MoT or NoT

[BobCD]

I'm wondering what PHers reaction is to the following line of conversation I had with a guy in our village.

He explained that he was getting his daughter's Hillman Minx MoTed. Of course, I said that it didn't need an MoT. He replied that he wanted proof that it was roadworthy, that if she was involved in an accident, the other party's insurer could claim that his daughter's car wasn't roadworthy because it didn't have any MoT and that therefore she was liable by default.

Has anyone had any experience of an insurer taking this line? Do PHers get an MoT anyway for that reason? What is your feeling about such a situation?

[mobile chicane22]

FWIW I think I would get one done if nothing else to ensure there were no major issues with the car

[Virtual PAH]

MOT doesn't mean it's roadworthy except for when the MOT was done, so for any car you have an onus to ensure your car is roadworthy MOT'd or not every time you use it on the road.

Not sure what happens if an exempt car goes on to fail a voluntary MOT, is it then no longer exempt and can't be used on the road until it passes? Perhaps to avoid that scenario ask for a safety check by an MOT tester, think they call it a mock MOT or something, who will look for anything that would fail an MOT without it going on record as a fail. Though then if it is unsafe do they have a duty to report it to the DVSA so it can't be used until an MOT is passed?

A right can of worms if so.

[droopsnoot]

Virtual PAH said:

Not sure what happens if an exempt car goes on to fail a voluntary MOT, is it then no longer exempt and can't be used on the road until it passes?

I would expect that it's still exempt, but the owner now knows that there is a problem with it and would need to get it fixed. Whether it can be used on the road would depend on what the problem was - if it fails on a headlamp bulb being out, that would make no difference to driving it during the day, but if it fails on significant corrosion or a tyre with exposed cords, then it's a problem all the time. Just like a car that isn't exempt, really.

[FarmerJim]

My vintage Alvis is exempt but I still get it tested from to time just to check it is OK. You need to find a tester who knows how to work with old cars.

[vixen1700]

Mine's MoT exempt, but I wouldn't want to be out on the road without a valid MoT.
I think any responsible drivers would do the same.

[Hippea]

I have two MOT exempt cars, both do a few thousand miles a year. No real logic to this but I get them MOT'd every other year

[catso]

I have 2 MOT exempt vehicles (1 bike, 1 car) and I consider it a blessing - not only the money saved but the hassle of booking/taking it for the test.

That said, I look after my vehicles, make sure everything works etc. and have never had one fail an MOT.

[restoman]

The guy in your village is talking absolute rubbish -an MOT done one day doesn't prove that car is roadworthy on another day.

[ARH]

FarmerJim said:

My vintage Alvis is exempt but I still get it tested from to time just to check it is OK. You need to find a tester who knows how to work with old cars.

Most MOT testers are OK with testing older cars, but you need to know the rules yourself to make sure you don't end up with a fail for something silly like no seat belts. Chances are you will also need to be there to tell them how to operate stuff like windscreen washer pumps, or headlight dip switches on the floor.