MOT Question?

Vampire · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:35

Quick question (hopefully).

My MOT runs out on 29/09/2010. If I book my car in to have the MOT done on say 23/09/2010 and it fails, will I still be able to drive it on the existing MOT until 29/09/2010, or does the failure immediately void the existing MOT?

Or, if it fails can I still drive it and get whatever fixed myself and a re-test done before 29/09/2010?

I don't think it will fail (though there's a small crack in the windscreen - they missed it last year and it hasn't grown bigger), but if I could potentially end up stranded for a couple of days then I'll need to make other transport plans as I need it for work.

Ta.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:37

If you fail an MOT you can drive it home or another place of repair legally (this is a statutory exemption)

Sone · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:38

if your car will fail an mot its not road legal anyway.

Peerzy · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:38

Burnsy2023 said:
If you fail an MOT you can drive it home or another place of repair legally (this is a statutory exemption)

I thought the garage could hold the car until you trailer it away if it is seriously unsafe (brakes or something)?

[TW]Fox · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:40

Burnsy2023 said:
If you fail an MOT you can drive it home or another place of repair legally (this is a statutory exemption)

He can drive it anywhere he likes legally until the original expiration date unless one of the fail points was specifically marked as dangerous.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:40

Peerzy said:
I thought the garage could hold the car until you trailer it away if it is seriously unsafe (brakes or something)?

No, not that I am aware of.

Sone said:
if your car will fail an mot its not road legal anyway.

That's simply not true.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:41

[TW]Fox;17412013 said:
He can drive it anywhere he likes legally until the original expiration date unless one of the fail points was specifically marked as dangerous.

I've never checked up on this, but I know what I posted earlier is definitely correct.

Sone · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:45

Burnsy2023 said:
That's simply not true.

If vosa pull you, if you can't make it legal there and then or get it towed they tow it for you. While it is rarely enforced i was told this is the law.

[TW]Fox · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:46

Burnsy2023 said:
I've never checked up on this, but I know what I posted earlier is definitely correct.

What you said is true for cars with an expired mot.

Vampire · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:49

Thanks Fox, Burnsy. Sounds like I'll be ok to drive it home if it fails then, as long as it's re-tested and passes before 29/09/2010.

Don't worry I'm not planning to drive around in a child killing death trap, it's a 56 plate Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi which is serviced as per schedule (every 12.5k so about 4 times a year

).

It's getting 4 new tyres this afternoon and the only thing I'm worried about failing is a tiny crack (not chip) in the windscreen. I think technically it's a fail as it's right in front of the drivers eyeline, but it's been there for 18 months and 50k miles and hasn't grown any bigger, they missed/overlooked it last year and I'm taking it to the same place.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Sep 2010 at 14:50

Sone said:
If vosa pull you, if you can't make it legal there and then or get it towed they tow it for you. While it is rarely enforced i was told this is the law.

You are making the assumption that a MOT fail will always make a vehicle un-roadworthy. This isn't the case. What if the fail was because of rear seatbelt issues but you just avoid driving with rear seat passengers?

ubersonic · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:22

Dunno if this helps:

Your MOT is valid until its expiry date even if in the meantime your car fails the MOT - the original pass is still valid. In fact you can have the Test done up to a calendar month before the expiry date and have the new MOT forward-dated to the expiry date of the existing certificate. So if you have your car Tested during that month and it fails, this gives you time to have the repairs carried out and the car re-tested before the expiry of the original certificate and you are not disadvantaged as a result.

kae2 · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:25

Source?

daz · 20 Sep 2010 at 15:38

Burnsy2023 said:
You are making the assumption that a MOT fail will always make a vehicle un-roadworthy. This isn't the case. What if the fail was because of rear seatbelt issues but you just avoid driving with rear seat passengers?

Word - my car recently failed because of an issue with the clasp on the middle rear seat belt! Definitely roadworthy, but still a technical MOT failure