Can I drive my un-MOTed car home after having repairs?
Can I drive my un-MOTed car home after having repairs?
Author
Discussion

CarMad12

Original Poster:

3 posts

45 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
I'm a vehicle technician, I've had my car at work putting a new clutch in it in my free time as frankly it's a lot easier on a ramp! During that time, my MOT expired. I've given it a pre-MOT and found some things which I've also changed and it's now all ready.

We don't do on-site MOT's so I can't test it here but it is booked in for a test tomorrow. The plan was to come to work in my other car, swap the cars around and drive to the MOT test tomorrow. Sadly, someone ploughed into the back of my other car this morning so I can't drive that! I'm currently stuck at the garage where I work 30 miles away from home!

The Direct Gov website states:

You cannot drive or park your vehicle on the road if the MOT has run out. You can be prosecuted if caught.

The only exceptions are to drive it:

to or from somewhere to be repaired
to a pre-arranged MOT test

I'll obviously be driving it FROM somewhere that has been repairing it and the MOT place it's going to is only 2 minutes from my house.

However, I've seen some websites that say you can only drive it to or from a place of repair after it has failed an MOT test (which it hasn't, it's just expired) which the Direct Gov website doesn't seem to mention.

Anyone have the definitive answer to this one? rofl

Thanks in advance!

Super Sonic

10,156 posts

71 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.

Hol

9,138 posts

217 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
Book an MOT at a garage whose route takes you close to home.

Drive home, then cancel it,

DaveH23

3,333 posts

187 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
You also need to weigh up the chances of getting caught

Are you feeling lucky.....

hellorent

558 posts

80 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
Super Sonic said:
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.
No MOT will not invalidated ins cover

SS2.

14,625 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
CarMad12 said:
However, I've seen some websites that say you can only drive it to or from a place of repair after it has failed an MOT test (which it hasn't, it's just expired) which the Direct Gov website doesn't seem to mention.

Anyone have the definitive answer to this one?
As above, it needs to have failed a test before you can rely on the exemption of driving without an MOT to / from a place for [pre-arranged] repairs.

MK3 Dan

332 posts

162 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
If the MOT place is 2 mins from your house do you not just drive it straight there and then walk the 5 mins home.

Regardless if you are stopped between work and home then you are on the way to the garage to drop your car off ready for the morning?

No ideas for a name

2,754 posts

103 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
hellorent said:
Super Sonic said:
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.
No MOT will not invalidated ins cover
You will always be covered if you travel with a Parrot.

Oceanrower

1,179 posts

129 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
Just do it. The odds of getting caught are so near to zero as to be unidentifiable!

kestral

2,025 posts

224 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
Super Sonic said:
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.
OMG. NOT AGAIN!

Oceanrower

1,179 posts

129 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
kestral said:
Super Sonic said:
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.
OMG. NOT AGAIN!
I think Super Sonic may well have been being sarcastic there…

Cliftonite

8,604 posts

155 months

Wednesday 4th September 2024
quotequote all
kestral said:
Super Sonic said:
Glad you asked, as this has never been covered on ph. Would also be interesting to know if insurance is affected.
OMG. NOT AGAIN!
rofl

pigface1001

49 posts

57 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
Drive to to MOT station and leave it overnight?
Walk/taxi home

drmike37

554 posts

73 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
A friend once drove around in their car for 3 months with an expired MOT before they remembered. They were under a lot of stress at the time. Nothing happened.

Alex_225

7,003 posts

218 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
Oceanrower said:
Just do it. The odds of getting caught are so near to zero as to be unidentifiable!
This would be my outlook on it as well.

If you know the car is roadworthy and it's a short journey home, don't over think it, just get it home and then get it sorted.

I knew someone who'd totally forgotten about their MOT, went about their business as normal for 3 months without one. Nothing came of it fortunately, despite being far from recommended haha.

PorkInsider

6,239 posts

158 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
Given that driving a vehicle without an MOT isn't an endorsable offence and likely only £100 fine if by some chance you're nicked for it, I'd just risk it, personally.

ARHarh

4,883 posts

124 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
Does the outfit you work for not have trade plates? Surely that would solve the issue?

SS2.

14,625 posts

255 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
PorkInsider said:
Given that driving a vehicle without an MOT isn't an endorsable offence and likely only £100 fine if by some chance you're nicked for it, I'd just risk it, personally.
Same here.

LosingGrip

8,382 posts

176 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
ARHarh said:
Does the outfit you work for not have trade plates? Surely that would solve the issue?
https://www.gov.uk/trade-licence-plates/rules#:~:text=You%20can%20only%20use%20trade,exempt%20from%20needing%20an%20MOT

Nope.

B'stard Child

30,406 posts

263 months

Thursday 5th September 2024
quotequote all
https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot

Quote.

You cannot drive or park your vehicle on the road if the MOT has run out. You can be prosecuted if caught.

The only exceptions are to drive it:

to or from somewhere to be repaired
to a pre-arranged MOT test




I had to get a new subframe fitted to my SLK (it failed the MOT due to corrosion)

I drove it without an MOT to the nearest Mercedes dealership (to a place of repair)

When they repaired it I collected it on a Saturday afternoon and drove it home (From a place of repair)

I took it for an MOT test on the Monday (To a pre arranged MOT test)

At all times I was complaint from an insurance perspective (vehicle was SORN'd because the tax ran out after it failed the first MOT)

The gov site is really clear - print it out the page and take it with you - in the incredibly slim chance that you are stopped just hand over the print out.

This does not mean you can't be prosecuted for any vehicle defects - if you have 4 tyres that are below min tread or lights that don't work then it doesn't absolve you of the requirements of con and use regs

Insurance invalid rofl not this st again (c JAYB)