In a recent post, I mentioned driving to MOT without IVA and found that most people here think it's illegal. I double-checked with VOSA, who sent
me the following email:
Me: I have just finished building a kit car but have not yet done MOT, IVA or registration. I have insurance. Is it legal for me to drive to a
pre-booked MOT before IVA/registration?
VOSA: Provided the vehicle has insurance then you are able to drive it to a pre-booked MOT test. If it should fail you can take it to have the
immediate repairs carried out and then straight back to the test station for re-test.
so it seems clear that it is legal to do this. HTH.
but you cannot have an mot carried out on a car with no registration and chassis number, it is NOT legal. you can't even drive to vosa AFTER IVA to have their inspection done.
You can certainly carry out an MoT on a car using the chassis no rather than reg no., & you should already have a chassis no. if you're at
the point of IVA'ing.
TBH unless you have serious doubts about your own ability in building the car, I don't see a lot of point in getting an MoT prior to IVA as they
are looking at substantially different things - you also need to be careful that you don't get your car "in the system" for MoT's
as you then may be asked for MoT when you come to tax the car after one year when you shouldn't need MoT for 3 years.
All IMHO of course 
That sounds like a generic answer from a operative who just reads/writes from a script. The above text is correct for a standard road car which is
currently untaxed/mot'd.
The idea is to take it to the MoT garage to see if it 'would' pass if it was being tested, for peace of mind.
You wouldnt want to put an MOT on the car even if you could as that would mean you would need to get a yearly Mot from that date, rather than getting
the 3 years grace for a car that is 'new'ly registered.
EDIT:
Largely beaten to it...
[Edited on 11/11/10 by loggyboy]
quote:
VOSA: Provided the vehicle has insurance then you are able to drive it to a pre-booked MOT test. If it should fail you can take it to have the immediate repairs carried out and then straight back to the test station for re-test.
You can do an MOT with only a chassis number.
The MOT is useful for getting someone else to give the car a quick once-over before IVA, and giving it a test drive before IVA - otherwise you have no
opportunity to do this (unless you have access to a private road). If you have made a mistake, it's cheaper to find out at MOT than IVA.
In terms of the 3 year MOT exemption, this does not apply to newly registered Q-plates, so there's no reason not to do it before IVA rather than
after, since you have to do it anyway.
This thread shows emails from VOSA and the DVLA which state that Q-plates (and old age-related plates) don't get the three year exemption: VOSA
say "If you have a Q registration then you need an MOT immediately."
http://viatron.websitetoolbox.com/printthread?id=218800
its a strange and confusing ol world
Q plate reg a bike or trike and its no MOT for the first 3 years, but we have MSVA
thank god for that, Im desperate for a 4 wheeled build project, but think I will stick to 2 and 3 
It is not legal to drive an ungegistered, untaxed car on the road except to and from a REQUIRED examination or to/from a subsequent place of repair.
MOT is not required, therefore it's illegal to drive there.
DVLA don't know what they're talking about with this. If they were right then why don't they let you drive to them for thier
inspection... they won't (and have even called the police when people have). They've also sworn blind, on occation, that an MOT is required
in addition to IVA in order to register; Thats how well some of them understand thier own rules.
The IVA test is far different to an MOT anyway so will miss many of the things that cars fail IVA for. Edges radii, noise, light visability angles,
construction, brake balance (brake test is completely different to MOT), speedo calibration,mirror position/view....
MOT is due on all cars 3years from date first registration (on the v5). When DVLA send out tax reminders on Q or age related plates under 3 years old,
it has "MOT required" because there is no provision in the computer to deal with kits. You just need to present the tax form along with the
V5 and form V112 (declaration that MOT is not required) at the post office. Doing a test now though does mean you need one every year.
As for just going and having a "MOT check" and not put through the system... Imagine you go for your "MOT check" and get stopped
by the police on the way home. They ask why your driving with no registration and you tell them. They then ask for the MOT and you don'thave
one... We'll sieze the car then sir, thank you!
Wnen I SVA'd my car years ago.. An age related plate had to have an MOT and SVA. The same bods did the MOT after the sva inspection. Has the IVA lost the MOT requirement?
I agree with everything adithorp says, do not drive to a test that is not required.
quote:
Originally posted by Andy D
Wnen I SVA'd my car years ago.. An age related plate had to have an MOT and SVA. The same bods did the MOT after the sva inspection. Has the IVA lost the MOT requirement?
There wasn't one at SVA and there still isn't with IVA. Whether there was a requirement earlier that was dropped later I don't know.
Direct.gov.uk suggests that; You can drive your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged test at an MOT test station as long as you have adequate
insurance cover in place for the use of that vehicle.
Therefore, if you have adequate insurance cover and the test is pre-arranged, you have done everything necessary to comply IMO. If you're
concerned about being stopped by the Police, then just get a receipt after the MOT test to prove you've been there.
Phil
Edited to add - AFAIK, there is no required date for an MOT. If I purchased a brand new vehicle, I could have it MOT'd the same day if I
had pre-arranged it. I don't have to wait until it's three years old.......
[Edited on 11-11-10 by Hellfire]
quote:
How did VOSA staff at SVA know the would get an age related plate?
Go on take your car for an MOT
You don't need one in law before going to IVA
You will probably cause no end of problems for yourself and need an MOT every year there after
All the advise on this forum and many others says don't do it,
But if you really want to go ahead.
You can lead a horse to water etc.
The "fact" that Q plates must have an MOT after 1 year is a MYTH
An MOT is required 3 years from the date of first registration whether it has a Q, an age related or a new reg.
A lot of confusion is caused by useless staff at DVLA who don't even know their own rules
quote:
Originally posted by snapper
Go on take your car for an MOT
You don't need one in law before going to IVA
You will probably cause no end of problems for yourself and need an MOT every year there after
All the advise on this forum and many others says don't do it,
But if you really want to go ahead.
You can lead a horse to water etc.
quote:
Originally posted by Snuggs
The "fact" that Q plates must have an MOT after 1 year is a MYTH
An MOT is required 3 years from the date of first registration whether it has a Q, an age related or a new reg.
A lot of confusion is caused by useless staff at DVLA who don't even know their own rules