Dazza@TeamFord

Hello all,

I'm allowed to drive an un-mot'd car to/from the MOT center providing its booked in, this has been confirmed by the garage.

But is there a grey area? What I mean is, if I drove from London to Scotland where the MOT center is, would this be legal?

Is there a set distance allowed to travel for the MOT center?

Also, what about Tax/Insurance?

Tax can only be bought if its MOT'd, and surely Insurance is only valid if its MOT'd - Hmm chicken or egg....

Obviously this is just an example

BigChuck

the car must be insured,

but both mot and tax are covered if driving to a pre booked MOT, without deviation. there is no official distance, (the last time i checked)

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

dont think you will get away from london to scotland as it has be within a relatively short distance - ie a few miles not hundreds

Dazza@TeamFord

I would have thought that, but there must be some red tape somewhere that states the distance allowed - Otherwise who decides? The police?

Fiddy

as above, if the car is booked in for an mot, at a station within a reasonable distance, your ok, but if you got pulled, they will look at it like, 'there must be hundreds of mot stations between london and scotland, he's taking the piss'. and they do have a point tbh, why take a car to a different country to get it mot'd lol.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

you wont get away with it - too much of a risk and far too much of a distance to even contemplate it.

I'm considering towming my car less than half a mile and am shitting it - fuck scotland

Dazza@TeamFord

Its an example.

It would avoid the whole 'need to hire a trailor' thing when buying a new car.

Perhaps you own your own garage 'oop north' want want to MOT it yourself?

Just after the distance allowed really.

Paulo P

As far as I know there is no defined limit on how far away the station has to be but I'd imagine it's down to the Police or courts to judge what is reasonable and what is taking the piss.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

not worth it imo - or you could drive it to the end of the road and then call the AA saying its broke down and tow you home as long as the car has tax.

Dazza@TeamFord

TBH - Thats a good idea and I'd guess the more legal way of doing it.

Thanks for the replies

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

best of luck

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

There is NO legal maximum distance, no grey area, and no 'it's up to the officer'.

As long as you're booked in, and that's where you're going that's fine.

Dazza@TeamFord

Got any links to show me this? Because thats what I thought but would like abit of proof.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Definately no limits at all.

I will dig out an email that I have confirming this sent to me by the DVLA.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

so basically he can do london to scotland for an mot ?

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I asked not just about distance, but also if I was allowed on the motorway etc too:

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Yes, given how remotely some people in scotland live relative to MOT stations, it would be a nonsense to say "must be in 50 miles" or whatever, as there wouldnt be any.
And if you said "must be the nearest" there would be no consumer choice, and how would you define nearest? crows fly distance or driven. and if driven who picks the route?

so its far simpler for them to just say "anywhere"

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

http://www.motester.co.uk/CarOwnersG...OTQApage3.aspx

Q HOW FAR CAN I DRIVE TO THE TEST STATION
I am aware that a car that does not have a current MOT Certificate is not allowed to be used on the road except when going for repairs for a test, or to a prearranged test. Is there a milage limit as to how far a car can be driven without an MOT if it is going to a test centre - ie can one drive 40miles in the car if it to be to an MOT appointment with a garage?

A: No there is no mileage limit.

And here...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...icle/DG_069671
Driving an untaxed vehicle to an MOT test

You can drive your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged test at an MOT test station as long as you have adequate insurance cover in place for the use of that vehicle.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Yes, snapper Ade has done it more than once! If he sees this thread he'll no doubt comment on his experience!

Ima Racing

iTrader: (1)

Chip, you have just shown the rules "must be no stops or detours for any reason" This would mean no petrol stops or pee stops so actually means the distance would have to be within a certain distance.

Dazza@TeamFord

Top marks for Dan & Chip - Big big thanks

I bet thats opened a few other peoples eyes too - Certainly something I didnt know.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I dont beleive that filling for petrol is classed as a stop, that is merely classed part of your journey as far as I am aware, after all in the case of motorway services you havent even left the motorway technically.
Im sure that no court in the land would consider pulling into the services for petrol a "detour" or "stop" in your journey, they dont literally mean you arent allowed to be stationary at all or what would happen when you get to a red light
But if you want to check rather than take my word for it, drop them an email, they are happy to respond, I didnt even mention I was writing for a mag or anything (was for a question I was answering that a reader sent into TV Mag IIRC), they will just reply to anyone.

SiZT

I had to stop at some traffic lights when going for my last MOT. Does that mean I'm going to get done?

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I had to take a detour cause the road was closed as well.

But luckily the rules are written for people with an iq over 6, not for Phil

cabrio zo

The new car having an MOT would avoid the whole 'need to hire a trailor'

So your not really taking the car for an MOT then? Just getting round the law of driving a car with no MOT?

Traffic lights don't count as a 'stop' silly

I reckon even though there is no set distance IF stopped the police will know your pulling a fast one (if you are that is )

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

so i reckon if i got my car pre-booked and insured i can tow it to the mot station for repairs as there is a polish car wash next door

Dazza@TeamFord

No no genuine question - The reason I enquired would be incase the car needed an mot, if its got one already then thats obviously against the law.

cabrio zo

But Ran does a car need to be running to be road worthy?! Other than of course being able to test for emissions

Chip

iTrader: (3)

They can "know" whatever the fuck they feel like they want to know, but it doesnt mean they can do anything about it.

You are braking no law, so the police will just have to jog on and leave you to it, wether they like it or not.

cabrio zo

Didn't say they could, thats been shown above - I guess they can make you produce the MOT certificate/failure sheet after the test if being arsey

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I would think that if you are on the way to the test, they can call the garage to confirm you are booked in, if you are on your way back they can ask to see the sheet.

If you have a trained mate who is an MOT tester, then if the police ever phone him he will always say you are booked in at 5pm that day

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

Exactly as Chip says!!

its not the truth thats relevant but what they can proove or not as the case may be.

For example outside my house its all resident parking permits and where i park the sign has been stolen (pikeys i presume). Now i know its a residents bay and should not park there, but the parking regulations are written such that any tickets issued on an incorrectly marked or signed area are not enforcable. Yes I am breaking the spirit of the law but theres jack shit they can do.

cabrio zo

Warren you should be ashamed of yourself!

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

They have some stupid rule about HMO's not being allowed on the permit scheme so i cant get a permit even though i would pay for the sake of Ł15 Its their own stupid rules that essentially say i cant park anywhere near my street as i dont count as a resident even though im resident how fucking stupid.

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

i bet warren nicked the sign

turbochild

I know a mate who has done 250 miles travelling to an mot station with a car he'd just bought of ebay. It had no mot or tax but he never got pulledthough. He did take it for the pre-booked mot and yeah it failed suprise suprise. But he said it was the best Ł35 he spent the reason he still took it was incase he got a nip as he wasn't sure if he'd been caught by any camera's with anpr checks and if he had of been he had the failure sheet to prove he was taking it for an mot.

Ima Racing

iTrader: (1)

Chip, why did they put must not stop/detour under any circumstances? (for the retarded, traffic lights/accidents/breakdowns etc would mean ok) This suggests distance related, i mean what insurance company would cover you if you had to claim if the mot station was 300 miles away when by looking at the area one lived could get an mot within 10 miles (excluding of course highlands remote areas where traffic/safety isnt a big concern like in a built up area). This would look at if it needs an mot it might have a dangerous failure...or if a retest, work done could be not correct.
I think relying on a chump who posted a note from the MOT people on PF is very stupid..ask your INSURERS!!!

BM08

Not read any of the replys but i asked this very question in my local police station about 5months ago and the Officer told me that it MUST be the nearest station to where you live or where the car is normally kept, so if station A is 9miles away and your normal place, and then theres station B which is 4miles away and you've never been there before, you must take it to station B because its the nearest.
Thats what the copper told me

Rod-Tarry

Can you give me details of this Chip as the miles per gallon i get from mine means it would be great to fill up without stopping. Planes do it so i assume some sort of Tanker is used but how do they unlock the Petrol cap on the move im sure you have the answers .

Ima Racing

iTrader: (1)

This is the CORRECT answer.