Penalty for out of date MOT? HELP!

[gja210]

Having just about recovered from the frustration of being awarded my first 3 points for driving at 37mph in a 30 zone through a town in North Wales I have just realised that my MOT is a month out of date.

No excuse really, just distracted with new job and quite forgot, for the first time in ten years.

Now, a few days later, I have to present my documents at the local london police station including my MOT certificate. I've pushed through an MOT today so at least I have a valid certificate, but not one covering the period when the offence happened.

Anyone know if I'm on the way to jail or stand a good chance of scraping through? What's the likely penalty?

It's now a judgement call as to whether to (i) say i lost the old one but here's the new one which, incidentally, was due for renewal this week or (ii) admit I was uncovered at the time but have remedied the situation now. Loathe as I am to fib a bit option (i) seems more appealing right now.

Thoughts much appreciated!!

[g_attrill]

Good question, however remember whatever happens that while there is no fixed penalty option for no MOT it is non-endorsable and nearly always £30 if you plead guilty - ie. a very minor on the scale of things.

I have read about people who produce two documents and own up and get away with it, but I think they involved shorter gaps than a month. Obviously the risk is that if you produce the old one and it is spotted and then you produce the new one with a flourish it will not look too good.

The other problem is that if you say you've lost the old one they could insist you get a duplicate from the garage (who record all tests) or even call the garage themselves to see when it was tested. There is a new computer system on the way to record all tests, but last time I heard it was delayed (surpise surprise!)

So no advice here I'm afraid, just some information.

Gareth

[Dwight VanDriver]

Providing producer was not connected to other offences at time of issue then:

Option 1 : report for fail to produce/alternative No MOT
Option 2.: No MOT.

Could well be that only a smack on the wrist involved as if reported for (2) details of both would be recorded on file for CPS with explanation. Used to be if old one out by under 1 month them NFA.

Not a henious crime. Fine only (doubtful they would use another act to disqualify).

DVD

[hiasakite]

Best of luck mate, let me know how you get on,

A.

[xxplod]

DVD is right. If you've produced both the old and new then I doubt the CPS would see it in the public interest to pursue. When I was a shift Sergeant and Officers put this sort of process through, I would just have the Officer write a "letter of advice" stating it was an offence but on this occassion.....please comply with the law in future...blah...

Worst case scenario is a small fine.

When I was a PC (lamp - during the war....) I never even asked for a MOT. If I looked round the car, it had good tyres, all lights worked and it looked up together that was good enough for me. MOTs aren't worth the paper they're written on anyway.

[falcemob]

A mate of mine had a similar thing happen to him with a producer and he just got a telling off by the plod and didn't hear any more about it. You can't say you lost it because VOSA keep a record of all the MOT certs that are issued.

>> Edited by falcemob on Friday 10th December 16:28

[embrolium]

I'm not entirely sure about this but doesn't your insurance state that the car you're driving has to be fully taxed/MOT'd or else insurance is invalid? If that's the case then I guess they could do you for driving without insurance aswell....

Hope I'm wrong about this

[spaximus]

Insurance wise they can I belive they can refuse to payany claim on your car but cannot on anyone you hit. I may be wrong on that though. On the MOT front this is another cock up on the goverment front, the DVLA has been working on a computer system which will link all stations to swansea who would produce reminders to all owners to avoid silly mistakes and to help id the deliberate avoiders. But typically it is way over budget, years overdue and still does not work.

[falcemob]

You could say you were on your way to get it MOT'd when the offence took place, just hope it wasn't a Sunday

[cortinaman]

falcemob said:

You could say you were on your way to get it MOT'd when the offence took place, just hope it wasn't a Sunday

another problem (unless he knows an mot tester) would be that the car would have to have been booked in advance for the mot on the day he was caught.....and they have been known to check to see if your lying. (uxbridge have with me in the past)

there are no points to worry about so just put your hands up,pay the £30 or so fine and forget about it mate....its easier all round.

as for insurance...you are covered to and from a testing station without an mot (with no deviations),as long as it is booked in advance (same as above realy)

>> Edited by cortinaman on Saturday 11th December 02:54

[seamus]

I was in the same position some years ago, pulled for routine check and was duly given a producer only to find my MOT had run out.. as it was under a producer they had to tick the "no MOT" box and it went to court - I didn't go to court myself but sent a letter of mitigating circumstances - purely that it was an oversight as normally I tax/insure/MOT the car roughly the same time of year but had neglected to MOT - also included a copy of the new MOT which proved the car was road legal the day after the producer - was given a £30 fine and that was it.. sure it happens all the time so given you had a fresh MOT within a month of the old one running out I doubt you will get much more than a small fine. Best of luck..

[trax]

A little story about producer from what must be about 12 years ago.
I got pulled over on my 125 moterbike, for going a tad over the limit. He let me off with a talking to, and gave me a the standard producer. I also didn't have any L plates on, and had only done by CBT (the bit that then allowed you to drive on L plates until you past full bike test).
So I tried to gather all my docs, and was hoping the guy at the local station would not notice the 'No L plates on the producer'.
Then I found I could not find my MOT (It did have one).
Got to the station and told the copper I couldnt find it. He started to read me my rights or something, then a big sergeant came to the desk and said he will sort it out. I told him I had produced all my docs about four weeks before, which I had. He checked back, couldn't find the records, but ended up telling me to get another copy for the future and let me on my way, no charges. They didnt even notice that I hadnt got a full lisence and no L plates.

I guess I was kinda lucky. The Sergeant could tell I was not a scrote, and obviously gave me the benefit of the doubt. Proper policing for a change.

[philthy]

Similar thing happened to me years ago. I got stopped, and given a producer. I turned the house upside down trying to find the MOT certificate, with no luck. It had MOT on it, but as I'd bought the car about 6 months before, I had no idea who'd issued it, and couldn't get a copy. Got it MOT'd the following day, went in and explained to the desk officer. He was as good as gold, stating it had to be reported, but he doubted I would hear any more about it. I didn't.
Just go and be honest with the plod, if you're spinning them a yarn they'll know. Like everyone says, it's only a small fine anyway.
Phil

[tuttle]

Am having a no tax disc prob.Have 2 cars,1 for fun,1 banger runaround.Tax on the fun car expired at the end of Nov.Meanwhile I'm having a dispute with the insurers of the banger(who have demanded & are in possesion of both sets of ins docs).Despite repeated requests for the return of fun cars docs-so that I can tax it,they're not sending them.Its now nearly mid Dec,If I get pinched for no tax,can't I claim mitigating circumstances or at least blame the insurance company?

sorry gja210 if this is hi-jacking your thread

>> Edited by tuttle on Sunday 12th December 12:03

[Mad Dave]

tuttle said:

Am having a no tax disc prob.Have 2 cars,1 for fun,1 banger runaround.Tax on the fun car expired at the end of Nov.Meanwhile I'm having a dispute with the insurers of the banger(who have demanded & are in possesion of both sets of ins docs).Despite repeated requests for the return of fun cars docs-so that I can tax it,they're not sending them.Its now nearly mid Dec,If I get pinched for no tax,can't I claim mitigating circumstances or at least blame the insurance company? sorry gja210 if this is hi-jacking your thread >> Edited by tuttle on Sunday 12th December 12:03

I would send off a SORN now to cover your backside. As soon as you buy tax, the SORN comes off so no paperwork required to put it back on the road.

[Dwight VanDriver]

SORN it now Tuttle. If you don't come January and not taxed, DVLA monthly cull will show this and 80 note fine sent out.

DVD

[tuttle]

Thanks guys,its soooo irritating,I want to be able to drive it.Bloody insurance comps ALWAYS have you over a barrel

[g_attrill]

embrolium said:

I'm not entirely sure about this but doesn't your insurance state that the car you're driving has to be fully taxed/MOT'd or else insurance is invalid? If that's the case then I guess they could do you for driving without insurance aswell.... Hope I'm wrong about this

Just to follow up on this one - some insurance policies state that the car must be MOT'd but most (including mine) just state that the car must be roadworthy.

Gareth

[gja210]

Dear all

Many thanks for some great replies. Just to semi close off this saga I got an MOT done during the week and produced the documentation at the local nick. When asked to provide an MOT covering the period when the offence happened, I basically said "Well officer, I could say I've lost it, but the truth is....". I also showed all previous MOTs and Insurance docs just to convey that I wasn't a twat.

Clearly there was a small halo above my head at this point an indeed a lot of love in the air.

Anyhow, the copper said he had to report it on the forms anyway and it would be processed by some diligent chappies in North Wales.

So we await a verdict, but at least the desk sergeant at my local nick noted my honesty if it ever comes to court. Here's hoping!

Thanks again.

gja

[popov123]

I got pulled several years ago whilst razzing round in my little alfasud (what a cracking little rust bucket she was). Got the usual producer, which scared the life out of me as I was rolling round with recently expired tax, and subsequently found out - recently expired MOT too...

By some miracle I got away with just paying the month back tax, and as my MOT certificate was so immaculately clean and crisp, the desk officer failed to notice it was over a year old.

I scarpered and thanked 'the big man upstairs' for a lucky break...