Discussion
Hi folks, just need an answer to a quick question RE my getting my car a fresh MOT and tax.
Basically I've been out of the UK for six months and while I've been away both the MOT and tax have expired on my car, the car is currently on SORN (Cheers mum
) and the car is tucked up nice and warm in the garage.
What I'd like to know is how far can you drive an untaxed and un MOT'd car? I realise that if I pre book the test and that I'm insured it's legal, but is there a limit to how far I can take my car?
The reason I ask is because the specialist I use is in Blackpool and I'm a good twenty miles away in Lancaster. There is nothing wrong with car, I just want to take it to my preferred garage as they will sort out a couple of niggles and give her a full service while she's there, plus they know what they're doing!
Cheers for any advice.
Basically I've been out of the UK for six months and while I've been away both the MOT and tax have expired on my car, the car is currently on SORN (Cheers mum
) and the car is tucked up nice and warm in the garage.What I'd like to know is how far can you drive an untaxed and un MOT'd car? I realise that if I pre book the test and that I'm insured it's legal, but is there a limit to how far I can take my car?
The reason I ask is because the specialist I use is in Blackpool and I'm a good twenty miles away in Lancaster. There is nothing wrong with car, I just want to take it to my preferred garage as they will sort out a couple of niggles and give her a full service while she's there, plus they know what they're doing!
Cheers for any advice.
IIRC there is no set distance but instead it must be "reasonable", i.e. open to interpretation by BiB.
I'd say that a pre-booked MOT at a well-known specialist 20 miles away would be reasonable, but someone else might not.
In any case, avoid routes where you know ANPR to be operating to avoid the hassle of explaining.
I'd say that a pre-booked MOT at a well-known specialist 20 miles away would be reasonable, but someone else might not.
In any case, avoid routes where you know ANPR to be operating to avoid the hassle of explaining.
Wigeon Incognito said:
I can't be of any help with your legal question, but was wondering who you use in Blackpool?
I've just moved back into the area and need to find a good garage.
I've just moved back into the area and need to find a good garage.
They're called Lewis Motors and are on Lytham Road. They are a BMW specialist and were recommended to me on here.
I'm not sure of any other good garages around the Blackpool area. Though I'm sure someone will let you know.
pdV6 said:
IIRC there is no set distance but instead it must be "reasonable", i.e. open to interpretation by BiB.
I'd say that a pre-booked MOT at a well-known specialist 20 miles away would be reasonable, but someone else might not.
In any case, avoid routes where you know ANPR to be operating to avoid the hassle of explaining.
Cheers for the info. I'll take the old girl the back way to Blackpool, it's much quieter than taking the motorway, there shouldn't be any ANPR on that route.I'd say that a pre-booked MOT at a well-known specialist 20 miles away would be reasonable, but someone else might not.
In any case, avoid routes where you know ANPR to be operating to avoid the hassle of explaining.
The car is fully insured too.
As for the tax, as mentioned I didn't think I could tax it until I had an MOT certificate.
bob1179 said:
Wigeon Incognito said:
I can't be of any help with your legal question, but was wondering who you use in Blackpool?
I've just moved back into the area and need to find a good garage.
I've just moved back into the area and need to find a good garage.
They're called Lewis Motors and are on Lytham Road. They are a BMW specialist and were recommended to me on here.
I'm not sure of any other good garages around the Blackpool area. Though I'm sure someone will let you know.
I live in the country and i have regularly driver 15 odd miles to the MOT station.
I am not aware of any legal prescedents (sp) as to what actual distance is OK i think it depends on what options you have. I would argue i want to use a garage i know and trust and they know the car and have all the service records on their computer.
However if the car is dangerous, you may wish to consider the moral issue, you can check the lights, tyres, wipers and brakes easily yourself, driving in good visibility and on a quiet time would also show you are mitigating risk.
I am not aware of any legal prescedents (sp) as to what actual distance is OK i think it depends on what options you have. I would argue i want to use a garage i know and trust and they know the car and have all the service records on their computer.
However if the car is dangerous, you may wish to consider the moral issue, you can check the lights, tyres, wipers and brakes easily yourself, driving in good visibility and on a quiet time would also show you are mitigating risk.
The only case I know of is one where a chap was stopped in London en route to home in Ashford, Kent from Liverpool. His explanation was that he preferred his local garage.
20 miles would seem to me to be reasonable given that you have a 'specialist' car. However, if I stopped you I would want to know how often you had used that specific garage in the past. If it was your 'usual' garage for MoTs then you've got to really upset the person who stopped you to get stuck on.
20 miles would seem to me to be reasonable given that you have a 'specialist' car. However, if I stopped you I would want to know how often you had used that specific garage in the past. If it was your 'usual' garage for MoTs then you've got to really upset the person who stopped you to get stuck on.
Another twist on this is I have a car overseas, the MOT and Tax have run out. When I bring it back I will have to drive 200 miles to get it home/Mot station that services the car everytime, the MOT station will be closed during the 200 miles drive (ferry times)so i can't book it in on the day it's on the road for the first time. So my question is! is there a time allowance for having the car on the road. Say 12/24 hours before the mot test or is it just the day it's booked for the test?
pdV6 said:
IIRC there is no set distance but instead it must be "reasonable", i.e. open to interpretation by BiB.
TBH, I'm not aware of any 'reasonable distance' requirement with the relevant legislation.Motor Vehicles Tests Regulations 1981 said:
6.-(2) Pursuant to section 44(6) the Secretary of State hereby exempts from section 44(1) for use of a vehicle—
(a) (i) for the purpose of submitting it by previous arrangement for, or bringing it away from, an examination, or
(ii) in the course of an examination, for the purpose of taking it to, or bringing it away from, any place where a part of the examination is to be or, as the case may be, has been, carried out, or of carrying out any part of the examination, the person so using it being either—
(A) an examiner, or a Ministry Inspector or an inspector appointed by a designated council, or
(B) a person acting under the personal direction of an examiner, a Ministry
Inspector or a designated Council, or
(iii) where a test certificate is refused on an examination—
(A) for the purpose of delivering it by previous arrangement at, or bringing it away from, a place where work is to be or has been done on it to remedy for a further examination the defects on the ground of which the test certificate was refused; or
(B) for the purpose of delivering it, by towing it, to a place where the vehicle is to be broken up;
Personally, rather than paying the garage to collect, I'd save my money by pre-booking an MOT and driving it (directly) to the garage in Blackpool.(a) (i) for the purpose of submitting it by previous arrangement for, or bringing it away from, an examination, or
(ii) in the course of an examination, for the purpose of taking it to, or bringing it away from, any place where a part of the examination is to be or, as the case may be, has been, carried out, or of carrying out any part of the examination, the person so using it being either—
(A) an examiner, or a Ministry Inspector or an inspector appointed by a designated council, or
(B) a person acting under the personal direction of an examiner, a Ministry
Inspector or a designated Council, or
(iii) where a test certificate is refused on an examination—
(A) for the purpose of delivering it by previous arrangement at, or bringing it away from, a place where work is to be or has been done on it to remedy for a further examination the defects on the ground of which the test certificate was refused; or
(B) for the purpose of delivering it, by towing it, to a place where the vehicle is to be broken up;
I've driven about 50 miles for MOT's before - it's a station that's close to a mechanic mate of mine, so if there's problems, it can be fixed without having to go too far with a failed car.
Although I always get it tested before it's due anyway, so I don't think I've driven it without an MOT (except one failure and their next retest slot was only available after it had expired).
Although I always get it tested before it's due anyway, so I don't think I've driven it without an MOT (except one failure and their next retest slot was only available after it had expired).
SS2. said:
TBH, I'm not aware of any 'reasonable distance' requirement with the relevant legislation.
Yeah - I think it's really down to common sense; I'm sure a trafpol that pulled you on your way from Land's End to John o'Groats for an MOT would write you a ticket but 20 miles to a specialist? I doubt it.pdV6 said:
SS2. said:
TBH, I'm not aware of any 'reasonable distance' requirement with the relevant legislation.
Yeah - I think it's really down to common sense; I'm sure a trafpol that pulled you on your way from Land's End to John o'Groats for an MOT would write you a ticket but 20 miles to a specialist? I doubt it.jdening said:
pdV6 said:
SS2. said:
TBH, I'm not aware of any 'reasonable distance' requirement with the relevant legislation.
Yeah - I think it's really down to common sense; I'm sure a trafpol that pulled you on your way from Land's End to John o'Groats for an MOT would write you a ticket but 20 miles to a specialist? I doubt it.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff