to spot everything wrong on the thousands of vehicles they test every year. It is simply a safety net, and we should expect some to fall through.

That is what has happened.
I can only report and leave the investigation with the DVSA.

 

[ver01@]

DVSA aren't trading standards. You've just blamed the MOT tester instead of the dealer selling the car.

The MOT tester is responsible. Is it the dealers responsibility to check if the MOT is genuine?

 

[ver01@]

Isn't the MOT test supposed to assure a vehicle is roadworthy?
If the dealer sold a vehicle that had a clean MOT the same day it was sold, I am not sure how the dealer would be responsible?

 

[ver01@]

At time of test, not a month later.

If the dealer sold a vehicle that had a clean MOT the same day it was sold, I am not sure how the dealer would be responsible?

 

[ver01@]

So when the car breaks down that day, you gonna go back to the MOT tester to repair your vehicle?

You are missing the point.
The car should not have been on the road in the first place.

 

[ver01@]

I have emailed with all the details, including the invoice from the MOT

 

[ver01@]

In your opinion, and your opinion only.
Tbh, I personally don't think you've a clue what you're talking about.
Week in, week out I get people telling me I shouldn't have failed something, or I should have done this that or the other, and 100% of the time they are incorrect.
I introduce them to the testing manual (which is available online), which always clears things up.


Because they are responsible, obviously, they sold the car.
You can appeal the MOT decision if you like, but if the car has any faults etc, then your first port of call is with the dealer that sold it.
If you bought a toaster and it was faulty, would you contact the maker of the toaster or take it back to the shop you bought it from?
Actually, I can imagine you sat outside the Russell Hobbs factory, toaster in hand waiting for the factory to open so you can complain about a faulty heating element.
Give me strength.

A split CV boot has been a fail for many years so in my opinion (and according to the testing manual) the car should not be on the road.
Not sure why you disagree with my opinion?

And BTW the faulty toaster had a warranty card in the box - and guess what... it wasn't from the shop I bought it from.

 

[ver01@]

This may be the most unhinged thread on here in the past few weeks and there have been some notable, incredibly unhinged threads. OcUK delivers!!

Was this from a dealer? Either way I'd say it sounds reportable. If your suspicions are correct you may at least stop the practice there, or at best actually save someone's life.

All done and dusted now.
While I was at it, reported a site that apparently issues ghost MOTs (unless it's DVSA phishing )

 

[ver01@]

I've seen (and posted in) that one... This one is still peak unhinged!