Driving with not MOT, or Tax

[Aaron B]

Hi,

Long time lurker, short time logging inner.

I have a 328i in the garage, it's my weekend car but has seen so little use in the last few months that I think the best thing now is to sell it on.

However, I forget the do's and don't when it comes to sorting out the MOT and Tax, which have now run out.

Am I legal to drive to an MOT station, with it booked in, with insurance, but without tax? Am I then ok to drive it back home and put it back in the garage? (it's currently sorned)

A colleague told me that if I'm driving to an MOT station, then I must tax it straight afer, providing it passes of course. But I don't think that's right is it?

Basically, what I want to do, is insure it for a day, drive it to the MOT station, then put it back in the garage. Legally.

Anyone know the correct score?

Thanks in advance.

Aaron

Edited by Aaron B on Friday 9th April 19:59

[LayZ]

Yes you are covered for driving to and from MOT station for a pre-arranged test.

[igiveup]

Aaron B said:

Hi,

(it's currently sorned)

Then the Car must not touch a Public Road, by All means have it trailered to the MOT test.

The maximum penalty for making a false SORN, when the vehicle is actually used or kept on a public road, is £5,000 and imprisonment.

[Aaron B]

igiveup said:

Aaron B said:

Hi,

(it's currently sorned)

Then the Car must not touch a Public Road, by All means have it trailered to the MOT test.

The maximum penalty for making a false SORN, when the vehicle is actually used or kept on a public road, is £5,000 and imprisonment.

This is what I wondered, so I can't drive it at all, but can't obtain tax without an MOT, so my only answer is a trailer.

Oh well.

[Tyre Smoke]

With respect to the poster who said it must not touch the highway, that is to all intents and purposes impossible.

The average man on the street has no access to a trailer. It is quite acceptable to drive to and from a pre-arranged MOT. This has been the case since long before SORN was introduced.

I've just taken my Cerb to and from it's MOT and it is currently SORN but insured. By God it was fun!

How far is the MOT station, not far I'll bet. JFDI.

[igiveup]

Fair Play, Its good to know that, I always thought it was not do-able without a trailer.

[Tyre Smoke]

igiveup said:

Fair Play, Its good to know that, I always thought it was not do-able without a trailer.

I suppose legally speaking you are correct. It's one of those grey areas. I think the law actually states that you may drive an untaxed, unMOT'd car to a pre-booked test, but it doesn't state what you do when it passes/fails! It's generally accepted you can drive it home again though.

[igiveup]

Hope that's cleared that up for the OP then

[Ozzie Osmond]

1. You can drive a ROADWORTHY car without a current MOT certificate direct to a pre-booked MOT appointment.

2. You are never allowed to drive an UNROADWORTHY car anywhere, ever, on public roads.

3. Strictly speaking you aren't allowed to drive any car on the public roads without a tax disc. However, it would be very harsh to nick you for driving directly to or from a pre-booked MOT test appontment.

[Pigeon]

Aaron B said:

igiveup said:

Aaron B said:

Hi,

(it's currently sorned)

Then the Car must not touch a Public Road, by All means have it trailered to the MOT test.

The maximum penalty for making a false SORN, when the vehicle is actually used or kept on a public road, is £5,000 and imprisonment.

This is what I wondered, so I can't drive it at all, but can't obtain tax without an MOT, so my only answer is a trailer.

Oh well.

Not so. You are perfectly fine to drive it to and from a pre-booked MoT. Trailer not required.

[Aviz]

3. Strictly speaking you aren't allowed to drive any car on the public roads without a tax disc. However, it would be very harsh to nick you for driving directly to or from a pre-booked MOT test appontment.
[/quote]

Agree. If a copper pulled you over then i reckon you could get away with it. What if an Automatic Camera (ANPR) gets you though ?

[Aaron B]

Pigeon said:

Aaron B said:

igiveup said:

Aaron B said:

Hi,

(it's currently sorned)

Then the Car must not touch a Public Road, by All means have it trailered to the MOT test.

The maximum penalty for making a false SORN, when the vehicle is actually used or kept on a public road, is £5,000 and imprisonment.

This is what I wondered, so I can't drive it at all, but can't obtain tax without an MOT, so my only answer is a trailer.

Oh well.

Not so. You are perfectly fine to drive it to and from a pre-booked MoT. Trailer not required.

Thanks Pigeon, it does seem that people have differing views as to what's legal and what isn't.

I'll pre-book it, and get it down there.

Thanks everyone, appreciate it.

[LFO]

Aviz said:

What if an Automatic Camera (ANPR) gets you though ?

You are too damn unlucky to drive a car

I have always driven to the MOT station - Got stopped once and I had the reg document, the old MOT, current insurance, and the phone number of the station. The police rang the station and confirmed that my car was to be booked in, then sent me on my way.

That (i think) is why MOT stations always ask for the make and model of the car, and your name.

Edited by LFO on Friday 9th April 21:13

[s24ng]

if ur really unsure...call the local police station for the advice. that way u will know the law and wont take any 'chances'!!

[VxDuncan]

About ten years ago I built a beach buggy out of an old rotten Beetle. Drove it too the test centre to get it MOT'd, which it passed. I then needed to take it to Birmingham DVLA office to have it insepcted, prior to it being either given the beetles old number, or a new plate. Was told by the DVLA to drive it to be inspected, just off Broad St for a 9am appointment. With no numberplates!

I decided it was probably easier to have it trailered to save being stopping in a bring red beach buggy in the middle of a dull November morning.

[Petemate]

Right - I was at the Excel Motor Show a couple of years ago, nearly finished the first phase of restoration of our replica Model 'A' Ford (kit) I went to the DVLA stand - nice lady confirmed that even though the car was on SORN, perfectly legal to drive it straight to an MOT station for a pre-booked test and then back home as long as it was (a) insured and (b) not issued with an unroadworthy certificate.
HTH

[DP83]

see you on Road Wars

[crofty1984]

Can drive it to and from an MOT. I think you can drive to and from a place to repair it so it passes (ie you take it to the MOT, you get a fail sheet saying the exhaust is blowiing and you can drive it to Kwik fit and back. But I'm not sure.

[Petemate]

crofty1984 said:

Can drive it to and from an MOT. I think you can drive to and from a place to repair it so it passes (ie you take it to the MOT, you get a fail sheet saying the exhaust is blowiing and you can drive it to Kwik fit and back. But I'm not sure.

Mmmm. Not sure about the drive to Kwikfit - I was under the impression that it was to and from the MOT - I reckon a diversion even to an exhaust centre would be a grey area. The DVLA lady was specific about 'Home - MOT centre - Home'. Repairs either at the MOT centre or at home was wot she sed!!

[109 Bob]

Aviz said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

3. Strictly speaking you aren't allowed to drive any car on the public roads without a tax disc. However, it would be very harsh to nick you for driving directly to or from a pre-booked MOT test appontment.

Agree. If a copper pulled you over then i reckon you could get away with it. What if an Automatic Camera (ANPR) gets you though ?

It is perfectly legal to drive to a pre-booked MOT with no tax (sorned or otherwise) & if a copper pulled you nothing would happen as you are not doing anything illegal.

As for automatic ANPR, when you get your automatically generated fine through the door you send it back with the all the details including mot station etc. Then the prosecution is dropped because you have done nothing illegal.

Edited by 109 Bob on Friday 9th April 22:22