mot lookup - why so difficult?

[[TW]Fox]

Why?

To satisfy the curiosity of virtual tyre-kickers? Doesn't seem like a very good reason to release currently private information about somebodies car, does it? Advisories would be the worst - often advisories without context are very misleading. An advisory is simply the opinion of a single MOT tester - we've seen on here over the years all sorts of bonkers advisories which mean absolutely nothing but would put some people off if they are simply at the shortlisting stage on autotrader. 'Engine tray obscuring access' for example. Things which if you'd already had a chat with the seller etc etc you'd be far less bothered about.

Currently all the information needed to buy a car safely is available to the potential buyer before purchase. It is correct that it's not available without the knowledge of the seller first.

There is no real reason other than noseyness to open the entire thing up to all and sundry. It's not as if needing to pop the V5C number in is some sort of chore! You wouldn't buy a car without sight of the V5 anyway, so the number is always available prior to sale and if its not then you need to be asking questions.

 

[The Running Man]

V5 at parents house instead of yours? Is the car registered at the correct address? Just a heads up in case you do; this can cause problems with any insurance claim if the company gets picky.

Car is registered to my parents address because it is my most fixed abode. I move around renting and I tell my insurance the address its parked at. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Golf1.6]

The garage doesn't "have" to charge you, it doesn't cost them anything to print a duplicate, just time to do it (like 2 mins)

if you ran a business you'd know how much of a hassle it is if random people just walk into your shop requiring you to do these special favours for them for free. It takes time for the mechanic to stop what he's doing and do the paperwork for you. Why do you expect them to go out of their way to do you a favour for free? they've given you a copy, and they're under no legal obligation to provide you with a duplicate. Everyone charges for duplicates, ever tried to get a duplicate statement? It will cost you.

 

[Morba]

if you ran a business you'd know how much of a hassle it is if random people just walk into your shop requiring you to do these special favours for them for free. It takes time for the mechanic to stop what he's doing and do the paperwork for you. Why do you expect them to go out of their way to do you a favour for free? they've given you a copy, and they're under no legal obligation to provide you with a duplicate. Everyone charges for duplicates, ever tried to get a duplicate statement? It will cost you.

Everyone charges because everyone else charges.
Takes a few mins to print a copy, would potentially mean more repeat custom also.

 

[Dogbreath]

Everyone charges because everyone else charges.
Takes a few mins to print a copy, would potentially mean more repeat custom also.

Time in which the garage employees can be performing chargeable work. It won't do anything for repeat custom, the fee is hardly beyond the means of someone that can afford to run a car.

 

[[TW]Fox]

if you ran a business you'd know how much of a hassle it is if random people just walk into your shop requiring you to do these special favours for them for free.

Except he's not a random person - he's a customer. He's bought a service from you. Doing a 'special favour' (It's really not that special) 'for free' or refusing might just be the difference between repeat business and the customer going elsewhere next time. There is numerous downtime as a mechanic - it isn't non-stop 8am till 6pm every day of the week. It's not particulary taxing to say 'Leave me the details and I'll have it for you tommorrow sir'.

It takes time for the mechanic to stop what he's doing and do the paperwork for you. Why do you expect them to go out of their way to do you a favour for free? they've given you a copy, and they're under no legal obligation to provide you with a duplicate.

It's fairly crap customer service to only do what you are legally obliged to.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Car is registered to my parents address because it is my most fixed abode. I move around renting and I tell my insurance the address its parked at. Am I doing something wrong?

Yes, it should be registered at the address you keep the vehicle and where you live, IIRC.