Driving to the MOT test centre

[davidmiles]

I'm sure its been asked before, can anyone tell me... Ive a long way still to go on my restoration project, but I'm wondering how I'll get it to the MOT centre without a valid MOT test certificate, and of course a valid (if free,) Tax Disc. Can I drive it there without these, or do I have to get it up on a trailer and tow it there.
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[mike.perry]

Provided that you have a pre booked MOT you are legally allowed to drive your car to and from the test centre by the shortest practical route, except if the car is found to be in a dangerous condition when you may not drive it from the test centre

[mogbob]

David
You must also check your insurance cover...switching from "off road" to " on road ".A phone call to your insurers will put in motion, the production of a cover note, for the journey to the Test Centre/ garage.

Take advice from your local group as to a Classic car friendly MOT garage, if possible.Providing it's not miles and miles away from your home ( i.e. you have not passed a dozen other MOT Test Centres to get there ) I believe the Police.. within reason will be sympathetic if you are stopped on route.

Being a " belt and braces type of man" I went into the local Police station to see if I needed to advise them of the MOT trip
( my car was also unregistered in the UK at the time. i.e no number plates ).They didn't wish to record my visit, stating that providing I could produce evidence ( Insurance cover ) and a note of the date , time and garage, etc to a Police Officer, if requested, then all would be well.

The same scenario applied when I had to drive to the DVLA for a vehicle inspection...post MOT certificate but pre UK registration, number plate authorisation.Worth checking out the DVLA website re the SORN removal situation.

Bob

[bmcecosse]

I believe it's supposed to be to the NEAREST MOT station. So - you can't buy a car in Inverness and drive it to Bournemouth to get an MOT. And - make sure you tell them the car must not be parked on the highway after the MOT (if you leave it with them) or you could be booked for not displaying a Tax disc/not having a tax disc and not having an MOT!!

[kennatt]

nearest test station No its not ,it is any test station on a pre booking ,distance dosn't come into the situation.Allthough I allready was aware of this(X Plod)I checked with my test station and my son drove his car from france to the north of england for a pre booked test,passing thousands of station on route.Its perhaps something that wasn't included in the regs,maybe for a reason ie you don't ever use the same station,or can't get it booked in the nearest,or don't like the tester.Anyway thats how it is.

[bmcecosse]

Oh! Well that's me sorted then!! Seems a mad idea - but - worthwhile if buying in Inverness and living in Bournemouth!! A useful way to move an untaxed/unMOTd car around the country. Just get temp insurance and a tank of fuel........Book the MOT at a garage a small distance past your home - and then perhaps fail to turn up at the destination - phoning them an hour in advance to say the car has unfortunately broken down.

[Jefftav]

I looked into this myself a few months ago and whilst in theory there is no distance written down if the police pulled you over or worse you had an accident (causing injury & damage) and found to be driving a vehicle with no MOT to a test station a long way from your home address you would have to have pretty good reason. Also if the police had a reason to they would check over your vehicle and if found to be unroadworthy then there could be other consequences.

I'm sure the rules are exploited a lot as this is a very grey area and discussed on lots of forums and generally you should keep to the spirit of the rules and make an appointment at the nearest convienient test station if that happens to be 400/500miles from your registered home address then it's up to you to explain it should you need too.

Personally I found a MOT station with folk who could knew that a Morris Minor is a car and they looked delighted to be testing a classic car and even showed me what to fix and how to do it (althought they wouldn't let me use their ramp or tools ) and that station was about 5miles from my house. This place only does MOT's though which I have found to be better than garages who do MOT's and repairs as I have heard some cracking stories about how much they charge to fix very basic things.

My Tuppence worth

[bmcecosse]

I'm sure you are right Jeff!

[davidmiles]

Yes you are better off going to an MOT station that does not do repairs, my local garage(that I won't be using to MOT my pickup) have, shall we say, a hidden agenda for failing a cars MOT, cos they can charge the earth to replace parts and they have you by the jewels as your car is already there in the garage. They know most people don't want the extra hassle so they win time and time again.

[MarkyB]

you are better off going to an MOT station that does not do repairs

Seconded, absolutely, an MOT license get treated like a license to print money in some garages.

[bmcecosse]

Not if it's your local friendly garage - and you take your modern there for tyres etc. They KNOW they will NEVER get any actual work from me - because I do ALL my own repairs - so they have nothing to gain by failing my car unreasonably - and they will have to go through the time consuming 'pain' of doing a free re-test.