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Original poster

MOT

24 replies

StupidPersonNo2 · 17/12/2022 16:39

Been driving for 28 years. No points or tickets. Stupidly went to book my MOT for 19th to realise it ran out on the 9th. Drove once, on the 10th. Luckily WFH so no other journeys.

Obviously I was in the wrong and stupid for not being a better person. If I get fined, I get fined, I deserve it for not having an MOT in place.

What is likely to happen? Will I have to go to court?

OP posts:
Cassillero · 17/12/2022 16:40

Very much doubt anything will happen, as you most likely didn't get caught.

Bit disappointed that this isn't a Leeds United thread though....

ChefsSalad · 17/12/2022 16:41

Do you always catastrophise like this?

Original poster
StupidPersonNo2 · 17/12/2022 16:44

I do actually!

OP posts:

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Driving & parking
mondaytosunday · 17/12/2022 16:54

Nothing, unless you do something silly like run a red light or get caught speeding while on your way to your MOT, or heaven forbid, have an accident. I'm sure loads of people miss the day- I only vaguely know I have to do my first one in April, or it might be May...

Hellsmovie · 17/12/2022 17:42

mondaytosunday · 17/12/2022 16:54

Nothing, unless you do something silly like run a red light or get caught speeding while on your way to your MOT, or heaven forbid, have an accident. I'm sure loads of people miss the day- I only vaguely know I have to do my first one in April, or it might be May...

Wouldnt matter if she was on her way to a pre booked mot

darkwinterdays · 17/12/2022 17:45

You can setup MOT text reminders on the DVLA website for your car (any car in fact) which will give you a heads up about a month before.

SinnerBoy · 17/12/2022 17:47

As long as you are booked in, you can drive it to the test centre. It has to be a reasonable route, so no dropping off at your mum's and getting a bit of shopping, en route.

If it fails, you usually can't drive it away, now. The faults have to be rectified, or the car scrapped, if uneconomical.

Hellsmovie · 17/12/2022 17:48

StupidPersonNo2 · 17/12/2022 16:39

Been driving for 28 years. No points or tickets. Stupidly went to book my MOT for 19th to realise it ran out on the 9th. Drove once, on the 10th. Luckily WFH so no other journeys.

Obviously I was in the wrong and stupid for not being a better person. If I get fined, I get fined, I deserve it for not having an MOT in place.

What is likely to happen? Will I have to go to court?

Like a few traffic laws it's only a crime if your caught . I wouldnt worry about it

girlmom21 · 17/12/2022 17:50

You're allowed to drive to an MOT test centre. You're fine.

Hellsmovie · 17/12/2022 17:50

SinnerBoy · 17/12/2022 17:47

As long as you are booked in, you can drive it to the test centre. It has to be a reasonable route, so no dropping off at your mum's and getting a bit of shopping, en route.

If it fails, you usually can't drive it away, now. The faults have to be rectified, or the car scrapped, if uneconomical.

You can drive it away unless it's a dangerous fault . Even then they cant physically stop you .

goinback · 17/12/2022 17:55

Bought a used car, was told had just been MOT'd before sale. Fast forward nearly 12 months, go to check insurance renewal and discover that I had been driving for 7 months with no MOT. Went to town with the sales manager.

Hellsmovie · 17/12/2022 17:58

goinback · 17/12/2022 17:55

Bought a used car, was told had just been MOT'd before sale. Fast forward nearly 12 months, go to check insurance renewal and discover that I had been driving for 7 months with no MOT. Went to town with the sales manager.

Didnt you ask to see the mot certificate when you bought the car?

Sorry but that's as much (if not more) your fault as it is the car dealer

bigbluebus · 17/12/2022 17:59

DH missed his MOT date by 2 weeks once. Nothing happened. He just got it MOT'd when he remembered and now we've signed all 3 cars up to DVLA's notification service so we get a reminder by email a month before it's due and a further reminder nearer the due date.

nepolibats · 17/12/2022 18:01

I got stopped by the police for something minor and they checked my car not/ it had run out 2 weeks before and I'd been oblivious. They gave me a £100 fine and that was it

Original poster
StupidPersonNo2 · 17/12/2022 18:05

nepolibats · 17/12/2022 18:01

I got stopped by the police for something minor and they checked my car not/ it had run out 2 weeks before and I'd been oblivious. They gave me a £100 fine and that was it

This makes me feel better. I'm normally on top of things so slightly annoyed I screwed it up.

OP posts:
goinback · 17/12/2022 18:21

Totally is, garage didn't give them and I didn't check, too trusting. Also didn't get one from latest MOT, just a receipt that said PASS and advised to look online for full certificate.

SinnerBoy · 17/12/2022 18:29

Hellsmovie

You can drive it away unless it's a dangerous fault . Even then they cant physically stop you .

We had a failure on a rear light, probably 4 years ago. They wouldn't let me take it, unless I organised a low loader. I called a friend of mine, who's a mechanic and told me that the law had changed and they can be held legally liable now, if you drive off.

Shade17 · 17/12/2022 18:53

That is complete rubbish. They absolutely have no power to stop you leaving. The correct response to them trying that should’ve been “give me my fucking keys right now you fucking lying cunt”

Mercy1968 · 17/12/2022 21:16

I thought mine ran out on 1st November at midnight so merrily drove around all day.
Later when checking it actually ran out 31st October.
Nothing happened. I drove past the police too.
You can check on the dvla website does my car have an M O T/insurance/tax etc.
Drove to halfords next day for MOT all was well.

Hellsmovie · 17/12/2022 23:06

Shade17 · 17/12/2022 18:53

That is complete rubbish. They absolutely have no power to stop you leaving. The correct response to them trying that should’ve been “give me my fucking keys right now you fucking lying cunt”

Thank you . Obviously if you get stopped or have and accident while driving a car with a known dangerous defect your going get some bother.

@SinnerBoy unless you can back what you've said up . I'm 99% they can't stop you taking your car

Shade17 · 18/12/2022 08:20

Thank you . Obviously if you get stopped or have and accident while driving a car with a known dangerous defect your going get some bother.

Yes, it’s very much illegal to drive a car away with a dangerous fail but that’s up to you. The garage has no power to stop you.

SinnerBoy · 18/12/2022 09:06

Here's what the internet says:

www.autonetinsurance.co.uk/autonet-insurance-company-blog/autonet-insurance-company-blog/2012/03/09/failed-mot-can-i-drive-my-vehicle-

If you have failed your MOT test on the same day as the MOT is due to expire then there are only two instances that you can drive your vehicle:

You may take your vehicle to a test station for an MOT test booked in advance
^You may take your vehicle to get it repaired after it has failed its MOT test.
In any other circumstances, driving the vehicle would be breaking the law.^

However the fact that your vehicle has failed its MOT means there are faults with the vehicle, even if they haven't been classed as 'dangerous' and if you do get stopped by the police you could be prosecuted if your vehicle is not roadworthy.

I haven't spoken to my friend. I can't see anything online that a garage may have some legal responsibility, but it may be that they feel they could have, or else, they just pressured me, so that I'd get it fixed there.

Hellsmovie · 18/12/2022 10:36

@SinnerBoy

However the fact that your vehicle has failed its MOT means there are faults with the vehicle, even if they haven't been classed as 'dangerous' and if you do get stopped by the police you could be prosecuted if your vehicle is not roadworthy.

you've copied and pasted that statement out of context. That was regarding driving after a failed mot but with the previous mot certificate being valid .

I wouldnt trust a garage that lies about not letting you take you car after a failed mot .
The garage should explain that you shouldnt be driving the car and recommend getting it towed .

Personally I would still drive a car either to my work car park 200m away from the garage I use. Or home about 1mile away. Unless it was some actually deemed it too dangerous too drive for example: Corroded brake lines .

1 rear light not working I'd take my chances .

SinnerBoy · 18/12/2022 10:52

you've copied and pasted that statement out of context. That was regarding driving after a failed mot but with the previous mot certificate being valid .

Not really, I was just showing that you can legally drive it, albeit on shaky ground, if there is time to run on the existing certificate. If it's failed for any reason, you will get done, it the Police stop you, if the certificate has expired.

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