MOT and the law.

Hightower · 12 August 2009, 16:42

If a car fails it's MOT, is it illigal to drive it on the road straight after if you still have a couple of weeks left till your old MOT expires?

C2 RIBS · 12 August 2009, 16:48

When I had mine done some weeks ago another motorist asked the same from the MOT examiner and was told, not illegal as if stopped you can produce an in date MOT from the last year that has not expired.

Hightower · 12 August 2009, 16:54

That was what I thought, but I was told by a friend that with these electronic MOT's it's now a diffent story.

C2 RIBS · 12 August 2009, 17:04

If you are stopped and asked for the MOT and produce it there and then the police dont have any electronic gismos to read it, the cop will read it and maybe even thank you!!! Guess there may be a moral point but you have a valid MOT until it runs out and could even sell the car with this valid one but would have to tell a buyer only if they asked.

Maximus · 12 August 2009, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

That was what I thought, but I was told by a friend that with these electronic MOT's it's now a diffent story.

As far as I know you havent a problem,you can take the vehicle home,to get it fixed,or back to the MOT station without a certificate.And, if you've still got a valid MOT,provideing the car has not been deemed dangerous to drive during the new test by the garage you should be ok.

Hightower · 12 August 2009, 17:12

This is an interesting!

Visited the VOSA website and you can check online whether you have current valid MOT or not. Mine says that it's valid untill the old MOT runs out in 2 weeks time, but that it's been tested and either failed or aborted a previous test.

So I guess we're right and my mates wrong

Here's the link for checking yours http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/internet/j...us-Request.jsp

Poly · 12 August 2009, 17:29

But if you failed an MOT then there is presumably a defect which means it is not roadworthy, and therefore you could get 3 pts and a fine for driving a dodgy vehicle.

Kernow Buoy · 12 August 2009, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

But if you failed an MOT then there is presumably a defect which means it is not roadworthy, and therefore you could get 3 pts and a fine for driving a dodgy vehicle.

That's not true Polwart, not all MOT failures are moving traffic offences, emmissions for instance. If you've got a valid MOT certificate even though you've got a more recent failure your old one still stands.

astra · 12 August 2009, 17:53

Hello,After finishing a mot test the details are recorded on a central database(vosa) ie a pass or a fail with recorded defects so if your car has failed you can legaly drive it from a test station to your home.Just because you have a valid vt20 this does not mean your vehicle is in a satisfactory condition.so if you have a test and it fails and you still have a vt 20 with 20 days left its a ofence to drive it on a public highway.VOSA IS WATCHING YOU its like big brother.

astra · 12 August 2009, 17:54

you will get a prohibition notice

Poly · 12 August 2009, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernow

That's not true Polwart, not all MOT failures are moving traffic offences, emmissions for instance. If you've got a valid MOT certificate even though you've got a more recent failure your old one still stands.

Kernow I didn't mean to imply the every MoT fail was necessarily "unroadworthy", and I know of cases where a vehicle has failed at one test centre and passed at another. But I did think it was an offense to use a vehicle that didn't meet the emission requirements: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/...cement?page=15

PeterM · 12 August 2009, 18:05

If you have a bit of paper it just shows it passed ' on that day'. You can still have no tread on tyres etc that make it illegal to drive on the road.

If your paperwork is valid ( in date) and all else is OK - you'll be fine even if you have ' failed' . Thats why they allow you a month to get it tested & passed before the old one runs out . This can give you a 13 month MOT !

Carl · 12 August 2009, 18:13

so how is the monty then ?

Kernow Buoy · 12 August 2009, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Kernow I didn't mean to imply the every MoT fail was necessarily "unroadworthy", and I know of cases where a vehicle has failed at one test centre and passed at another. But I did think it was an offense to use a vehicle that didn't meet the emission requirements: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/...cement?page=15

Yes agree it is, but the 2 emmision tests are different, an Mot failure emmision test is far stricter than a roadside (construction and use) check.

Hightower · 12 August 2009, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

so how is the monty then ?

Great piece of kit. Just waiting for the insurance to come though so that I can Tax it.

Hightower · 12 August 2009, 22:30

Well all I can say is that when my Reg and log book ref number was entered into the VOSA website it came up with various pieces of info about my car which varified that it has a current MOT which runs out on the 23rd, dispite my car failing last Friday. There was a foot note however that confirmed that the car had, had a recent MOT which was a failier or an aborted MOT.

This is the info the Police would have access to and is good enough for me