OUT OF MOT/TAX-QUESTION

[BRGV8S]

Hi there, my Mot expires 26/02/08, Tax 29/02/08. I've booked the car into TrackVRoad for service / MOT but the earliest date they could give was 07/03/08, as i understand it's OK to drive the car too and back provided the car as been booked in, is this still true?.

The car IS insurd but the trip will involve a drive from Bingley (West Yorkshire) to Clitheroe,
Lancashire, 't'other side of hill'

Ps I've got my 'passport'

[Hooli]

i believe the law says you can drive a reasonable distance to a pre-booked MOT.

[marshalla]

But you cannot drive it without tax - even to a MoT test can you ? Why not renew the tax now, while the old MoT certificate is still in effect ?

Edited by marshalla on Sunday 24th February 16:43

[Gorvid]

I thought you could drive it without tax to a prebooked MOT too?

Also: What is a reasonable distance?

[tribbles]

Yes, you can drive it without tax to a pre-booked MOT.

I've travelled 50 miles for an MOT (it's closer to a mechanic mate of mine who can help me if it needs some more significant work than I'm capable of). I've also staggered the tax/MOT by 6 months to ease any car related costs.

[SS2.]

marshalla said:

Why not renew the tax now, while the old MoT certificate is still in effect ?

Because the MOT certificate will not be valid at the time the tax is required to be commenced (01.03.2008).

[marshalla]

Don't you need to declare SORN if you aren't taxing it though ?

And surely the OP could still tax it since his MoT cert. is valid until Tuesday..

[SS2.]

Hooli said:

i believe the law says you can drive a reasonable distance to a pre-booked MOT.

TBH, I'm not aware of anything in statute which provides that the distance to the pre-booked test must be 'reasonable'..

S.6 Motor Vehicles Tests Regulations 1981 said:

(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;

[SS2.]

marshalla said:

And surely the OP could still tax it since his MoT cert. is valid until Tuesday..

He can't - because his MOT certificate will have expired at the time the tax is required to commence.

[liner33]

marshalla said:

And surely the OP could still tax it since his MoT cert. is valid until Tuesday..

no he cant because the new tax disc will start on the 1/3/08 when the car has no valid mot.


Ideally and legally you should..... declare the car sorn on the 29/2/08 and then when the car passes its mot apply for a new tax disc even if its the 2/3/08

[SS2.]

The easiest solution might be to get the car MOT'd before the tax expires.

Once tested, the car can be taxed and then driven, fully legal, for servicing at the OP's preferred garage.

[Hooli]

SS2. said:

Hooli said:

i believe the law says you can drive a reasonable distance to a pre-booked MOT.

TBH, I'm not aware of anything in statute which provides that the distance to the pre-booked test must be 'reasonable'..

i think ive seen on here before that if your travelling over an hour to the MOT its frowned on. just something i think i recall from how its enforced rather than written.

[jondude]

There are a few things you can do to make sure all is fine.

When you phone to book the car in, make sure the MOT station note the reg number of your car, and your name.

If you get stopped by the police and they are a bit suspicious, they can ( and will ) phone the station....then let you go when the MOT man says ' yep, we are expecting him shortly'.

This is all 100% legal, no need for tax or MOT....but you do need to be booked in to stop hassles.


BUT!!!!! Don't stop anywhere to do some shopping on the way, even taking a pee at a Little Chef, as the lack of tax could mean your car will get clamped. Same after the MOT - go straight home and walk to the PO for tax.

[esselte]

I know it's not very helpful but wouldn't a bit of pre-planning have helped here instead of waiting until the last minute..?

[jondude]

Hooli said:

SS2. said:

Hooli said:

i believe the law says you can drive a reasonable distance to a pre-booked MOT.

TBH, I'm not aware of anything in statute which provides that the distance to the pre-booked test must be 'reasonable'..

i think ive seen on here before that if your travelling over an hour to the MOT its frowned on. just something i think i recall from how its enforced rather than written.

I think it does indeed state 'the shortest possible route to a MOT station', but if you have a fair reason for going longer - say you have a Jag and want a Jag specialist to do the MOT, rather than the local Kwik-Fit, it would take one hell of a petty officer to waste time trying to do you for being unreasonable.

[SS2.]

jondude said:

I think it does indeed state 'the shortest possible route to a MOT station',

Where ?

[BRGV8S]

Thanks Guys, Yes it's a TVR, so i do'nt want the local 'spanner man' dealing with it. Will drive straight there and back. Should have booked earlier, i know, but were all busy and when you work alone and live alone things get missed.

Cheers