driving unregistered car to an MOT

[anonymous-user]

I need to MOT my Tiger, but it's not registered yet. In fact I need an MOT to get a V5, so if I have insurance is it OK to drive it to the MOT station and back?

[sean5302]

Yes, provided it is pre-arranged with the garage that will do the mot.

You just tell them the VIN number.

[gafferjim]

Just a moment!

If it's not registered, then it will need SVA before you get a V5.

first of all you need to contact your local DVLA office and ask for a chassis number, some will let you make up your own (minimum of 15 characters I believe) others will issue you with one, then you need to make an appointment with them for them to inspect the car to check that it's not made from a bunch of stolen parts, they'll need to see the engine number, and aforesaid chassis number stamped / etched onto a chassis rail/component. Some offices say that you can't drive it to them, others say that you can, others actually come to you to check it, it all depends where you live.
Now you've got this far, you need to apply for an SVA test, this is an MOT on steroids! it will take around 3 hours normally, and is only done at specific testing venues.
Some people get the car MOT'd first, so that emissions, brakes & headlights can be checked and adjusted. The only problem with this, is that you'll need to MOT it again in 12 months etc. If you don't get it MOT'd, then you usually (there have been exceptions!) don't need an MOT for 3 years after SVA.
You can drive it to the pre-booked MOT, and the SVA (which has to be prebooked anyway) without either tax, or numberplates, but you do need insurance, most of the kitcar specialist insurers know about this, and will give you 1 months insurance on the chassis number.
Once you've passed the SVA, you will get a MAC from the examiner, you take this along to the local DVLA office, where after handing over £175 etc. you will be given a registration number, and a paper authorising you to go and get a set of numberplates made up, your V5 will follow in the post eventually.
Be aware that some local DVLA offices are knowledgable about this procedure, others are absolutely crap!

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, but it has already gone through the SVA and I have a MAC, so all it needs now is an MOT to present to the DVLA when they inspect it, before they issue it with a V5 (and thus a reg. number).

I shall arrange insurance for the trip to the MOT station, and take the opportunity to thrash the arse off it on the way

Now I need to come up with the most fun "direct route" to the MOT centre...

[d-man]

You don't an MOT to register it, if your local DVLA office are telling you that you do then they are wrong. Unfortunately a fair few DVLA offices are wrong and its often easier to just get the MOT than argue with them

[falcemob]

jimsupersix said:

Thanks, but it has already gone through the SVA and I have a MAC, so all it needs now is an MOT to present to the DVLA when they inspect it, before they issue it with a V5 (and thus a reg. number).

I shall arrange insurance for the trip to the MOT station, and take the opportunity to thrash the arse off it on the way

Now I need to come up with the most fun "direct route" to the MOT centre...

Where are you? we have one in NW Kent so if you live in Scotland it could be a very fun route

[anonymous-user]

I was advised by the VOSA SVA test centre that even if the local DVLA office didn't require an MOT, it would still be advisable to have one simply because it makes things easier when dealing with matters such as being stopped by the police, which I think is inevitable in a bright orange Seven-a-like

[gafferjim]

If it's just passed SVA, it doesn't need an MOT, just take your MAC to the DVLA local office with your cheque book , and walk out with a tax disc and numberplate authorisation letter.

[anonymous-user]

Not that simple I'm afraid - it certainly does need a DVLA inspection to verify that the components used come from either one donor or somewhere else, so they can decide whether to award an age plate or a Q plate. Whether they then demand an MOT seems to be down to local DVLA centres, but the VOSA chaps advised that it would be easier when dealing with matters such as buying a tax disc at a post office (where the staff are unlikely to know or care about the intricacies of kit car registration) or when stopped by the Police etc...

[gafferjim]

Yes it is that simple, (and I'm very surprised that you've waited this long to "cash it in" most people call at the DVLA on their way home from the SVA!) when you got your MAC, you take it along with your cheque book to the DVLA office, and get your first years tax disc there and then. In 12 months when it needs retaxing, you'll receave a reminder, which will tell you just which documents you need to produce, it may even say that you can tax it on line (as I do)

Edited by gafferjim on Wednesday 8th November 23:09