MOT runs out on a Saturday - ok to drive once on Sunday?

[.blue]

Hi all,

Quick question - basically I'm not at home right now and won't be going back till the day after my MOT runs out, which is a Sunday.

Just wanted to check what the general opinion (and hopefully also the correct answer) is on driving the car around 150 miles from where I am now to a garage in my home town on Sunday. Obviously, the garage won't be open on Sunday but as long as I have booked an appointment for Monday, is that all legal in case I get stopped?

The background story for nosey people...The car is in perfectly good condition (usual suspects like lights, tyres etc. are all legal) but will probably need new discs and pads on this MOT. So rather than getting it done with an unknown garage here, I'd rather take it to one I trust at home.

Cheers

[Snowboy]

I know (as I’m sure you do) that you can legally drive to a pre-booked MOT as long as you have insurance.

I would assume that the same law applies if you are parking the car in the garage yard overnight for an MOT the next day.
You might get some trouble if you leave it parked on the road – but if it’s taxed and parked outside a garage then it’s unlikely.

I guess there might be some questions about why you started your journey away from home – but as long as the car is roadworthy and safe I would think the police will have better things to worry about.

Edited by Snowboy on Tuesday 29th May 15:15

[StottyZr]

Could be better to ask on the speed, plod&law section.

Either way I'm pretty sure it is illegal. You can only drive to a booked MOT appointment, you can't stop off at home or at the shops on the journey.

[R60EST]

The worst case scenario would be a fine , no penalty points given for not having an MOT

[CypherP]

I'd question the distance required to drive on the day to be honest. If you got stopped, the first question they would ask is why it wasn't either booked in advance of the expiry date, or why a local place wasn't used to ensure it is safe to drive the distance.

Legally yes you can drive to a pre-booked MOT station providing the car is insured, but I'm not so sure doing 150 miles with an expired MOT is completely within the law.

I understand you wanting to use a local trustworthy garage though.

[0000]

StottyZr said:

Either way I'm pretty sure it is illegal. You can only drive to a booked MOT appointment, you can't stop off at home or at the shops on the journey.

He's saying he's driving to a booked MoT appointment, albeit early, without stopping off at the shops or home, isn't he?

[Deluded]

If you're taxed and insured I really wouldn't worry about it.

My mother drive around for 6 months without not until she went to tax it and realised it ran out.

From what I've heard, it's quite common.

[DanDC5]

doogz said:

It's probably a bit naughty, but if you were pulled, and explained yourself, I'd imagine chances are you'd get away with it.

This.

Plus I'm sure the computer system for checking this stuff doesn't update that quickly.

[Matt UK]

doogz said:

It's probably a bit naughty, but if you were pulled, and explained yourself, I'd imagine chances are you'd get away with it.

I'd agree with that.

However OP, if you are involved in an accident it might be a whole different story. Insurance companies are not known for their willingness to smear the lines of what is acceptable when they have a chance not to pay out...

Proceed. With caution.

[StottyZr]

0000 said:

StottyZr said:

Either way I'm pretty sure it is illegal. You can only drive to a booked MOT appointment, you can't stop off at home or at the shops on the journey.

He's saying he's driving to a booked MoT appointment, albeit early, without stopping off at the shops or home, isn't he?

For some reason I'd read he was driving home, then to the MOT on the Monday when the station was open

[djfaulkner]

0000 said:

StottyZr said:

Either way I'm pretty sure it is illegal. You can only drive to a booked MOT appointment, you can't stop off at home or at the shops on the journey.

He's saying he's driving to a booked MoT appointment, albeit early, without stopping off at the shops or home, isn't he?

I could be wrong - but I think the point he is making is you can legally drive to a booked MOT appointment, but you arent allowed to make any breaks/stop on the journey.

Driving it to a garage/house/yard leaving it overnight then taking it for an MOT the next day might be classed as a break in the journey.

[Vipers]

What happens to insrance in the event of an accident and your are driving illegally, will the insurers pay out?

[daz3210]

And of course Monday is a Bank Holiday, will the garage really be open?

Or is this another weekend to this weekend.

[The Jolly Todger]

If your car won't pass it's MOT because of knackered brakes then it is illegal to drive it today let alone on Sunday.

Edited by The Jolly Todger on Tuesday 29th May 16:17

[simoid]

CypherP said:

I'd question the distance required to drive on the day to be honest. If you got stopped, the first question they would ask is why it wasn't either booked in advance of the expiry date, or why a local place wasn't used to ensure it is safe to drive the distance.

Legally yes you can drive to a pre-booked MOT station providing the car is insured, but I'm not so sure doing 150 miles with an expired MOT is completely within the law.

It's perfectly legal to drive from Land's End to a pre-booked MoT test in the Scottish Highlands on a car with an expired MoT.

Please don't repeat random musings about distance to test centres.

[blugnu]

Deluded said:

If you're taxed and insured I really wouldn't worry about it.

My mother drive around for 6 months without not until she went to tax it and realised it ran out.

From what I've heard, it's quite common.

I drove my Ka for a few months without an MOT too - for some reason I was expecting a letter to tell me the car was three and would need testing, and being not quite sure when it *was* three, I completely forgot about it. Never had any bother, but I suspect my insurance wouldn't have paid out had I needed it to, even thought the car was evidently in good order (failed on a damaged spare wheel as I recall - previous owner has dented a wheel so swapped it with the spare, I'd never noticed - I took the spare off and presented it for a re-test)

I'm a little more careful with the cars I've had since - partly because it was a bit worrying to think I'd been effectively uninsured for months, and partly because they've been relative heaps. I'm not sure I'd drive a car with brakes I knew to be below even MOT standards for 150 miles, but I am pretty sure that, if you have it booked in, it is legal, albeit you might need a good explanation for why you're taking it so far for something you could get done at the end of the road - but chances are you'll be fine as long as you're taxed and insured.

[Pontoneer]

StottyZr said:

Could be better to ask on the speed, plod&law section.

Either way I'm pretty sure it is illegal. You can only drive to a booked MOT appointment, you can't stop off at home or at the shops on the journey.

That is a fallacy , there is nothing in the letter of the law to prevent stops along the way . The other myth is that there is some limit to the distance you may drive to the test station - there isn't .

Furthermore , there is no reason why a car cannot be delivered to the test station the day before the pre booked appointment : it is still being taken to a pre arranged MOT test . There would be no difference between taking it down the night before and leaving it on their forecourt and taking it down the next morning ( when it is still just as much out of MOT ) .

Arguably , taking the car there on a Sunday when there is less traffic on the road will be safer with less risk to other road users ..

Edited by Pontoneer on Tuesday 29th May 17:02

[Snowboy]

You may get into trouble though if the car isn’t road worthy.
That’s a slightly different argument.

If you do have a crash your insurance company will most likely pay out unless the lack of MOT was a contributing factor (such as having duff brakes).
But, if you have duff brakes that can void your insurance anyway, whether you have an MOT or not. (well, your own part of it, the 3rd party element will still pay out).

Edited by Snowboy on Tuesday 29th May 17:23

[lgw]

Insurance company will always pay out a third party claim as long as you have paid the premium they have to, they can in certain circumstance sue you for their costs if you were drunk for example

[Vipers]

simoid said:

It's perfectly legal to drive from Land's End to a pre-booked MoT test in the Scottish Highlands on a car with

Must say I am surprised you are allowed to drive perhaps over a two day period to a test centre and being legal, and refence to that fact, be interested to see what it says.