Early MOT question

[Hazell B]

If I took a vehicle with, say, ten month's MOT still on it for a new test and it failed, would it be MOT-less or still okay to use for another ten months legally? Or should I try a pre-MOT test and then have the official version if it's sure to pass?

I ask because I'm off to a motor auction tonight and a vehicle I'm interested in has a trail period and I thought I might squeeze a test in before handing over my cash.

Any thoughts?

[Dave B]

I think you can only take the test up to one month early. But I'm not sure. Hope that helped :s

That said, you wouldn't necessarily take the old certificate in, would you? ;)

[Hazell B]

I may be wrong, but I thought it was two weeks early and that it was for sort of 'post dating' a test to follow the old one (not making much sense there, but I know what I mean!)

As in, you can take it any time, but upto two weeks before can be added to a current test to make it 12 months long. If you take it any earlier, you're writing off the remaining test's length and you're simply starting a new new twelve months again.

[GARYGAZZA]

You can only add up to 1 calender month on an mot [13 months total]on production of a valid mot.If you took your car with 10 months ticket on it and it failed then the previous mot will be null and void.

[Hazell B]

You can only add up to 1 calender month on an mot [13 months total]on production of a valid mot.If you took your car with 10 months ticket on it and it failed then the previous mot will be null and void.

That's funny, I took my current vehicle for it's pre-test yesterday and was told by the MOT man even if one failed it's valid certificate would still be allowed to run as normal.

I thought it sounded a bit unlikely :mark:

[GARYGAZZA]

That's funny, I took my current vehicle for it's pre-test yesterday and was told by the MOT man even if one failed it's valid certificate would still be allowed to run as normal.

I thought it sounded a bit unlikely :mark:
Trouble is with computerization the have a record of the mot pass or fail on record at dvla as soon as the test certificate is printed so they will know if the car or motorcycle is roadworthy to mot criteria.

[Hazell B]

That's what I'd guessed, so thanks for that.

My MOT guy is a bit vague and gormless, so it seemed sensible to ask here rather than believe him :p :

[oily oaf]

Trouble is with computerization the have a record of the mot pass or fail on record at dvla as soon as the test certificate is printed so they will know if the car or motorcycle is roadworthy to mot criteria.

Correct

Any vehicle that is issued with a failure notice is deemed to be unroadworthy and any prior MOT will be null and void.

VOSA are automatically advised as to any vehicle issued with a failure or advisory notice and will come round and saw your legs off at the knees while you sleep.

However if a punter came to me with a motor that still boasted 10 months ticket and asked for a new test I would be inclined to fail him or her immediately on the grounds of being unfit to drive due to acute mental illness :)

I'm afraid you've caused a familial rift here Hazell as my fellow mechanic son disagrees and says that an MOT is for one year and will remain valid for the duration :rolleyes:

However as he lost his testers licence years ago for dishing one out to his mate who was given a tug by Old Bill a couple of days later with a motor that had all the roadworthy attributes of something Fred Flintstone might own I wouldn't take too much notice of the little scallywag if I were you mate ;)

[reidy_fan]

Oily

surely you could go through the mot test but just not document anything as any mechanic that knows his onions knows what is in the test anyway

what we used to call a mock mot, tell the geezer what is wrong and once it is fixed you test it properly

[oily oaf]

Oily

surely you could go through the mot test but just not document anything as any mechanic that knows his onions knows what is in the test anyway

what we used to call a mock mot, tell the geezer what is wrong and once it is fixed you test it properly

Some garages do a Pre Mot check Reidy, mine isn't one of them.
As for "going through the motions" that's a bit tricky as we are filmed on CCTV throughout the testing process to ensure that the correct procedures are followed.

BTW did you know that the government are to introduce new MOT laws which will necessitate a test bi annually instead of the current yearly check and that new vehicles will be tested after 4 years and not 3.
Gordon Brown argues that because of the increased quality of modern vehicles testing should be less stringent as is the case in the EC and also less frequent.
Utter codswallop of course :mad:

[Hazell B]

I heard last week it was possible they'd alter the MOT to every two years, too. Sounds utterly stupid to me, especially for older vehicles like mine. Perhaps they could say annually for cars over ten just to stay safer.

Anyway, new MOT question for you all.

My vehicle had his pretest and did everything but the logged on bits for exhaust emissions, and passed fine. Then today a brake shoe thingy must have been taking the pee as the proper MOT showed the brakes at only 47% and a fail was handed my way. I'm legal to drive it back for the retest, aren't I? Had to bring it home as the garage had not a spare inch of parking available to leave it there, or even on the road outside :mark:

[oily oaf]

I heard last week it was possible they'd alter the MOT to every two years, too. Sounds utterly stupid to me, especially for older vehicles like mine. Perhaps they could say annually for cars over ten just to stay safer.

Anyway, new MOT question for you all.

My vehicle had his pretest and did everything but the logged on bits for exhaust emissions, and passed fine. Then today a brake shoe thingy must have been taking the pee as the proper MOT showed the brakes at only 47% and a fail was handed my way. I'm legal to drive it back for the retest, aren't I? Had to bring it home as the garage had not a spare inch of parking available to leave it there, or even on the road outside :mark:

The short answer is yes Hazell
If the car is being taken for a prearranged retest or MOT related repair then that vehicle is deemed legal for the journey, no matter how long, to the designated garage.
It's a shame that the garage were not able to keep the car on site as this would negate the need for a retest fee.
Unfortunately a braking system failure is not one of the minor free retest items which are designated by VOSA so your garage would be entirely within their rights to submit the vehicle to a complete re inspection of all testable items and charge up to the full test fee for the dubious privilege.

No wonder we vehicle repair bods all drive round in DB9s or similar eh? ;)

[Hazell B]

You have a DB9? Shame, I thought you'd have the (far better) taste for a 7. Never mind, old boy, we can't all be classy :p :

There won't be a retest fee I wouldn't have thought, Mark's a friend and he rarely charges for minor things like that. I just buy him Guinness. Thanks for the warning though, I'll take cash along in case. :D

If I took a vehicle with, say, ten month's MOT still on it for a new test and it failed, would it be MOT-less or still okay to use for another ten months legally? Or should I try a pre-MOT test and then have the official version if it's sure to pass?

I ask because I'm off to a motor auction tonight and a vehicle I'm interested in has a trail period and I thought I might squeeze a test in before handing over my cash.

Any thoughts?

You could get an mot test but you'd do better getting a service..