Expired MOT Question

[AlanR543]

This has probably been asked before but I just want to check.

My car is currently in a garage to get some welding done and as its just a weekend toy I told them no rush just sorted it when you get the chance. Well the MOT has now expired. I stripped the interior before dropping off as I had planned to do the work myself but realised it was too much for me.

I am not sure on what the rules are about cars with a stripped interior and the MOT, for example currently only one end of most of the seat belts is fitted to get the carpet out, so probably a fail? If it passes I will probably refit interior and get tested again for peace of mind that it is tested and safe as I actually use it.

If it is unlikely to pass once the welding is finished due to the partially dismantled interior where do I stand with getting the car home to put it back together?

I know the rules say ok driving to a pre booked test then to a place to get it repaired. I suspect this means I am safer either asking the garage to drop it off at my house and then booking an MOT?


Yes the car is worth doing the work on well it is to me as I haven't seen another on the road and it keeps me out of trouble plus I have spent a fortune on the mechanicals.

[cheesesliceking]

Seems like a good idea to get it delivered back to you, not sure it’s a great idea driving it anywhere with no seatbelts & other things missing MOT or no MOT

[AlanR543]

Drivers seat and belt was fitted properly but the rest of them are either removed or half removed so its gone from a 4 seater to a single seater. I wasn't just using a milk crate and prayer for safety lol

[944 Man]

If it doesn't have seats then they do not need seat belts. All you need is a driver's seat, a seat belt for it, and working door handle/s (rears can be removed / inoperable for certain, passenger side front I am not sure about, even without seats, but I believe so).

[AlanR543]

944 Man said:

If it doesn't have seats then they do not need seat belts. All you need is a driver's seat, a seat belt for it, and working door handle/s (rears can be removed / inoperable for certain, passenger side front I am not sure about, even without seats, but I believe so).

In that case I might just ask the garage to stick in for a test once its been welded just cable tie the other belts out of the way

[AlexRS2782]

I'd expect, dependent on who's testing the car / how strict / so long as airbag srs light is still working correctly, etc, you'll end up with an advisory for the missing seats / unable to check belts, etc.

I had that on a track prepped Saxo VTS that was completely stripped out and only the drivers seat remained. Basically got an advisory that the seats & belts were removed from the car and therefore they couldn't be checked. Although this was going back a good 10 odd years ago now so things may have changed.

Edit - I also came across a 595 Comp earlier, whilst i was car browsing, that appears to have been used on track before it ended up at the current dealer as the last MOT has an advisory of "Only has drivers seat fitted. unable to check operation of o/s/r, n/s/r and n/s/f seatbelts".

For a definitive answer it might be worth asking your question on the MOT tester thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Friday 11th June 03:38

[Old Merc]

The way I understand things if the seats and belts are there they have to be tested. If they are missing they cant be.
I have regularly taken a rally car for its MOT, as with all rally cars, stripped interior, rear seats and rear belts removed. They only test the two Sparco seats and full harnesses.

Edited by Old Merc on Friday 11th June 10:15