Any point using an OPC to do the MOT?

[le_gazman]

Hi all,

I’m not sure how much they charge, but is it worth having them do the MOT or will my local garage be just as good?

[Twinfan]

I used my OPC last year who took it to their preferred MOT place, they only charged the MOT price and gave the car a full check over while it was there. Bit of a no-brainer for me.

Depends on your OPC though I guess.

[rog007]

Based upon too many instances where I thought things had been found wrong at MOT time, with numerous marques; when I had my 996 Turbo, I started using the Council testing station. No incentive to find things wrong as they weren’t a garage. Funnily enough, it passed with flying colours each time. I really should have done some ‘research’ by then going straight to an OPC to repeat the MOT.

[le_gazman]

Twinfan said:

I used my OPC last year who took it to their preferred MOT place, they only charged the MOT price and gave the car a full check over while it was there. Bit of a no-brainer for me.

Depends on your OPC though I guess.

It was in at Porsche Glasgow a few weeks ago for a service. They didn’t actually ask if I wanted the MOT done, and I didn’t realise it needed it till afterwards. Dang it.

[le_gazman]

rog007 said:

Based upon too many instances where I thought things had been found wrong at MOT time, with numerous marques; when I had my 996 Turbo, I started using the Council testing station. No incentive to find things wrong as they weren’t a garage. Funnily enough, it passed with flying colours each time. I really should have done some ‘research’ by then going straight to an OPC to repeat the MOT.

The car’s got 2yrs warranty still to run, so I’d hope anything not found on the recent service would be covered by warranty.

I’ll just use my local garage I think. My OPC is 20 miles away and if they’re just going to pass it on to another MOT station there’s little point I think.

[av185]

Rather depends on your relationship with your OPC and whether you want to develop it for whatever reason.

[Twinfan]

le_gazman said:

I’ll just use my local garage I think. My OPC is 20 miles away and if they’re just going to pass it on to another MOT station there’s little point I think.

Depends if your OPC is an MOT testing station themselves, it might not go elsewhere.

[Monch]

I have had my car serviced at OPC Silverstone last month, they did the MOT in house FOC for me.

[Radish]

I always use the same place that services the cars to carry out the MOTs which, in this case, is the OPC.

[Pope]

MOT; free health check and a clean afterwards - if you can wangle a loan car too the man-maths works out; might have to forward book a bit for the loan car.

[Nurburgsingh]

There is a "maximum" that can be charged for an MOT regardless of who does it. So if your OPC is close enough why wouldn't you?

Nice coffee and cakes, pleasant environment to chill out in and wait for the MOT to be done.

[av185]

Shame the coffee and Porsche cakes have now disappeared due to the pandemic.

[Miopyk]

In the past if one of our cars has been due for its warranty renewal then we’ve been able to get the inspection charges waived if we get the MOT done at the OPC.

[anonymous-user]

In some respects getting the OPC to do the MOT has a certain satisfaction about it as the price is fixed and they can't charge you through the nose for it.

[davidc1]

gottans said:

In some respects getting the OPC to do the MOT has a certain satisfaction about it as the price is fixed and they can't charge you through the nose for it.

100%. South london do my car. It is in good hands .rather than some kwik fit cowboy.

[timberman]

I always have mine done by an Opc, usually Nottingham but this year it went to Leicester due to Notts being booked up

it cost £54 or whatever the going rate is now,
and I've never been charged anything above this or needed anything doing to gain a pass

for that I have the piece of mind of knowing it isn't going to get ragged round some car park

I get tea and biscuits while I'm handing over the keys

they give it a clean at the same time, if I've got anything wrong that's covered by the warranty then it's in the right place to get sorted,
+ they give me a courtesy car for the day

last year I had a new boxster gts to hoon around in which for 54 quid seems like a bit of a bargain.

I took my daughters old car in for it's mot at one of the local test stations early this year which cost me £45,
and for that I had to sit in a waiting room for about an hour with nothing to do but look at my phone and drink crap tea from a drinks machine.

I know which I prefer.

[Armitage.Shanks]

I take mine to two old boys around the corner from me who I've used for years and are less than a quarter mile away so I can drop it off and walk home.

The only time I'll grace an OPC is when I need a service to retain the warranty.

There seems to be an increasing temptation for some main dealer/main servicing places to decide to note down 'advisories' in an effort to get extra work. That then remains a permamnet record on the MOT history.

Years ago because I couldn't get my MOT done locally I mistakenly took it to Halfrauds. I got an advisory along with an estimate to fit two new tyres as they were "1.8mm from the legal limit". So when I informed them they still had 3.4mm on them they saw my point of view when I declined.

Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Thursday 6th August 23:35

[GT03ROB]

Definitely...…

….nice cup of coffee at drop off.... free health check....nice loaner for the day....another cup of coffee.... all sorted for the same price as the greasy oik that does it at the council place. Hell if you don't want the loaner they may even pick it up & drop it off for you.....

….you don't have to do the 5 grand worth of un-necessary work they identify in the health check!

[nsa]

OPCs offering a fairly priced and honest MOT seems like a great way to get Porsche owners in the dealership once a year.

[GT03ROB]

nsa said:

OPCs offering a fairly priced and honest MOT seems like a great way to get Porsche owners in the dealership once a year.

exactly & with the free health check identifying all sorts of stuff, which you can do as well! It surprising how manty people just do everything the health check identifies.