MOT can i drive without (HELP)

[vw1]

Hi I have a car that is ready for Mot , it is sorn with out tax and insurance I have been told I can buy insurance without an Mot. So many sound daft but if I insure and book in for mot will I be ok ?

I did google but so many different answers so I hope maybe you can help ?

Thank you..

 

[awemawson]

If you drive DIRECTLY to the booked MOT you are OK. I was done some years ago for no MOT as I stopped at a cash machine on the way, so that I could pay for the booked MOT - and it wasn't a detour

 

[Paul.]

You can take an untaxed car to a pre arranged mot as long as it is insured, the mot should be close to your home and go straight there, using the mot appointment to move a car round the country wont wash

 

[rtbcomp]

Where does it say it has to be close, and how close is close? I'll be taking a car for its MOT soon and I always use a garage on the other side of town.

You can also take an untaxed/tested car for pre-arranged repairs.

 

[DanielW]

The best way to find the true facts is asking your MOT station on whats needed to get it to and from the MOT,other than that ask the question on a local police website then you can't go far wrong in getting nicked with a fine.

 

[rtbcomp]

I asked the DVLA and they didn't mention distance. I wouldn't trust the police.

 

[Pete.]

You can take an untaxed car to a pre arranged mot as long as it is insured, the mot should be close to your home and go straight there, using the mot appointment to move a car round the country wont wash

Not so.

I bought a VW Beetle for my daughter's 21st birthday to collect from Manchester intending to drive it home to Kent for it's first MOT. My reasoning was that if it failed I would be almost home and easy to deal with but if I booked it in Manchester and it failed I'd be stuck up-country with a car that's not legal to drive.
A couple of days before, I phoned North Kent Police and got put through to the traffic division in Maidstone and asked them the very question and the reply from a traffic sergeant (who took some while to check) was that to comply with the law I must be travelling directly to a pre-booked MOT, no distance specified. His advice was that I should (but not that I must) be carrying the details of the booking with me to ease things along should I get stopped.

 

[rtbcomp]

Trouble is you can still be nicked if the vehicle is faulty whether or not you're going to or from an MOT.

I sold a car to someone in Leicester and he booked an MOT near his home and drove it there from Sheffield.

 

[vw1]

I shall be going from my house straight to a pre booked mot center with insurance and will not be stopping on way ..

 

[Gareth J]

Re. Long distance motings, there was a test case where a chap had stopped for either/or, toilet/fuel/food and got pulled up in the same way awemawson did. It went to court and he got let off. Long distance is ok and stopping for whatever he stopped for is also ok, not sure what it was but it wasn't cash.

Edit:
Some second hand details of test case here;
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.u...-Tax-while-driving-to-garage-then-to-MOT-test

 

[dunk]

how would you stand insurance wise then if you had an accident on way to mot station (your fault) and the car had a fault that would have been picked up by an mot test and failed, bet the insurance company would`nt pay out

 

[SmartWerks]

I had a engine rebuilt in Ulverston and drove it all the way back to chester for its mot. As long as your booked in and driving to mot station no problem at all. And yes I stopped on the way for something to eat and refuel.

 

[SmartWerks]

how would you stand insurance wise then if you had an accident on way to mot station (your fault) and the car had a fault that would have been picked up by an mot test and failed, bet the insurance company would`nt pay out

And if your granny had balls!!!!

Always one

 

[dunk]

dont hit yer head your get head ache.., you know when your mot is due, you get it done before it expires, if you buy a vehicle with no mot get it trailered there

 

[rtbcomp]

how would you stand insurance wise then if you had an accident on way to mot station (your fault) and the car had a fault that would have been picked up by an mot test and failed, bet the insurance company would`nt pay out

AFAIK the insurance company can't wriggle out of a 3rd party claim as long as you have a valid policy.

 

[Paul.]

Not so.

Really,
Three cases I personally know of over the last few years,
1, Acquaintance bought a car in Norfolk, pre booked an MOT in Northampton to get it home, got halfway home and had his car seized, luckily he had someone with another car with him or he would have been left standing at the roadside.

2, Customer of mine dug his MGB out for the summer booked an MOT at a station around 15 miles away at a company that also was an MG specialist so had a good reason for going there, got pulled given a ticket and made to pay back tax to the beginning of the month. copper told him there were plenty of closer MOT stations he could have used

3, Ex neighbour on the way to MOT picked up by ANPR van received a ticket in the post and made to pay back tax, on appeal they said he wasn't on the most direct route, should have driven through town instead of taking the ring road, turns out there was about 100 yards in it,

I would never take legal advice from the police, they interpret the rules to suit their own purposes

 

[Pete.]

Trouble is you can still be nicked if the vehicle is faulty whether or not you're going to or from an MOT.

Of course, having an MOT or not doesn't make a blind bit of difference as far as roadworthiness is concerned. It's just a requirement that the vehicle be checked periodically that must be complied with.

 

[SmartWerks]

dont hit yer head your get head ache.., you know when your mot is due, you get it done before it expires, if you buy a vehicle with no mot get it trailered there

Why pay out for a trailer when you can legally drive it. I think most people who are buying a car with no mot have the necessary nouce. Don't worry about me head, its unnaturally hard

 

[zzr1200]

how would you stand insurance wise then if you had an accident on way to mot station (your fault) and the car had a fault that would have been picked up by an mot test and failed, bet the insurance company would`nt pay out

That's why the MOT garage should be close to reduce the risk of accident, you should be covered by your insurance, but you would probably be required to inform them (under their T&C's) that you are taking a non-MOT'ed vehicle for test.

I use an MOT garage 2 miles from my house, there's a possible 2 MOT places closer but they both require the work..., the one I use knows they are not likely to get any work from me, so I get a fair MOT Inspection...

 

[colnerov]

Hi, This is the difference between "spirit" and "letter" of the law. No distance is specified, so the other side of town is no problem,The other side of the country is still OK but an individual copper may think you're taking the wee wee, but another may not. It's the insurance that will get flagged up on an ANPR, so leave it 3 or 4 days for the system to get updated. If you get a fail you're then allowed to take it to a place of repair.

Colin