Driving with no MOT - Can I get an absolute on this?

[The-Plethora]

My car currently has no MOT and I need a few things for it to pass, most of which I have already sorted (just tyres tomorrow).

The only other outstanding thing is suspension mounts are badly corroded. When I still had a few days on my MOT one of the traders gave it a once over and said it was ok its just the powder coating that had lifted giving it the impression of being damaged.

 

Regardless of this I want to get new suspension fitted as the old bits are looking a little tired, I have ordered these already and they just need fitting.

 

Scouring the net many people seem to be suggesting different things about being able to drive to a place for REPAIR (not MOT).

The no penalty points site seems to suggest its ok.

 

http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/NoMOTAndThePenalties.html

What Happens if I Drive my Car Without an MOT?

If you do drive a vehicle without a valid MOT it will usually invalidate your insurance, and if you have an accident or are stopped by the police, you will be liable to face prosecution for MOT non-compliance. The only time you may drive a car without a valid MOT is if you are driving to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage that will carry out repairs that are required for your vehicle to pass the MOT test.

 

Does anyone know for sure? I have it booked in with another trader and need to take it down there to get everything fitted properly but don't fancy any points.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Guest wantthatone]

hi matey, for what i can remember, you can drive the vehicle to a pre arranged mot station, thats it.

[Matt H]

From when I had to do something similar for my escort, from what I read on the DVLA site, you can only drive a car without an MOT to a test centre to get the MOT (once). If it fails the MOT, it can't be driven on the road again.

 

From what you are saying, it seems that you have not had an MOT and it has not failed, but you know it would do? I'm pretty sure you cannot drive the car to a garage for repairs if you have no MOT. The above exception is more to do with SORN cars that should have 'already' been repaired and it is anticiapted it will pass i.e safe to be on the road.

 

I think you'll need to trailer it to stay the right side of the law

Edited November 24, 2010 by Matt H (see edit history)

[The-Plethora]

It had it's MOT but failed on tyres (getting tomorrow) horn (done) brakes (done) and these suspension mounts. After dicking about trying to get bits from TEIN which wont be here till mid January I bought some new stuff. So it has had an MOT but failed recently.

 

Another web page

"you are legaly allowed to drive a car to and from a place of repair,that could be either a garage or even your parents house if the car cannot be repaired at your home address,also you are legaly allowed to drive the car to and from an mot station"

 

I don't want to chance it or anything but if it's legal and I can save the price of getting someone to trailer it to get the work done on it then obviously I will drive it.

So to sum up it failed the MOT recently but looking at the mounts they dont seem dangerous to me and one of the traders.

 

 

Having a look on the DVLA site but turned up nothing conclusive. Might drop into the police station and see what they say, at least I have a reference then.

[The-Plethora]

Ok "sort of" found the official line from the DVLA

 

Why you need an MOT certificate

 

It is generally an offence to use on a public road, a vehicle of testable age that doesn’t have a current test certificate, except when:

 

* taking it to a test station for an MOT test booked in advance

* bringing it away from a test station after it has failed the MOT test, to a place of repair

* taking it to a place, by previous arrangement, where problems that caused the vehicle to fail its MOT test, can be repaired

* bringing it away from a place where the problems with the vehicle have been repaired

 

Even in the above circumstances you may still be prosecuted for driving an unroadworthy vehicle if it doesn’t comply with various regulations affecting its construction and use. Your car insurance may also be invalid.

 

The police can ask to see an MOT certificate for a vehicle that needs to have one. They also have access to the computerised records of MOT test results and can tell if the MOT certificate for your vehicle has expired.

 

It is your responsibility as the vehicle owner to ensure that the due MOT test is carried out in time. You can use the peel off reminder sticker on the front of the certificate and put it in a place where you’ll be reminded of the expiry date. A place like the sun visor or the back of the tax disc holder facing inside the vehicle.

 

The penalty for driving a vehicle on the road with an expired MOT certificate is a fixed penalty notice from the police, currently £60, or a court fine up to a maximum of a £1,000.

 

 

 

SO...if I am reading this right I just need to speak to my insurance company to see what they think?

[AndrewOW]

The penalty for being caught without a valid MOT is death by firing squad.

 

Plus it's not legal to drive your car without one.

 

Best not get caught, then.

[tbourner]

You've got it right dude, you can drive to a place that's been pre-arranged to repair the car and/or to do another MOT.

If you take it somewhere for repair and haven't booked an MOT though it has to be left at that garage (ie: you can't then drive it home) until you've booked somewhere else to have an MOT, then you can take it there.

 

If you get stopped the worst that will happen is the police will phone the garage where you claim to have it booked for repair.

 

You could check with your insurance if you like, I imagine they wouldn't pay if the accident was found to be caused by the part that failed the previous MOT but other than that they can't do much.

[jackso11]

Mine is expired and I am going to drive it to get another one. I had another car that failed and MOT a few weeks ago and the test centre told me I could drive it for 10 days with the failed cert to get it fixed.....but from what is above it looks like they were wrong.

 

Just drive it to and from pre booked places to get it fixed or to get it MOT'ed....print that page you found on the DVLA site and keep it in the car just in case.

[gjp]

If I remember I'll ask tomorrow when I pick my car and new MOT certificate up.

[leelbuk]

Driving without an MOT is a non-endorsable offence i.e. no points. I have been caught for it once before - I was 20 and I completely forgot that it had been a year since the last time and the Police did a spot check on me. I was shocked and pretty worried about the consequnces at the time until the officer told me there and then it was non-endorsable, just a fine to pay.

 

That said, I'd be more worried about the insurance - wouldn't want to drive anywhere in the car if it is not insured. Just not worth the risk!

[Chris Wilson]

What's an MOT??

[Fitz]

What's an MOT??

 

Mode Of Transport

[SUPRALOOPY]

What's an MOT??

[AndrewOW]

Mode Of Transport

 

Ministry of Transport, a superior establishment to the Ministry of Silly Walks circa. 1970.

[Guest niteryder]

Some testers are very anal, I had an an adjustable steering column that failed once, too much play. Took it to another MOT test station and it passed. The car had another 5 MOT's at three different stations and passed every time, because there was noting wrong with it, just natural movement of an adjustable system I would get another opinion on those mounts.

[Westy]

Driving without an MOT is a non-endorsable offence i.e. no points. I have been caught for it once before - I was 20 and I completely forgot that it had been a year since the last time and the Police did a spot check on me. I was shocked and pretty worried about the consequnces at the time until the officer told me there and then it was non-endorsable, just a fine to pay.

 

That said, I'd be more worried about the insurance - wouldn't want to drive anywhere in the car if it is not insured. Just not worth the risk!

 

Spot on! In Scotland its a £60 non endorsable ticket.

[Guest samurai infidel]

I just spoke to my brother who is a copper,and he stated the rules are, you may only drive a non MOT'd vehicle to a test centre where the vehicle is booked in.

If stopped by the police,they will just ring ahead to confirm its booked in.

[tbourner]

I just spoke to my brother who is a copper,and he stated the rules are, you may only drive a non MOT'd vehicle to a test centre where the vehicle is booked in.

If stopped by the police,they will just ring ahead to confirm its booked in.

 

What about for repairs though? Does it have to be the MOT test centre doing the repairs? What if it's a place that doesn't repair cars (like those council run ones)?

[Chris Wilson]

I just spoke to my brother who is a copper,and he stated the rules are, you may only drive a non MOT'd vehicle to a test centre where the vehicle is booked in.

If stopped by the police,they will just ring ahead to confirm its booked in.

 

He needs to be sent on a refresher course then:

 

The key wording is PRE-BOOKED test and PRE-BOOKED repair ..

Vehicle testing etc.

 

22 (1) A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a) submitting it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a compulsory test, or

(b) bringing it away from a compulsory test.

(2) A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used by an authorised person in the course of a compulsory test solely for the purpose of—

(a) taking it to, or bringing it away from, a place where a part of the test is to be, or has been, carried out, or

(b) carrying out a part of the test.

(3) Where the relevant certificate is refused on a compulsory test of a vehicle the vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a) delivering it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) at a place where relevant work is to be done on it, or

(b) bringing it away from a place where relevant work has been done on it.

(4) In this paragraph“compulsory test” means, as respects England and Wales and Scotland—

(a) in the case of a vehicle for which by virtue of section 66(3) of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 a vehicle licence cannot be granted unless certain requirements are satisfied, an examination such as is specified in sub-paragraph (5), and

(b) otherwise, an examination under section 45 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 with a view to obtaining a test certificate without which a vehicle licence cannot be granted for the vehicle.

(5) The examinations referred to in sub-paragraph (4)(a) are—

(a) an examination under regulations under section 49 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 (examination as to a goods vehicle’s compliance with construction and use requirements),

(b) an examination for the purposes of sections 54 to 58 of that Act (examination as to a goods vehicle’s compliance with type approval requirements),

© an examination for the purposes of section 60 of that Act (appeals in type approval cases), and

(d) an examination under regulations under section 61(2)(a) of that Act (examinations in connection with alterations to goods vehicles subject to type approval requirements).

(6) In this paragraph“compulsory test” means, as respects Northern Ireland—

(a) an examination to obtain a vehicle test certificate under Article 33 of the [s.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 without which a vehicle licence cannot be obtained for the vehicle, or

(b) an examination to obtain a goods vehicle certificate, public service vehicle licence or certificate of inspection under Article 53, 60(1) or 67 of that Order.

(7) In this paragraph“authorised person” means—

(a) in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (4)(b), a person who is, or is acting on behalf of, an examiner or inspector entitled to carry out such an examination or a person acting under the personal direction of such a person,

(b) in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (5), an examiner appointed under section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a person carrying out the examination under the direction of such an examiner or a person driving the vehicle in accordance with a requirement to do so under the regulations under which the examination is carried out, and

© in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (6), an inspector of vehicles within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

( In this paragraph“the relevant certificate” means, as respects England and Wales and Scotland—

(a) a test certificate (as defined in section 45(2) of the Road Traffic Act 198,

(b) a goods vehicle test certificate (as defined in section 49 of that Act), or

© a type approval certificate or Minister’s approval certificate (as defined in sections 54 to 58 of that Act).

(9) In this paragraph“the relevant certificate” means, as respects Northern Ireland—

(a) a vehicle test certificate, a goods vehicle certificate or a public service vehicle licence (within the meaning of the [s.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981),

(b) a certificate of inspection (within the meaning of Article 67(2) of that Order), or

© a type approval certificate or Department’s approval certificate (within the meaning of Article 31A of that Order).

(10) In this paragraph“relevant work” means—

(a) where the relevant certificate which is refused is a test certificate (or, in Northern Ireland, a vehicle test certificate), work done or to be done to remedy for a further compulsory test the defects on the ground of which the relevant certificate was refused, and

(b) in any other case, work done or to be done to remedy the defects on the ground of which the relevant certificate was refused (including work to alter the vehicle in some aspect of design, construction, equipment or marking on account of which the relevant certificate was refused).

[The-Plethora]

Think I should be ok then, got the tyres done today as well so at least I can show I have also done everything apart from the suspension although I did get caught out with staggered tyres, I thought "tyres is tyres" and gave them the sizes off the front, by no means the first to do this apparently.

They offerred me some Wanli ditch finder specials initially...I passed on those.

As fun as the pea green Honda Jazz has been I can't wait to get the car back.

[Guest samurai infidel]

He needs to be sent on a refresher course then:

 

The key wording is PRE-BOOKED test and PRE-BOOKED repair ..

Vehicle testing etc.

 

22 (1) A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a) submitting it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a compulsory test, or

(b) bringing it away from a compulsory test.

(2) A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used by an authorised person in the course of a compulsory test solely for the purpose of—

(a) taking it to, or bringing it away from, a place where a part of the test is to be, or has been, carried out, or

(b) carrying out a part of the test.

(3) Where the relevant certificate is refused on a compulsory test of a vehicle the vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a) delivering it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) at a place where relevant work is to be done on it, or

(b) bringing it away from a place where relevant work has been done on it.

(4) In this paragraph“compulsory test” means, as respects England and Wales and Scotland—

(a) in the case of a vehicle for which by virtue of section 66(3) of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 a vehicle licence cannot be granted unless certain requirements are satisfied, an examination such as is specified in sub-paragraph (5), and

(b) otherwise, an examination under section 45 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 with a view to obtaining a test certificate without which a vehicle licence cannot be granted for the vehicle.

(5) The examinations referred to in sub-paragraph (4)(a) are—

(a) an examination under regulations under section 49 of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988 (examination as to a goods vehicle’s compliance with construction and use requirements),

(b) an examination for the purposes of sections 54 to 58 of that Act (examination as to a goods vehicle’s compliance with type approval requirements),

© an examination for the purposes of section 60 of that Act (appeals in type approval cases), and

(d) an examination under regulations under section 61(2)(a) of that Act (examinations in connection with alterations to goods vehicles subject to type approval requirements).

(6) In this paragraph“compulsory test” means, as respects Northern Ireland—

(a) an examination to obtain a vehicle test certificate under Article 33 of the [s.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 without which a vehicle licence cannot be obtained for the vehicle, or

(b) an examination to obtain a goods vehicle certificate, public service vehicle licence or certificate of inspection under Article 53, 60(1) or 67 of that Order.

(7) In this paragraph“authorised person” means—

(a) in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (4)(b), a person who is, or is acting on behalf of, an examiner or inspector entitled to carry out such an examination or a person acting under the personal direction of such a person,

(b) in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (5), an examiner appointed under section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a person carrying out the examination under the direction of such an examiner or a person driving the vehicle in accordance with a requirement to do so under the regulations under which the examination is carried out, and

© in the case of an examination within sub-paragraph (6), an inspector of vehicles within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

( In this paragraph“the relevant certificate” means, as respects England and Wales and Scotland—

(a) a test certificate (as defined in section 45(2) of the Road Traffic Act 198,

(b) a goods vehicle test certificate (as defined in section 49 of that Act), or

© a type approval certificate or Minister’s approval certificate (as defined in sections 54 to 58 of that Act).

(9) In this paragraph“the relevant certificate” means, as respects Northern Ireland—

(a) a vehicle test certificate, a goods vehicle certificate or a public service vehicle licence (within the meaning of the [s.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981),

(b) a certificate of inspection (within the meaning of Article 67(2) of that Order), or

© a type approval certificate or Department’s approval certificate (within the meaning of Article 31A of that Order).

(10) In this paragraph“relevant work” means—

(a) where the relevant certificate which is refused is a test certificate (or, in Northern Ireland, a vehicle test certificate), work done or to be done to remedy for a further compulsory test the defects on the ground of which the relevant certificate was refused, and

(b) in any other case, work done or to be done to remedy the defects on the ground of which the relevant certificate was refused (including work to alter the vehicle in some aspect of design, construction, equipment or marking on account of which the relevant certificate was refused).

 

 

I used my wording not his, as to not write a book like you just have.(my bad,will not do it again)

And if you have booked a vehicle in,surely that is pre booked, no?

[hp006]

You may drive to an MOT station or a place of repair. You can not drive the vehicle after it has failed its MOT unless booked into one of these places, so no 10 days unless the previous MOT still has some time on it.

It is non endorsable FPN. If you get an ars**y Police officer they may seize the vehicle with some sort of argument over insurance being invalid. Providing you can show that the vehicle is on its way for repair then no issue. They can ring and check.

A vehicle will not show up intially on PNC in Police car as no mot unless the officer does further enquiries.

 

Hope this helps

Edited November 25, 2010 by hp006 (see edit history)

[Dave]

why dont you just book an mot at the garage--simples

[snake]

just make sure the mot station you booked it into is not a 100 miles away.

[The-Plethora]

Hmmmm cant see any rules about distance