Quick MOT question...

Smackova · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:23

Hey fella's,

I have a an old classic that I fancy taking out this summer if the weather is good, however it needs an MOT and is Sorn.

Am I allowed to take it to a garage to get work done, then home, then to an MOT on another day, or am I ONLY allowed to take it to an MOT at the same time as getting any work done?

Any advice appreciated.

Ricochet J · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:24

I think (don't quote me on this) in this instance the law says you'd need to tow the car to the destinations until a valid MOT certificate and Tax is produced.

Glaucus · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:28

nope you can only drive untaxed and un-MOTd to a booked mot test. To do what you wnat it would have to go on a trailer or flat bed. So just get it done at the same time.

Smackova · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:29

Ah ok.

So I guess I can book an MOT and try and get the work done at the same time...

(I know there are a couple of things to do..)

Thanks.

Von Smallhausen · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:30

Smackova said:
Hey fella's,

I have a an old classic that I fancy taking out this summer if the weather is good, however it needs an MOT and is Sorn.

Am I allowed to take it to a garage to get work done, then home, then to an MOT on another day, or am I ONLY allowed to take it to an MOT at the same time as getting any work done?

Any advice appreciated.

My way around it would be to book the work done at the same garage that will do the MOT.

You can legally drive a car without an MOT to the garage that it is going to be tested at but you must have booked it beforehand. This allows you a defence should you be stopped by the police. If your tax has ran out, assuming it is not a classic car that is exempt from tax, you are still covered as you can't tax it without a valid MOT and you would be covered if you passed the MOT but were stopped on your way to get tax.

Clearly you should still be insured though.

Glaucus · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:31

Von Smallhausen said:
, assuming it is not a classic car that is exempt from tax

They still have to be taxed, it's just free.

Von Smallhausen · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:36

AcidHell2 said:
They still have to be taxed, it's just free.

That I didn't know.

Traffic is not my bag.

Dogbreath · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:06

AcidHell2 said:
nope you can only drive untaxed and un-MOTd to a booked mot test. To do what you wnat it would have to go on a trailer or flat bed. So just get it done at the same time.

Not quite true, you are also allowed to drive to a place to carry out rectification work i.e. if it's failed you can drive is home or to another garage to get the failure points rectified. Providing it's not unsafe to drive of course.

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:31

Surely an MOT is a test as to whether the car is roadworthy, so any failure means the car is "unsafe"?

FrostedNipple · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:37

How far ar you from the mot place? Surely just drive regardless?

Smackova · 13 Apr 2009 at 14:04

1.5 miles.

Almost walking distance.

I dont really want to fall foul of the law.. I'd have no Tax or MOT.

InvaderGIR · 13 Apr 2009 at 14:06

Smackova said:
1.5 miles.

Almost walking distance.

I dont really want to fall foul of the law.. I'd have no Tax or MOT.

Push it.

Spyke_UK · 13 Apr 2009 at 14:15

You are within the law to drive to and from any MOT station that you have a pre-booked appointment for if your vehicle is not currently taxed or MOT'd, the only thing that could stop you from driving the vehicle away for repairs is if the testing station deems the vehicle un-safe to drive, your options then are to have them do the repairs or have the vehicle recovered by tow truck or similar.

Gaygle · 13 Apr 2009 at 15:28

Dogbreath said:
Not quite true, you are also allowed to drive to a place to carry out rectification work i.e. if it's failed you can drive is home or to another garage to get the failure points rectified. Providing it's not unsafe to drive of course.

This ^^^

But also the work that's being done on the car needs to be pre-booked.

Dogbreath · 13 Apr 2009 at 15:53

iaind said:
Surely an MOT is a test as to whether the car is roadworthy, so any failure means the car is "unsafe"?

Of course not, do you honestly belive that e.g. a defective number plate lamp would make a car unsafe to drive?

If there is a fault that makes the car unsafe to drive then the MOT inspector will note this on the failure sheet...if you chose to drive the car in this state, it's very unlikely your insurance would cover you.

Smackova · 13 Apr 2009 at 16:12

So you CAN drive it home after a test? (that it failed).

Glaucus · 13 Apr 2009 at 16:15

iaind said:
Surely an MOT is a test as to whether the car is roadworthy, so any failure means the car is "unsafe"?

nope, it also has a lot of other stuff. if the car is unsafe then you can't drive it home. If it failed but safe you can.

Spyke_UK · 13 Apr 2009 at 16:43

Smackova said:
So you CAN drive it home after a test? (that it failed).

Yes.

As long as already posted, the failure does not include something the MOT tester deems the vehicle unsafe/dangerous to drive.

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 18:11

AcidHell2 said:
nope, it also has a lot of other stuff. if the car is unsafe then you can't drive it home. If it failed but safe you can.

I was being pedantic, but its a valid point...who decides if its safe or not then?

Spyke_UK · 14 Apr 2009 at 11:51

The MOT tester, you can appeal of course, but you still cannot legally drive the vehicle away until appeal looked into, don't expect an appeal being resolved within a couple of days though.