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MOT queries
IanBrace - 20/5/10 at 07:46 PM

The skip is ready for MOT.
Does anyone know what the legal position is regarding driving to a booked MOT? I seem to recall you're supposed to go to the nearest station...
In short, can I go to a guy I've used for years who's 25 miles away or should I go to a guy I've never met who's 300 yds away?
The 25 mile option would give me time to bed in brakes but may throw up other problems that may arise from a car I've never driven and hasn't been used on the road for years.... dilema...


blakep82 - 20/5/10 at 07:48 PM

you can drive to a pre booked mot.

don't think theres any rules of how far away it has to be, but should be a 'reasonable' distance. think the rozzers will find 25 miles a bit beyond reasonable though


prawnabie - 20/5/10 at 07:49 PM

Technically they should both give you the same result so why risk it!


clairetoo - 20/5/10 at 07:55 PM

I use a garage near to where I work - that way I can book the test for straight after work , rather than make a special trip out.........
I could get it done nearer - but since the guy I use , I trust not to fail my kit-car on a picky little thing that really dont matter , I figure it's worth the extra 'risk'
I'd go to the guy you trust - 25 miles aint like your taking the p**s


IanBrace - 20/5/10 at 07:57 PM

In an ideal world they SHOULD give the same service... back here in the real World we all know some places look more favourably on our toys than others! Confirmed my fears about a reasonable distance though... I might miss the entrance ( by a couple of miles).
Thanks guys


prawnabie - 20/5/10 at 08:07 PM

Mind you saying that, my friendly MOT tester works 15yds from my seat at work lol


BenB - 20/5/10 at 09:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by prawnabie
Technically they should both give you the same result so why risk it!


Some can't get low kits up on their ramps. Hence I had the fun and games of driving all the way to a pre-booked MOT only for them to say "no way mate" and turn me away. That really worried me because if I had been stopped by the rozzers I couldn't say I was coming back from a pre-booked MOT..... Or rather I could but I couldn't prove it by getting them to look up the car on the MOT database....


loggyboy - 20/5/10 at 09:54 PM

Chances of getting caught = slim
chances of getting caught by a copper going to do more than warn you - slimmer
chances of getting caught by a copper going to do more than warn you and it going anywhere near as far as prosecution = super slimmer

Beside, you could just claim that the garage 25miles away was the most local one that could fit you in at short notice.


bmseven - 20/5/10 at 10:10 PM

From here

No, a car must be insured, taxed and have an MOT to be driven on the road. The penalty for driving a car without an MOT is a fine.

The most relevant exception to this is if you are driving your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged appointment for an MOT and you must take a direct route to the garage (but the vehicle must be insured). Although you must be aware that most failures of MOTs are offences in their own right so you may be committing other offences, for example defective tyres, brakes, lights, steering, horns etc.

However if you are stopped by the police on the way to or from the garage the onus is on you to prove that you had a pre-arranged appointment. Where possible it is always advisable to book your car in for an MOT in good time.

There are one or two other very minor exceptions in addition to the above but they do not really apply to the ordinary car driver.

[Edited on 20/5/10 by bmseven]


JoelP - 21/5/10 at 05:55 AM

id just drive to the guy you know. Getting pulled is a bloody rare occurance these days.