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Original poster

MOT failed help please!!

29 replies

lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 18:57

I had my car in for MOT and it failed. (Arnold Clark). One of the problems, they can’t get the parts until the 19th December.
I want to take it away to another garage for repairs to get it done sooner. I know I have 10 days to take it back to Arnold Clark and get it retested, however looking online they don’t seem to have any appointments until the 20th.

My question is do they HAVE to fit me in within that 10 days as it will only be a partial retest? Or am I going to need to look elsewhere for a retest?
Thank you

OP posts:
Olivia199 · 27/11/2023 19:03

Sorry OP, don't really have a set answer to your question. But will say it's always best just to ring them and ask. Most are great at fitting you in. My garage had no availability for retest within the 10 days but said to pop it down just after 5 one day and they'd do their bit and I'd be sorted.

I also had it fixed elsewhere, not by choice but because Halfords had caused the damage so they were fixing it and giving me a new MOT but I didn't trust them so wanted the other garages stamp of approval!

FreshWinterMorning · 27/11/2023 19:06

A major garage like Arnold Clarke can't get the parts til 19th December?! Ludicrous! That's 3 fecking weeks! I would pop a post on your local town facebook page and ask if anyone knows a local mechanic who can look at your car, find out why it failed the MOT, and get it through it for you.

LoveTheDarts · 27/11/2023 19:15

What level was the fail - major or dangerous?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Original poster
lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 19:18

Nothing was dangerous. But my MOT runs out 30/11.
My understanding is that I can pick it up tomorrow, drive it around until 01/12, then after that it must stay at home until I can take it for repairs and MOT. Is this correct?

OP posts:
Original poster
lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 19:19

Or am I wrong and it runs out the minute the clock strikes 30/11?

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 27/11/2023 19:22

FreshWinterMorning · 27/11/2023 19:06

A major garage like Arnold Clarke can't get the parts til 19th December?! Ludicrous! That's 3 fecking weeks! I would pop a post on your local town facebook page and ask if anyone knows a local mechanic who can look at your car, find out why it failed the MOT, and get it through it for you.

I know of someone with a 3 year old Volvo and their Volvo dealership can't get the part required (starter motor) and don't have a timescale for sourcing one. He's phoned other garages, both Volvo and non dealerships and they've confirmed their usual parts supply chains don't have it in stock and they can't order it in either. It's still the covid gift that keeps giving in terms of parts shortages due to factory shutdowns and supply line problems. He's now contacting random scrapyards to see if he can find an accident write off of the same model and age where the engine wasn't damaged in hope of getting a second hand one. But so far, no luck.

imsureineverdo · 27/11/2023 19:22

I think the new rules are that you can't legally drive it now it has failed an MOT.

Shade17 · 27/11/2023 19:23

lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 19:19

Or am I wrong and it runs out the minute the clock strikes 30/11?

It’s midnight on the expiry date. What has it failed on?

imsureineverdo · 27/11/2023 19:24

Other than to be repaired or for the retest I mean.

FloydPepper · 27/11/2023 19:24

lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 19:18

Nothing was dangerous. But my MOT runs out 30/11.
My understanding is that I can pick it up tomorrow, drive it around until 01/12, then after that it must stay at home until I can take it for repairs and MOT. Is this correct?

Yes. And then you can drive it to and from a pre booked appointment but that can be at any garage

and to correct another post, it’s only if it’s a dangerous fail you’d have to not drive it at all now. Yours isn’t, so you have until the end of the 30th

Shade17 · 27/11/2023 19:24

imsureineverdo · 27/11/2023 19:22

I think the new rules are that you can't legally drive it now it has failed an MOT.

Not this again!

CharlotteRose90 · 27/11/2023 19:28

You can drive it around as long as your mot certificate is valid but you only get 10 days to make the changes and retest at the same place so it’s 10 days from today not when your certificate expires . If you take it elsewhere I believe you’ll have to pay the full price again.

Neriah · 27/11/2023 19:28

FreshWinterMorning · 27/11/2023 19:06

A major garage like Arnold Clarke can't get the parts til 19th December?! Ludicrous! That's 3 fecking weeks! I would pop a post on your local town facebook page and ask if anyone knows a local mechanic who can look at your car, find out why it failed the MOT, and get it through it for you.

There are significant issues sourcing cars and parts. And labour. Welcome to the UK 2023. My motability car developed a problem 3 weeks ago. 4 weeks just to get it looked at. I'm fortunate they have to provide a suitable hire car on the scheme. RAC told me several weeks is now the norm for very basic repairs.

Original poster
lovelyjubbly888 · 27/11/2023 19:39

So I’m fine to drive it all day 30/11?
It failed on the exhaust centre pipe being split, and the wheel arch is broken with scrubbing tyre on full lock (???)
I’m really pissed off that Arnold Clark can’t get the part until the 18th. I’ve phoned round a good few other garages who can do it next week, the repairs and MOT so just want to know I’m fine to drive it there then. Really hacked off and stressed as I rely on my car so much.

OP posts:
DeepFriedKermit · 27/11/2023 19:42

You absolutely can't drive it if it's failed - you presented the car early and it's failed...this means the car is unfit for the road...check the gov MOT checker and you'll see it's failed

Shade17 · 27/11/2023 19:44

DeepFriedKermit · 27/11/2023 19:42

You absolutely can't drive it if it's failed - you presented the car early and it's failed...this means the car is unfit for the road...check the gov MOT checker and you'll see it's failed

Why do people comment on things they clearly know nothing about?

Badbadbunny · 27/11/2023 19:44

DeepFriedKermit · 27/11/2023 19:42

You absolutely can't drive it if it's failed - you presented the car early and it's failed...this means the car is unfit for the road...check the gov MOT checker and you'll see it's failed

Hopelessly wrong. As long as it hasn't failed on a "dangerous" criteria, it's still absolutely legal to drive until the expiry date of the original MOT certificate.

DinaofCloud9 · 27/11/2023 19:45

DeepFriedKermit · 27/11/2023 19:42

You absolutely can't drive it if it's failed - you presented the car early and it's failed...this means the car is unfit for the road...check the gov MOT checker and you'll see it's failed

Ooh you sound so sure. Shame you're wrong.

Ilianor · 27/11/2023 19:47

Government website:
Driving a vehicle that’s failedYou 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. If you can take your vehicle away, it must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times. You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.

Check your vehicle is safe to drive

You must make sure your car, motorcycle or other vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’) all year round.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe

Fairysteps11 · 27/11/2023 19:52

You absolutely cannot drive a car that has failed. Major or minor.

If you do not have a major fail, you can drive the car to another garage to have work carried out. A major fail means that you may not be allowed to move the car to another garage and if you insist, you may have to sign a disclaimer showing that you know your car is not roadworthy.

You cannot use it to take the kids to school, go to work etc, REGARDLESS of when your original test runs out.

Previous service manager at a dealership.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 27/11/2023 19:52

FreshWinterMorning · 27/11/2023 19:06

A major garage like Arnold Clarke can't get the parts til 19th December?! Ludicrous! That's 3 fecking weeks! I would pop a post on your local town facebook page and ask if anyone knows a local mechanic who can look at your car, find out why it failed the MOT, and get it through it for you.

@FreshWinterMorning

its bad everywhere at the moment. My friend has just waited 2 weeks for a diagnostic, even though he knew what was wrong and which part he needed (Hyundai).

Another friend just waited 2 weeks for a diagnostic & a further 3 to have the part fitted Ford)

my own local garage didn't have a slot for a service for a month.

The Covid 'hold' on MOT's really screwed up the usual ebb & flow as well as the manufacturing & distribution of parts. CoL has not helped.

it is 💩, but it's not the garages fault.

@lovelyjubbly888 sorry, I'm not sure if the obligations/options. Best of luck getting it sorted ASAP 👍🏻

Shade17 · 27/11/2023 19:56

Fairysteps11 · 27/11/2023 19:52

You absolutely cannot drive a car that has failed. Major or minor.

If you do not have a major fail, you can drive the car to another garage to have work carried out. A major fail means that you may not be allowed to move the car to another garage and if you insist, you may have to sign a disclaimer showing that you know your car is not roadworthy.

You cannot use it to take the kids to school, go to work etc, REGARDLESS of when your original test runs out.

Previous service manager at a dealership.

You are talking utter shite.

FloydPepper · 27/11/2023 20:02

Blimey. Loads of people confidently wrong on this thread

op yep if it’s not a dangerous fail then you can drive until the original date runs out (so the 30th) then only to or from a booked appointment

not for 10 days, not banned from using it at all.

pinksheetss · 27/11/2023 20:19

Fairysteps11 · 27/11/2023 19:52

You absolutely cannot drive a car that has failed. Major or minor.

If you do not have a major fail, you can drive the car to another garage to have work carried out. A major fail means that you may not be allowed to move the car to another garage and if you insist, you may have to sign a disclaimer showing that you know your car is not roadworthy.

You cannot use it to take the kids to school, go to work etc, REGARDLESS of when your original test runs out.

Previous service manager at a dealership.

That's awkward...

Flamingbow · 27/11/2023 20:20

Yes you can take it elsewhere, they'll charge you for a full retest more than likely though. I'd just drive it to another garage than use it until expiry personally, it's only 3 days or so isn't it. Be mindful that although your insurance should cover you provided it wasn't a dangerous fault some will be a pain in the ass about it should you have an accident related to one of the issues- so drive careful (as I'm sure you do anyway).