Does a new MOT automatically supercede an old one?

[Deva Link]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Deva Link said:

the question that I asked earlier though - what could cause an MOT fail but not make the vehicle unroadworthy?

Minor fails for any of,

Emissions
Cracked number plate
Dodgy windscreen washers (provided screen is clear)
Dodgy wipers (if it's not raining)
Dodgy headlamp (if it's good daylight)
Dodgy tail lamp (if it's good daylight)
Dodgy side lamp (if it's good daylight)
Dodgy horn
Dodgy seat belts
etc, etc

"minor" fails? This is an MOT test, not a driving test.

[kambites]

Your old MoT is still valid, but the car has been judged "unroadworthy" and I think knowingly driving an unroadworthy car is illegal. I guess in practice it depends on the exact nature of the failure.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 3rd November 10:28

[Ozzie Osmond]

K50 DEL said:

I wondered whether "unroadworthy" became a legal definition at this point (bald tyres as mentioned etc)

Unroadworthiness is a general concept and to a large extent common sense applies.

Bald tyres are an easy example because there's a specific legal offence of driving with defective tyres. Just like there's a specific offence of driving with too much alcohol there is a precise measurable amount.

A chassis that's rusted through can never be measured with an easy "yes/no" test in the same way. It comes down to judgement. i.e. common sense.

By the way. Virtually all construction and use offences are "absolute". You are guilty whether you knew of the problem or not - the driver is responsible for the condition of his vehicle. Just because you have a valid MoT certificate is no proof the vehicle is roadworthy a few minutes later; you might badly damage a tyre on your way home from the Mot station.

[kambites]

Ozzie Osmond said:

By the way. Virtually all construction and use offences are "absolute". You are guilty whether you knew of the problem or not - the driver is responsible for the condition of his vehicle. Just because you have a valid MoT certificate is no proof the vehicle is roadworthy a few minutes later; you might badly damage a tyre on your way home from the Mot station.

An MoT isn't proof that a vehicle was road worthy even at the time it passed. There are plenty of ways a car can be unroadworthy and still pass an MoT.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Deva Link said:

"minor" fails? This is an MOT test, not a driving test.

You seem to be struggling with the concept of common sense.

The Road Traffic Act 1988 does not give a definition of what is "unroadworthy", but instead makes reference to the following areas that, if not satisfactory, may lead to a vehicle being unroadworthy:-

steering and steering gear,
brakes and braking systems,
tyres,
exhaust systems,
seatbelts and seatbelt anchorages,
general condition (corrosion, suspension etc).

[Ozzie Osmond]

kambites said:

There are plenty of ways a car can be unroadworthy and still pass an MoT.

In your dreams. MoT test includes a "general condition" sweep-up.

Teaser for you: is a suicide car bomber driving an unroadworthy vehicle?

[kambites]

Ozzie Osmond said:

kambites said:

There are plenty of ways a car can be unroadworthy and still pass an MoT.

In your dreams. MoT test includes a "general condition" sweep-up.

I don't understand what that comment is meant to mean.

There are plenty of things that the MoT can't test because they aren't allowed to take things to bits. You could argue than an SVA is a good indication of vehicle road-worthiness, but an MoT falls well short.

[john_p]

K50 DEL said:

An MOT is valid until midnight on the date of expiry even if the vehicle
fails a new test before the expiry date of the existing one.
This is one of the reasons that you are allowed to take the car for test
up to one month before the expiry- so that if any repairs are needed the
car can still be driven provided the car is roadworthy ( i.e you could
not drive with bald tyres etc as this would be illegal).

MODS: Please can we sticky this in every forum

[Ean218]

Deva Link said:

It does beg the question that I asked earlier though - what could cause an MOT fail but not make the vehicle unroadworthy?

A fail for the towbar would not make the car unroadworthy.

[Jobbo]

Ean218 said:

Deva Link said:

It does beg the question that I asked earlier though - what could cause an MOT fail but not make the vehicle unroadworthy?

A fail for the towbar would not make the car unroadworthy.

Similarly, a fail for the passenger door being inoperable from outside does not make the car unroadworthy. A fail for rear seatbelts being damaged doesn't make it unroadworthy.