MOT Failure - Covered By Previous MOT?

[Sam1990]

Sorry if this belongs in SP&L, wasn't sure which fits best. This is hypothetical at the moment. I have my car booked in for an MOT this Saturday, whilst I'm confident it should (key word) pass there's always the doubt in the back of my mind it won't. I'd planned a trip to a car meet on the Sunday and was posed with the following situation:

If my car does fail the MOT on Saturday would I still be allowed to drive the car on the previous MOT certificate which is covered up to 4th October. I was thinking that the car is still covered by a valid MOT certificate until 4th October and I'd be eligable to drive the car up until that date and have the car repaired and retested within those days. Or does the failure nullify the current certificate?

[MX7]

I'd agree with you, unless the garage say that the car has a fault that makes it undrivable.

I believe that the 28 day rule is there so you can use the car while getting it ready for a retest.

[jagnet]

From previous discussions on here, any subsequent MOT failure won't nullify your existing MOT pass, and you're entitled to continue driving the car.

Obviously, if the car fails due to worn tyres etc, then you'd need to get that sorted irrespective of it showing up on the more recent MOT.

[anonymous-user]

I went through this & the consensus was the new test, if it fails, voids the old one. Not sure if correct but I played it safe & got any problems sorted in the time scale the new(failed) test gives.

[coxy1]

its doesnt remove the old valid certificate. Like others have said, if the tyres are bald or anything these need to be replaced, but this is required by law anyway regardless of how much mot is on it!

[Sam1990]

Just about clears it up. Like I said, it should pass but everyone always gets the doubts. Cheers for the info.

[Nick3point2]

An MOT failure does not invalidate an existing, in date MOT certificate.

[ajsphead]

This does go against what I've been told by 2 different testers. If it fails, it fails, ie at the point of test it is deemed unroadworthy and all previous tests are nullified. This fail is then the most recent document uploaded onto the VOSA database and so the insurance companies, police etc will view it as a fail.

Of course what they told me might be wrong.

[thegman]

ajsphead said:

This does go against what I've been told by 2 different testers. If it fails, it fails, ie at the point of test it is deemed unroadworthy and all previous tests are nullified. This fail is then the most recent document uploaded onto the VOSA database and so the insurance companies, police etc will view it as a fail.

Of course what they told me might be wrong.

At the end of the day, driving a car that you know to be unroadworthy (in this example through the MOT centre inspection and failure) is an offence whether or not you have an MOT certificate.

[anonymous-user]

ajsphead said:

This does go against what I've been told by 2 different testers. If it fails, it fails, ie at the point of test it is deemed unroadworthy and all previous tests are nullified. This fail is then the most recent document uploaded onto the VOSA database and so the insurance companies, police etc will view it as a fail.

Of course what they told me might be wrong.

Which is what I was told at two centres. Since it all became computerised apparently.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

It's fine.