Mot, France, whoops

[xcentric]

Advice needed : friend in France has found his mot has expired whilst out there (uk car, insurance etc ). What should they do? Newish car so no issues with it passing - can their insurance co cover them anyway? Should they get a French mot? Or do they not use it and book it in at uk garage and then on journey home they are goong to garage to get it done?! Experiences/ advice welcome!

[castex]

From memory the choice will be either to re-register the car in France / carte grise and then take it through the controle technique, or to get the vehicle home for an MOT soonest - no insurance without one.

[McSam]

I might get called out over this one, but I would carry on as normal.

I don't think the Gendarmes will be able to check the MOT, just that the car is insured (if they can even do that?), and while the insurance is not technically valid without a current MOT, the car will still show as insured on the database. Should be fine.

[Stedman]

McSam said:

I might get called out over this one, but I would carry on as normal.

I don't think the Gendarmes will be able to check the MOT, just that the car is insured (if they can even do that?), and while the insurance is not technically valid without a current MOT, the car will still show as insured on the database. Should be fine.

You should carry your MOT cert' when travelling in France (other countries too I would guess). Personally i'd hope for the best, hide the old MOT cert' incase of the Gendarmes giving your mate a tug. Unfortunate lack of planning but these things happen.

Edit: oh, and book one for as soon as possible!

[GreigM]

McSam said:

I might get called out over this one, but I would carry on as normal.

I don't think the Gendarmes will be able to check the MOT, just that the car is insured (if they can even do that?), and while the insurance is not technically valid without a current MOT, the car will still show as insured on the database. Should be fine.

This is correct - its only if there is an accident, then your friend may be in the st. On returning to the UK they could also get pulled by plod, however as we all know the likelihood of this is very slim.

[supersingle]

Just drive it, insurance will be fine.

[rottie102]

McSam said:

I might get called out over this one, but I would carry on as normal.

I don't think the Gendarmes will be able to check the MOT, just that the car is insured (if they can even do that?), and while the insurance is not technically valid without a current MOT, the car will still show as insured on the database. Should be fine.

Exactly.

And even in an event of a small shunt, insurance companies don't even check has the car had a valid MOT. Don't ask how do I know that..

[hornetrider]

I would be tempted to make a phone call to the insurance company to explain - just in case.

[dowahdiddyman]

hornetrider said:

I would be tempted to make a phone call to the insurance company to explain - just in case.

I bleedin wouldn`t cause then they will know it`s got no mot and will probably cancel the cover forthwith without you knowing.
What I would personally do is ring your local garage as soon as your ferry docks and get it booked in for on your way home or even find a garage willing to do it where you dock, might cost more but not as much as the fine/grief of plod if you pass a traffic car on the way home.

[hornetrider]

One imagines if the car is nearly new and eminently road worthy the insurance company won't see it as a problem. God forbid he has an accident in Europe with things as they are.

I believe that is the most sensible thing I have ever written - I must be getting old!

[heisthegaffer]

What happens if he crashes though? Will his insurer settle the loss?

When I worked in personal lines motor broking (10 years ago) we dealt with a loss where some dappy cow didn't get her car MOTd and after driving into the back of a truck, they voided her policy from inception so she had to pay the losses herself. Admittedly, when the vehicle was inspected it was found to be totally unroadworthy i.e. one of the front brakes virtually had no stopping power so not as clear as simply not having an MOT.

[dowahdiddyman]

Saying this because I once forgot about a monthly payment going out for car insurance and when I went to renew found out that for 7 months i`d been driving with no insurance because they cancelled and never even let me know.

[supersingle]

dowahdiddyman said:

...might cost more but not as much as the fine/grief of plod if you pass a traffic car on the way home.

I've been stopped for no Mot (ANPR). The guy checked my details then told me to get an MOT asap (which i did) and sent me on my way. No fine. Not even a bking.

As long as your car is insured, taxed and roadworthy you'll be fine.

[rallycross]

No need for Mot outside of UK roads
Book mot for same day as he returns and take direct to garage when back in uk

[Stedman]

rallycross said:

No need for Mot outside of UK roads
Book mot for same day as he returns and take direct to garage when back in uk

Why not?

[hairyben]

heisthegaffer said:

What happens if he crashes though? Will his insurer settle the loss?

When I worked in personal lines motor broking (10 years ago) we dealt with a loss where some dappy cow didn't get her car MOTd and after driving into the back of a truck, they voided her policy from inception so she had to pay the losses herself. Admittedly, when the vehicle was inspected it was found to be totally unroadworthy i.e. one of the front brakes virtually had no stopping power so not as clear as simply not having an MOT.

I understood only cases of gross negligence such as this push the insurers down the path of voiding a policy after an accident, and even then it only affects the insured- 3rd party losses are still paid out (although insurers may seek to claim them back from driver)

[GreigM]

rallycross said:

No need for Mot outside of UK roads
Book mot for same day as he returns and take direct to garage when back in uk

I'd pretty sure this isn't correct - across the EU the car has to be legal in its home country in order to be legal on foreign roads

[Stedman]

GreigM said:

rallycross said:

No need for Mot outside of UK roads
Book mot for same day as he returns and take direct to garage when back in uk

I'd pretty sure this isn't correct - across the EU the car has to be legal in its home country in order to be legal on foreign roads

+1 which is exactly why I asked rallycross why he thought he was correct!

[johnpeat]

hairyben said:

I understood only cases of gross negligence such as this push the insurers down the path of voiding a policy after an accident,

My experience is that insurers are getting more and more picky about policy discrepancies and will try anything to get our of paying a claim.

When a friend's wife drove into a large puddle and totalled their car, their insurer came back within 24 hours and highlighted that he (not she) had points on his licence they'd not been told about and that their insurance was, therefore, void.

It took 2 weeks to prove they HAD been told about the points (they even appeared on previous policies!!) but the fact they picked-this-up so quickly (arguably they'd even CAUSED the situation by failing to transfer the points onto the new policy at renewal) suggests they're keen to duck responsibility and may even ENGINEER it.

In this case, the car isn't insured if it's MOT has expired - simple as - he's broken the terms of the policy and in the event of loss he'd be in VERY shaky ground.

Nothing he can do about it really - just needs to get back to the UK and into an MOT centre ASAP

p.s. I'd personally NOT call the insurer because it's foolish to offer your knackers to the dog

If he has an accident and it transpires the MOT has expired, THEN is the time to play "OMG - I totally forgot about it" I think...

Edited by johnpeat on Sunday 7th August 14:50

[jason s4]

You dont have to take your MOT cert with you.

Just ownership paperwork eg reg doc.