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Original poster

Car MOT rules

74 replies

User473738162837374332 · 19/11/2023 17:55

Hi all, a random one.

my car failed MOT on Friday for two relatively quick but one ‘dangerous’ fix and is going into another garage tomorrow to be fixed. Haven’t used it all weekend.

my actual mot does not officially expire until later in the week, but I got it done early.

anyway, for whatever reason annoyingly the MOT garage is shut tomorrow so after the car is fixed I’m not going to get it to the MOT garage tomorrow so they can check and pass it.

I have a hospital appointment 9am Tuesday morning. Do I cancel because my MOT won’t be officially passed or just go as the work would have been done?

or would I be able to take the MOT fail paperwork and invoice/receipt of the work done to correct these issues with me? So in the unlikely event I’d need to I can prove the work has been done and I will be going back to the MOT garage in the afternoon to get it passed.

sorry if it sounds like a silly question.

Tia 😊

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
daveded · 19/11/2023 18:42

It isn't permissable to drive it though. That's the conundrum here.

No,'it's not. After it's fixed OP can drive it.

OP is asking 'can I drive to my appointment after the fault is fixed?' - the answer is yes.

BlueEyedPeanut · 19/11/2023 18:43

I always thought that if your car failed its MOT you were not even allowed to drive it home - you were only allowed to drive it straight to the garage for repairs. And if it was a dangerous fault you were not allowed to drive it at all - you had to arrange to have it collected. Either way, you shouldn't be driving it now. Your old "pass" is no longer valid. Get a taxi to your hospital appointment.

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:43

Sorry, assuming OP isn't driving it to the other garage to be fixed that is. Once it's fixed it can be driven.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
FiveWordsWillDoNotEightyFive · 19/11/2023 18:47

I hope op comes back and reads all these responses, rather than just taking the first response which was wrong!

RooneysHairTransplant · 19/11/2023 18:47

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:42

It isn't permissable to drive it though. That's the conundrum here.

No,'it's not. After it's fixed OP can drive it.

OP is asking 'can I drive to my appointment after the fault is fixed?' - the answer is yes.

No it's not. She can drive after it's been fixed andretested but not just after it's been fixed.

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:50

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if:
• your current MOT certificate is still valid
• no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT
Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.

^the Gov website is very clear that 'you'll need to get it repaired before you can drive', but also you can drive is under its existing MOT

RooneysHairTransplant · 19/11/2023 18:51

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:50

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if:
• your current MOT certificate is still valid
• no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT
Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.

^the Gov website is very clear that 'you'll need to get it repaired before you can drive', but also you can drive is under its existing MOT

She has a dangerous fault so this doesn't apply.

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:52

*She has a dangerous fault so this doesn't apply.

It does it's the advice saying if you have a dangerous you have to have it fixed before you can drive it.

2jacqi · 19/11/2023 18:54

@User473738162837374332 as long as you have an appointment booked then you are fine!

SunsetApple · 19/11/2023 18:57

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:29

@SunsetApple

That’s not what she said.

It is exactly what she said. She was asking if she should cancel the appointment bc the car cannot be MOT in time after the fix.

She said the garage is closed tomorrow so she can’t get it fixed but if you read the other posts she can’t even drive it to the garage as the car has a dangerous fault. She has to get it collected.

She said the MOT garage is closed. Not the garage doing the fix.

My apologies, I completely misread the original post. That’s what you get for skim reading!

Original poster
User473738162837374332 · 19/11/2023 18:58

Thanks all. I’ve been driving for 13 years and DP 25 years, we’ve had passed and fails of all sorts but we’ve always drove it home even with fails but the MOT garage is only a couple minutes away 🤷‍♀️

I don’t intend to drive it unnecessarily before the work is done or the MOT has passed.

I was asking if I could drive it Tuesday AM after it’s fixed tomorrow Monday PM as I won’t be able to get back to the MOT garage until the afternoon (won’t be enough time in morning). The failed are minor and will take little to no time for the garage to sort but the MOT garage is shut tomorrow. It’s just that I’ve waiting for ages for this appointment 🫣

I’ll cancel the appointment!

OP posts:
Aphotoaday · 19/11/2023 19:02

Namenotavailableagain · 19/11/2023 18:05

If your current MOT is still valid your car is legal to drive.

Not anymore, rules changed a few years back. The first garage shouldn’t have released the car for you to drive if there is anything considered a dangerous fail. Either they fix it or you arrange for another garage to collect and fix.

RooneysHairTransplant · 19/11/2023 19:02

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:52

*She has a dangerous fault so this doesn't apply.

It does it's the advice saying if you have a dangerous you have to have it fixed before you can drive it.

If your vehicle has a dangerous defect at the MOT, the vehicle cannot be legally driven on the road until the necessary repairs have been carried out and the vehicle passes a retest.
(DB works for the DVSA and inspects the MOT inspectors)

Doggymummar · 19/11/2023 19:04

Namenotavailableagain · 19/11/2023 18:27

She shouldn't have been allowed to drive it home from the MOT test centre. She's not allowed to drive it to the garage for repair and can't drive it to its next MOT.

The gov.uk guidance explains this. I was wrong with my original response.

Show quote history

This, it should have been held pending repair. Find another way to get to hospital.

Original poster
User473738162837374332 · 19/11/2023 19:07

Thank you @RooneysHairTransplant, clearest answer I’ve had 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
User473738162837374332 · 19/11/2023 19:17

I’m not sure why I was allowed to drive it home but I was… he just said to book it into the garage, get it sorted then ring him to bring it back for a partial retest 🤷‍♀️ the MOT garage we go to is very reliable as far as we know and we’ve been using them for a long time!

OP posts:
Dartmoorcheffy · 19/11/2023 19:21

"Once it's fixed it can be driven."

No it can't. It has to pass a retest and legally should be taken on a recovery truck to the test but it's rare that people get caught.

Almondmum · 19/11/2023 19:23

The garage don't have the right to keep hold of your car if it has a dangerous fail, so it's not up to them to 'not allow' you to drive it - they should have advised you not to drive it though.

HappiestSleeping · 19/11/2023 19:39

daveded · 19/11/2023 18:42

It isn't permissable to drive it though. That's the conundrum here.

No,'it's not. After it's fixed OP can drive it.

OP is asking 'can I drive to my appointment after the fault is fixed?' - the answer is yes.

It will only be permissable to drive after it has been fixed (that part is covered) and reinspected by an MOT agent (which is the bit that won't have been covered).

I can imagine how many times plod will have heard "it's OK mate, I've fixed it", and while eventually it would probably get sorted out, it could be a whole load of aggravation for the OP. Best avoided IMHO.

Danielle9891 · 19/11/2023 19:41

I'm pretty jealous you've just got to wait a few days. My MOT ran on in July and I can't get an appointment at the tests centre until 7th January and I'm looking everyday for cancellations. I'm even looking at centre's 2 hours away. England/Scotland and Wales has it easy compared to Northern Ireland. Although as I've booked it i get to drive my car until my MOT.

daveded · 19/11/2023 19:42

Danielle9891 · 19/11/2023 19:41

I'm pretty jealous you've just got to wait a few days. My MOT ran on in July and I can't get an appointment at the tests centre until 7th January and I'm looking everyday for cancellations. I'm even looking at centre's 2 hours away. England/Scotland and Wales has it easy compared to Northern Ireland. Although as I've booked it i get to drive my car until my MOT.

You really need to fact check here

Danielle9891 · 19/11/2023 19:47

daveded · 19/11/2023 19:42

You really need to fact check here

Show quote history

What do you mean? Local garages don't do MOTs over here, it has to be the test centres. (Mine is actually the same centre I did my driving test at in Ballymena)

I got stopped by police a month ago when they were checking for red diesel (they set up random road blocks to check) and just mentioned to them my MOT appointment isn't for a few months and they were fine. It's very common here to have to wait months.

daveded · 19/11/2023 19:50

@Danielle9891

Sorry I made a stupid assumption there.

I realise NI is different.

daveded · 19/11/2023 19:51

I have just realised I actually missed it for the post you made!!

I'm sorry I'm really awful for missing things but this is a belter!

booktokbear · 19/11/2023 20:10

Isn't it frustrating how we're all trying our best with the rules yet my dick of a neighbour has been driving round with no mot since Feb and is always parked on the street. 😡