No Tax or MOT - driving to MOT Test?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I have an MOT test booked tomorrow morning, on a car that im insured on, but it has no tax or MOT. Its only about a mile to the test station, and as i say, its booked in. Can i legally drive the car to the MOT station? I cant get tax for it without an MOT and i cant get an MOT without getting it to the MOT station.
Where do i stand?
Cheers
Dave
I have an MOT test booked tomorrow morning, on a car that im insured on, but it has no tax or MOT. Its only about a mile to the test station, and as i say, its booked in. Can i legally drive the car to the MOT station? I cant get tax for it without an MOT and i cant get an MOT without getting it to the MOT station.
Where do i stand?
Cheers
Dave
It is perfectly legal to drive to the MoT providing you are insured. It all covered in the RTA (Construction and Use) which makes specific provision for the circumstances you describe.
The same goes for an SVA where you won't even be able to fit number plates as you need the SVA to register the vehicle.
Best of luck with the MoT.
PS Why do we still call it an MoT when that department died years ago, its certainly not mentioned on the Test Cert?
The same goes for an SVA where you won't even be able to fit number plates as you need the SVA to register the vehicle.
Best of luck with the MoT.
PS Why do we still call it an MoT when that department died years ago, its certainly not mentioned on the Test Cert?
I was stopped in this situation about 8 years ago, and was told that it was illegal by the police officer, who reported me to the DVLA. I contacted the DVLA, explained my situation and was told that in fact it wasn't illegal, and as long as I sent them written proof that the test occurred on that day I'd be fine. I did this, and heard nothing more from them. 
V8 Archie said:
Yes you can. I believe this is the only time you are allowed to drive with no tax/MOT.
Except for driving to the Post Office to get your shiny new tax disk IIRC.
You can drive to and from the mot station. but you carnt go home then drive it to the post office to get the tax..
A chap i know has just been done for that on a car he bought. bought it drove to post office to get tax and got stopped on the way... nice big fine..
if you could argue the post office was on the way back from the mot station you could get away with it...
also i imagine if you stop and park the car on the road to or from the mot station you would be on dodgey ground...
gnomesmith said:
It is perfectly legal to drive to the MoT providing you are insured. It all covered in the RTA (Construction and Use) which makes specific provision for the circumstances you describe.
The same goes for an SVA where you won't even be able to fit number plates as you need the SVA to register the vehicle.
Best of luck with the MoT.
PS Why do we still call it an MoT when that department died years ago, its certainly not mentioned on the Test Cert?
Actually it is mentioned. It says 'MOT test certificate' at the top in large letters. That's on the one I got today, and also on the one that has just expired, and the ones before that.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Tuesday 17th February 22:24
It is legal for commercial vehicles for certain, my understanding is that it also carries for private cars aswell.
The guidelines for commercial vehicle are very strict in terms of it having to be your local test station and I would apply the same criteria to private vehicles.
I am doing exactly the same thing tomorrow !
The guidelines for commercial vehicle are very strict in terms of it having to be your local test station and I would apply the same criteria to private vehicles.
I am doing exactly the same thing tomorrow !
johno said:
It is legal for commercial vehicles for certain, my understanding is that it also carries for private cars aswell.
The guidelines for commercial vehicle are very strict in terms of it having to be your local test station and I would apply the same criteria to private vehicles.
I am doing exactly the same thing tomorrow !
Hi Mark,
I think the wording is something like 'driving to a pre-arranged test'. If that was a hundred miles away, they might think you were extracting the urine.
PS You going to Zolder this year?
Off the road for the winter. If you fail the MOT you can drive the vehicle to be repaired.
Years ago I bought a Triumph Dolomite with no MOT. I wanted to get it from Leicestershire to London. So I booked it in for an MOT which it duly failed, and drove it to a garage in London. Breaking the law - NO, stretching it to the very limit of the spirit of intent - YES!
Years ago I bought a Triumph Dolomite with no MOT. I wanted to get it from Leicestershire to London. So I booked it in for an MOT which it duly failed, and drove it to a garage in London. Breaking the law - NO, stretching it to the very limit of the spirit of intent - YES!
GavinPearson said:
If you fail the MOT you can drive the vehicle to be repaired.
Years ago I bought a Triumph Dolomite with no MOT. I wanted to get it from Leicestershire to London. So I booked it in for an MOT which it duly failed, and drove it to a garage in London. Breaking the law - NO, stretching it to the very limit of the spirit of intent - YES!
No Gavin its breaking the law. The dispensation requires you to drive to an appropriate garage (explained in caselaw as local) by the most direct route. if the failure was on a serious safety fault there are even more restrictions.
You might get away with it if you could demonstrate that the only garage that could deal with it was that in London but much as I like the Dolomite I think that arguement might fail.
Not sure I'd want to drive an MoT failure from Leicester to London whatever the circumstances.
B16 RFF said. 'Actually it is mentioned. It says 'MOT test certificate' at the top in large letters. That's on the one I got today, and also on the one that has just expired, and the ones before that'.
I've just checked mine and you are right but it doesn't alter thee thrust of the statement, why is it still called an MoT?
gnomesmith said:
If you fail the MOT you can drive the vehicle to be repaired.
Years ago I bought a Triumph Dolomite with no MOT. I wanted to get it from Leicestershire to London. So I booked it in for an MOT which it duly failed, and drove it to a garage in London. Breaking the law - NO, stretching it to the very limit of the spirit of intent - YES!
No Gavin its breaking the law. The dispensation requires you to drive to an appropriate garage (explained in caselaw as local) by the most direct route. if the failure was on a serious safety fault there are even more restrictions.
You might get away with it if you could demonstrate that the only garage that could deal with it was that in London but much as I like the Dolomite I think that arguement might fail.
Not sure I'd want to drive an MoT failure from Leicester to London whatever the circumstances.
B16 RFF said. 'Actually it is mentioned. It says 'MOT test certificate' at the top in large letters. That's on the one I got today, and also on the one that has just expired, and the ones before that'.
I've just checked mine and you are right but it doesn't alter thee thrust of the statement, why is it still called an MoT?
When you see the death traps with monster V8s that people here drive you wonder why the UK bothers with an MOT.
I didn't feel unsafe in the car.
It all depends on interpretation. Nowadays I would be less inclined to tempt fate but I would certainly have no hesitation in going a bit further to a trusted specialist than to a local but inept garage.
There is also the matter of timing. If you need an MOT today, you can't wait until next week. You may have to drive 30 miles to get a vehicle tested and more than that to get it repaired.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff