New MOT rules as of may 20th - Clarification.

[Rick_1138]

Hi folks, As my wife's car is up for its MOT next month she saw the news about new rules and the ins and outs and was a bit worried.

I have had a read of them and its nothing that massively changes the current situ bar adding new parts that wont effect us currently anyway.

However the bit about if you fail the test with a Major (but not Dangerous) issue and your MOT cert still has say 10 days left till its expiry date, you can no longer drive the car from the date of the fail?

If thats the case, how the fk do you get it fixed, as the garage that does the MOT may not be able to carry out the work or you may wish to take it to a trusted mechanic or even do it yourself as i often do.

If you cant drive the car as soon as it fails, this seems a bit of a licence to make work for garages as you are stuck on their forecourt until you cough up for work.

Am i reading this right as its all vague on this issue of the expiry date from what i am reading.

Cheers

[corozin]

More to the point how are thousands of independant garages who use other garages' MOT stations going to drive them back to carry out remedial work?

[DrDeAtH]

You should still be able to drive it to and from a place of repair, and to the MOT station.

[TooMany2cvs]

Rick_1138 said:

However the bit about if you fail the test with a Major (but not Dangerous) issue and your MOT cert still has say 10 days left till its expiry date, you can no longer drive the car from the date of the fail?

Where does it say that?

I'm not seeing it in the current public draft of the tester's manual.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

AIUI, nothing's changed there.
In terms of the levels, compared to the old scheme, "minor" = advisory, "major" = fail, "dangerous" = fail (dangerous). The old test is still valid, and if something's fixed after a fail but before a retest, then it's still good to use - while something unroadworthy is illegal to drive no matter what the test status.

[Rick_1138]

TooMany2cvs said:

Rick_1138 said:

However the bit about if you fail the test with a Major (but not Dangerous) issue and your MOT cert still has say 10 days left till its expiry date, you can no longer drive the car from the date of the fail?

Where does it say that?

I'm not seeing it in the current public draft of the tester's manual.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

AIUI, nothing's changed there.
In terms of the levels, compared to the old scheme, "minor" = advisory, "major" = fail, "dangerous" = fail (dangerous). The old test is still valid, and if something's fixed after a fail but before a retest, then it's still good to use - while something unroadworthy is illegal to drive no matter what the test status.

Having a right look at a few articles that mention this, it seems there is confusion between whats on the database and what is on the test cert.

The press isnt helping as they talk about £2500 fine and 3 points for driving a failed vehicle and as soon as you fail its on the MOT database, however in the sun's version of this they actually include a bit at the end from VOSA stating if your ticket is valid from previous test and has days left on it, you can still use vehicle until it expires. so a lot of press stirring up st.

However i dont know about a dangerous failure if that cancels out the old cert etc.

[TooMany2cvs]

Rick_1138 said:

However i dont know about a dangerous failure if that cancels out the old cert etc.

It won't.

If it fails on a dangerous, you sort the problem, but don't retest it... it'll still be legal to drive until expiry. Just as now.
If the fail cancelled the old test, then it wouldn't.

[Pica-Pica]

I agree. The gov website is unclear about the difference between

Dangerous - A direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it’s been repaired.

and

Major -It may affect the vehicle’s safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.

That is the repair status seems to be the same, but I see no further gov advice with regards the movement of the vehicle. Has anyone else seen it on another gov website?

[oceanview]

Rick_1138 said:

Having a right look at a few articles that mention this, it seems there is confusion between whats on the database and what is on the test cert.

The press isnt helping as they talk about £2500 fine and 3 points for driving a failed vehicle and as soon as you fail its on the MOT database, however in the sun's version of this they actually include a bit at the end from VOSA stating if your ticket is valid from previous test and has days left on it, you can still use vehicle until it expires. so a lot of press stirring up st.

However i dont know about a dangerous failure if that cancels out the old cert etc.

That fine is the maximum- and it will hardly ever be enforced.

Over the years, seeing motoring offences in the local rag, driving without a valid MOT, either no penalty( if say speeding/no insurance as well) or some tiny £35 fine or similar.

[ging84]

If you drive a vehicle home from an MOT with a dangerous fault, it is a crime, if you drove it there, that was also a crime, you just probably were not aware but that is not a defence,
Nothing is changing, it is just getting a bit clearer when it is likely to be a crime to drive a failed vehicle home, and when it isn't, although no dangerous faults does not guarantee the car is still legal, lighting issues, number plate issues and exhaust noise are examples of failures that have thier own offences.

[Fort Jefferson]

DrDeAtH said:

You should still be able to drive it to and from a place of repair, and to the MOT station.

You 'should' or you 'can' ?

[Red Devil]

Can.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/1694/regul...
You can't retax without a valid MOT so it's exempt from VED as well.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/22/sched...

The latest Amendment hasn't changed Regulation 6(2).
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/850/conten...

New DVSA MOT Inspection .Manual.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Latest edition of the In Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicles.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...