Speedometer and MOT

[Upatdawn]

Is a non working speedo an MOT failure

will a speedo show MPH when on the brake test rollers?

[Adrian E]

Check the MOT manual online (section 6.7) - one reason for failure is for a speedometer that is clearly inoperative. For it to fail on that they'd have to drive it enough distance to notice.

Assuming the car is parked outside the test centre and is driven in by the MOT tester I would expect them to notice and fail accordingly.

It's an offence under Construction & Use Regulations to use a vehicle with a defective speedometer, although unlikely to be established unless you were stopped for speeding and gave it as a reason for why you were over the limit!

[Fastdruid]

For a 2wd car it's unlikely they'd notice unless very obviously broken.

For an AWD car they don't use the rollers and would use the external brake tester which means driving the car. The lack of a working speedo would therefore be rather obvious.

[Upatdawn]

its a twin rear wheel class 7 van (3.5t) and usually fits on the rollers

[SVTRick]

Why not just repair the speedometer and have done with it
And keep yourself legal to use it.
Simple

[Adrian E]

Fastdruid said:

For a 2wd car it's unlikely they'd notice unless very obviously broken.

For an AWD car they don't use the rollers and would use the external brake tester which means driving the car. The lack of a working speedo would therefore be rather obvious.

O/T but most stations now have roller brake testers that counter-rotate to allow testing of 4x4 vehicles unless fitted with a mechanical LSD, without winding up the diffs

[Smokehead]

I had an old Volvo 740 that went through 3 MOTs without a speedo. I used the tach to gauge the speed. I must be lucky that it was never failed for it.

[ratboiler]

If you have a tom tom or road angel they show the speed?

[Old Merc]

The MOT tester would not be interested in the speedo,its not part of the test.Also I`ve often taken cars for testing with the mileometer not working and they just leave the mileage part blank,or write something like unreadable/not shown.

[Adrian E]

Old Merc said:

The MOT tester would not be interested in the speedo,its not part of the test.Also I`ve often taken cars for testing with the mileometer not working and they just leave the mileage part blank,or write something like unreadable/not shown.

I think you'll find it is - I even quoted the section of the tester's handbook that refers to it! Like many things in the MOT it is subjective to a degree, and down to the individual tester. An odometer is definitely not part of the MOT.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

[shakotan]

ratboiler said:

If you have a tom tom or road angel they show the speed?

GPS-based speedometers are not legal.

[Upatdawn]

From a test centre

Hi, speedo not working is not a MOT failure, the vehicle does not go on a road test, so there would be no way of knowing whether it is working or not!

[cat with a hat]

Upatdawn said:

From a test centre

Hi, speedo not working is not a MOT failure, the vehicle does not go on a road test, so there would be no way of knowing whether it is working or not!

I knew it was never under the MOT a few years ago, but I thought a few years ago it might have been included along with the ABS light and stuff.

[V8LM]

Speedometer is checked for presence and condition in that it must be readable. A reason for rejection is if "Speedometer incomplete, clearly inoperative or the dial glass broken or missing". It is not tested per se, but I suppose if the tester drove the car to the ramp and noticed it was clearly inoperative, then they could/would fail it.

[Jimmyarm]

I'm an MOT tester.

Yes it is a failure but, a road test is not part of the inspection so the tester is unlikely to notice it isn't working.

Depends on how big the car park is

I don't get above about 5 mph in ours so would never notice one not working.

[Red Devil]

V8LM said:

Speedometer is checked for presence and condition in that it must be readable. A reason for rejection is if "Speedometer incomplete, clearly inoperative or the dial glass broken or missing". It is not tested per se, but I suppose if the tester drove the car to the ramp and noticed it was clearly inoperative, then they could/would fail it.

Not necessarily. It is subject to certain caveats.

The speedometer requirements were updated in April 2013.
See the MOT Inspection Manual Section 6.7 page 1 (link posted earlier by AdrianE).

[SS2.]

For the avoidance of doubt:

[V8LM]

Red Devil said:

V8LM said:

Speedometer is checked for presence and condition in that it must be readable. A reason for rejection is if "Speedometer incomplete, clearly inoperative or the dial glass broken or missing". It is not tested per se, but I suppose if the tester drove the car to the ramp and noticed it was clearly inoperative, then they could/would fail it.

Not necessarily. It is subject to certain caveats.

The speedometer requirements were updated in April 2013.
See the MOT Inspection Manual Section 6.7 page 1 (link posted earlier by AdrianE).

Yes, I know. I just copied the reasons for reject from the manual. It does say a broken glass is not necessarily a fail providing it does not interfere with the ability to read.

[LayZ]

Also passed at least one MOT on our Audi A6 when it had persistent instrument cluster problems which resulting in broken speedo.

[cat with a hat]

LayZ said:

Also passed at least one MOT on our Audi A6 when it had persistent instrument cluster problems which resulting in broken speedo.

But how long ago.. And just because it passed, doesn't mean it should have. As an MOT tester has said, most rarely get up to a speed to see whether it works or not. I've managed to temporarily nurse vehicles through an MOT