Moving a sorn car with no MOT

DiscoKandy · 10 Jul 2007 at 13:35

Hi,
I've bought a car off a guy at work that he's had sitting around for months, its a 2001 fiesta and mechanically fine, however its SORN and the MOT has expired.

What are my options for getting this car back to my house (2 miles away) or to an MOT station legally.

The obvious option is to stick it on a trailer or tow boy, however I don't have either and cant really afford to get someone to come out and do it.

Somone told me that if I insure it and drive it directly to an MOT station for a booked appointment, then this is legal. Can anyone confirm this ?

Failing that is it legal to just tow it behind a car using a tow line ?

manoz · 10 Jul 2007 at 13:40

I was under the impression that the only time you can be excused for not having insurance/MOT is if you're way to get them.

Here you go. MOT bit http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/28.htm#3

Dunno bout towing but don't see why not.

L1J · 10 Jul 2007 at 13:46

You can drive to a MOT station.

Book the car in, collect it, drive to test station, get it tested, drive home!

DiscoKandy · 10 Jul 2007 at 13:47

L1J said:
You can drive to a MOT station.

Book the car in, collect it, drive to test station, get it tested, drive home!

The only requiremnt being that i'm insured to drive it ?

L1J · 10 Jul 2007 at 13:54

DiscoKandy said:
The only requiremnt being that i'm insured to drive it ?

I'm 99% sure the test station's insurance will cover you. Give them a ring and ask.

IDY · 10 Jul 2007 at 14:25

manoz said:
Dunno bout towing but don't see why not.

No it needs to be taxed, tested and insured for it to be towed (well apart from going to a prebooked test*) I am not sure about towing dollies which convert a car into a trailer

edit - *would still need insurance though

[TW]Fox · 10 Jul 2007 at 14:35

L1J said:
I'm 99% sure the test station's insurance will cover you. Give them a ring and ask.

No, it absolutely won't. You MUST be insured on the car yourself.

Shadez · 10 Jul 2007 at 14:36

Dont listen to some of the people above.

The only time you are allowed to drive a car on the road that isnt mot's or taxed, is if you are on the way to a PRE BOOKED MOT or SVA test. You MUST be insured to drive the car, you cannot get away with driving any car on the road that isnt insured.

The above is also true if you park said car anywhere that isnt private property.

manoz · 10 Jul 2007 at 15:29

IDY said:
No it needs to be taxed, tested and insured for it to be towed (well apart from going to a prebooked test*) I am not sure about towing dollies which convert a car into a trailer

edit - *would still need insurance though

Ah ok, what about hiding it in a large truck hehe?

Siliconslave · 10 Jul 2007 at 15:32

you can legally trailer it anywhere you like, you just can't have any of the wheels touching the road

IDY · 10 Jul 2007 at 15:58

manoz said:
Ah ok, what about hiding it in a large truck hehe?

As said above as long as all the wheels are off the road you are fine. The towing dollies normally lift the front wheels off the ground in effect converting the towed car into a trailer. But as the rear wheels of the car are still on the road I am not sure if the car must have tax, test and insurance, would susspect that it would

L1J · 10 Jul 2007 at 16:13

[TW]Fox said:
No, it absolutely won't. You MUST be insured on the car yourself.

My local place has done this a few times for me. You MUST ensure the vehicle is adequately insured, hence the ring them and ask.

Some insurance companies state they will not cover a vehicle on it's way to a test station without a valid MOT certificate (I think Esure is one).