MOT question

[Twin Turbo]

Quick question....hopefully!

Want to get my wife's car MOT'd tomorrow as it's up for sale. The current MOT runs until the end of November, but if the car should fail the MOT tomorrow is it still road legal as I have a certificate running up to end of Nov?

Got differing views in the office so far

[boredpilot]

IIRC no, reason the new test superseeds the old cert.

[rob.e]

.. but you could just not tell anyone.

That would be dishonest of course

[Munter]

Do copys of MOT's get sent to the DVLA?.....If so you could get caught out. Otherwise no-one will ever know. (Unless the MOT tester comes around to buy it...)

[Pete Cros]

Surely if a car fails an MOT, then it's not roadworthy. If you sell the car with this knowledge, apart from buyer beware, couldn't you be liable for any faults/repairs to make it roadworthy. You, of course, are aware that the car is faulty at the time of sale.

The 'vaild' MOT is only valid on tne day of issue, i.e. Nov 2003. If you drive a car in July 2004 with, say, a non working light bulb. Then you know that the car is unroadworthy, and wouldn't pass an MOT today.



>> Edited by Pete Cros on Friday 16th July 14:33

[simpo two]

If it's only a minor thing then get it fixed at the same time, and you can sell in confidence.

[Twin Turbo]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm pretty confident the car would pass with no worries (it's sailed through the last 3)....but there's always a first time!

Cheers

[kingr seven]

The response I got when I asked a garage about this was "yes, provided the old MOT is still valid, you can still drive it."

Kingr

[Pete Cros]

kingr seven said:

The response I got when I asked a garage about this was "yes, provided the old MOT is still valid, you can still drive it." Kingr

I don't dispute what you were told, but:

If the car fails the MOT today, then it's not roadworthy, no matter when the 'old' MOT was issued.

The 'old' MOT is only valid at the exact time the car was tested. It's not valid the next day, e.g. it's not a guarentee that the car would pass an MOT the next day.

This sort of situation has always worried me.

You can have you 'new' MOT upto one month before the 'old' one runs out. Foe example, if your MOT runs out on 16th Aug, you can obtain a 'new' MOT from 16th July, with an expiry date of 13 months.

Therefore, when the 'old' MOT runs out, your 'new' MOT becomes valid.

But, driving a car on on existing MOT, knowing that the car has failed a new MOT must be a grey area that could land you with problems.



>> Edited by Pete Cros on Friday 16th July 15:09

[Mr Whippy]

The old one is legal until it runs out afaik. If not, then everyone is illegal the day after their MOT, since the cars condition changes every day, tyres wear etc etc. It's just an indication of road worthiness that lasts 1 year full stop.

Per example, my MOT this year, one guy failed it on top rubber strut bushes. I stripped it all out, spring off etc, took it to him with a brand new one and they were identical. Also failed it on things that are not even on the check book.
He looked confused and simply made up more crap about the movement in the wheel (up down, like wheels do).

Took it to someone who specialises in old E30 M3's, few advisories and a full MOT.

Just shows that one test centre is totally different to the next.

Saved £100 by simply getting another MOT for £40.

I'd say that your best getting another MOT if the first seems unreasonable, and fix the one thats easier and cheaper. Avoid work generating main dealers who fail high labour replacement parts.
Goto a specialist if it's a fancy car, they'll spot bits that a specialist buyer will look for when it comes to sell.

Seya

Dave

>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Friday 16th July 15:06

[Pete Cros]

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=10&h=&t=112307