DH and MOT - AIBU?

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

Our MOT is due on our car on October 20th so we got the notification to book one in today. Currently, we’re in the process of moving house - still living in the old house but DH is commuting 100 miles each way every day to get to work. The sale was supposed to go through before his job moved over but our buyers messed us around at the last minute. We’re going on complete on October 3rd.

DH wanted to book it for this weekend - which would limit what we could do this weekend (i.e. the kids couldn’t get to their clubs etc). I suggested that DH book the MOT at a garage near his work so he could drop it off before work and collect it after work. He agreed that it was a good idea and found a garage right next to his work that does a reduced price for MOTs on a Tuesday.

DH wants to book it for next Tuesday (27th). I think it’d be better to book it for the following Tuesday (4th). His argument is that, if he leaves it until the 4th, then the car might be unsafe to drive between the 27th and the 4th and he wouldn’t know it’s unsafe. My argument is a) it’s just as likely to be unsafe now as it is to be unsafe next week so it’s illogical to be happy to drive it on the 26th but not the 28th, and b) if it fails the MOT then he’ll be stuck 100 miles away and can’t get home. If it fails on the 4th then he can just walk home and walk to work the next day or until it’s fixed.

We have no reason to think the car is unsafe or will fail it’s MOT.

Who’s right? Should we go for the 27th or the 4th?

[MolliciousIntent]

4th, absolutely. What's his plan to get home without the car if it fails on the 27th?

[MRSE20]

I agree with you OP for the 4th
I’m not sure I understand his logic on the car might be unsafe for an extra week - aren’t MOT’s every year? If he has been driving it for 11 months I’m sure an extra week isn’t going to hurt.

[AlisonDonut]

I'd book it in on the 19th. Why are you doing it so early? And right when you are moving?

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

@MolliciousIntent He doesn’t appear to have any plan for how to get home on the 27th if it fails.

@MRSE20 His logic, I suppose is: if the MOT is done on the 27th and it passes then there’s no harm and the MOT is out of the way. If the MOT is done on the 27th and it fails then, if he’d waiting until the 4th, he’d have been driving an unsafe car for a week - and that, to his mind, the risk of driving an unsafe car is greater than the risk of being stranded.

I disagree. I also think that there are lots of things that will fail a car’s MOT which wouldn’t make it dangerous within one week - they’re supposed to identify and fix anything that could become dangerous within the next year.

@AlisonDonut why leave it so late?

[piegone]

Do you not get a courtesy at when yours is in? That would solve all of your problems as it would not tie up your weekend or if the car went in later and failed you would have the courtesy car. That's what I do. I never leave myself without a motor.

[cadburyegg]

It doesn't matter because the current MOT certificate is still valid until 20 October, meaning you can still drive it if you have a failed MOT before then, as long as the car isn't dangerous.

[properdoughnut]

I can see both sides if I'm honest. I would let him book it for whenever he wants and let him get on with it like an adult and assume he's thought about what if it fails.

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

@cadburyegg

It doesn't matter because the current MOT certificate is still valid until 20 October, meaning you can still drive it if you have a failed MOT before then, as long as the car isn't dangerous.

Is this true? That’s great! Thanks so much.

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

Just to clarify, the car is a family car. I paid for it but it’s registered in his name. We’re both insured on it. It’s not “his” or “mine” and we share responsibility and costs come out of the family pot (if that makes any difference).

[properdoughnut]

@FightMeOnTheBitches

Just to clarify, the car is a family car. I paid for it but it’s registered in his name. We’re both insured on it. It’s not “his” or “mine” and we share responsibility and costs come out of the family pot (if that makes any difference).

Ah got it. OK in that case I'd still go with whoever wants to go and get it done gets to choose when.

[Quartz2208]

Also when ours failed they rang said these need replacing it costs this much to fix it are you willing to pay and then we did so

When is better if either to pay for any work that may need to be done

[Thebestwaytoscareatory]

Unless I've missed something, I don't understand how he'd be stranded on the 27th but able to walk to and from work on the 4th?

I disagree. I also think that there are lots of things that will fail a car’s MOT which wouldn’t make it dangerous within one week - they’re supposed to identify and fix anything that could become dangerous within the next year.

That's not what an MOT is for. A MOT certificate simply states whether or not a vehicle is in roadworthy condition on the day it is present for test. There's no fixing of anything during a MOT and it's possible to have a car pass it's MOT on a Monday morning and then be unroadworthy (and illegal to drive) by Monday night for all sorts of reasons.

A tester might add advisories to a test certificate for things that may make the vehicle unroadworthy within the year but that is more to cover themselves than anything else.

Finally, does the garage he's planning to use have a decent reputation as it's an uncommon practice to discount the MOT test to bring in customer, then be a little be more strict during the test to create some additional work?

[AlisonDonut]

@FightMeOnTheBitches

@MolliciousIntent He doesn’t appear to have any plan for how to get home on the 27th if it fails.

@MRSE20 His logic, I suppose is: if the MOT is done on the 27th and it passes then there’s no harm and the MOT is out of the way. If the MOT is done on the 27th and it fails then, if he’d waiting until the 4th, he’d have been driving an unsafe car for a week - and that, to his mind, the risk of driving an unsafe car is greater than the risk of being stranded.

I disagree. I also think that there are lots of things that will fail a car’s MOT which wouldn’t make it dangerous within one week - they’re supposed to identify and fix anything that could become dangerous within the next year.

@AlisonDonut why leave it so late?

Doing it the day before it is due is early. Not late.

I dont get why you are doing it so early. Unless it is expected to not pass.

[properdoughnut]

@Thebestwaytoscareatory

Unless I've missed something, I don't understand how he'd be stranded on the 27th but able to walk to and from work on the 4th?

I disagree. I also think that there are lots of things that will fail a car’s MOT which wouldn’t make it dangerous within one week - they’re supposed to identify and fix anything that could become dangerous within the next year.

That's not what an MOT is for. A MOT certificate simply states whether or not a vehicle is in roadworthy condition on the day it is present for test. There's no fixing of anything during a MOT and it's possible to have a car pass it's MOT on a Monday morning and then be unroadworthy (and illegal to drive) by Monday night for all sorts of reasons.

A tester might add advisories to a test certificate for things that may make the vehicle unroadworthy within the year but that is more to cover themselves than anything else.

Finally, does the garage he's planning to use have a decent reputation as it's an uncommon practice to discount the MOT test to bring in customer, then be a little be more strict during the test to create some additional work?

They are moving house

[MangoBiscuit]

By his logic, he should be getting a new MOT every week.

[quicklybeendrivenmad]

If it fails on anything that is classed as dangerous, you cannot continue to use it, you may also find if you have an accident and it shows a failed mot the insurance will try and wriggle, also same with breakdown cover.

www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/after-the-test

Please scroll down and read the part about dangerous, if you are happy it will pass do it early as MOT's will forward date for 28 days so it will still be 20th October when due the following year.

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

@AlisonDonut

Doing it the day before it is due is early. Not late.

I dont get why you are doing it so early. Unless it is expected to not pass.

It’s later than doing it on the 4th though.

There are lots of reasons not to leave it until the day before. What if it fails and needs repairing? What if the garage accidentally double-booked and cancelled on that day? What if something unexpected closes the garage (like the Queen dying and there being a surprise Bank Holiday or there being a virus outbreak etc)? What if DH fell ill and couldn’t drive there that day? What if DS or DD fell ill that day and the car was needed to take them to A&E instead of to the MOT? What if a family member died and their funeral is on the 19th? What if there’s traffic or a road closure on the way to the garage and we miss our slot? Etc etc etc.

There are a million things that could pop up on the day that would mean needing to reschedule it. If it’s booked for the 4th and needs rescheduling then there’s plenty of time to get it rescheduled before it expires. If it’s booked for the 19th and needs to be rescheduled then there’s no allowance at all.

[Thebestwaytoscareatory]

@FightMeOnTheBitches

Is this true? That’s great! Thanks so much.

It's kind of true, but depends on the failure.

It's an offense to drive a vehicle that is unroadworthy regardless of the MOT status. If you put it in for an early MOT and it fails on a dangerous or major fault you cannot legally drive it.

If it fails on a minor fault or has an advisory you can still drive it providing the fault does not mean the vehicle has fallen below the minimum standards of roadworthiness. For example things like bulbs not working of a torn wiper may be noted as a minor fail but could still see you land a hefty fine if the police happen to catch you.

[Sirzy]

Surely trying to do it the day after you have moved house is just an added stress?

i would just get it done as soon as possible to get it done especially given the house move being added into the equation.

[MRSE20]

I always like to book my MOT in a couple of weeks earlier just in case. My friend left it until the day last time and they took her keys and wouldn’t let her drive with it and she was stranded.

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

@Sirzy

Surely trying to do it the day after you have moved house is just an added stress?

i would just get it done as soon as possible to get it done especially given the house move being added into the equation.

I don’t mind if it’s the 4th or the 11th to be honest. I think we’re likely to be more stressed before the move than after because DH is commuting 3-4 hours every day now and won’t be then. We’ll be living out of boxes either way.

[AlisonDonut]

It’s later than doing it on the 4th though.

Which is weeks earlier than needed. It's just an MOT, so unless you know it is going to fail you should assume that it is safe otherwise why are you driving it if it is unsafe?

If it is unsafe get it sorted before it goes for its MOT.

[FightMeOnTheBitches]

@AlisonDonut

It’s later than doing it on the 4th though.

Which is weeks earlier than needed. It's just an MOT, so unless you know it is going to fail you should assume that it is safe otherwise why are you driving it if it is unsafe?

If it is unsafe get it sorted before it goes for its MOT.

Did you just decide not to read any of my response to you?

[AlisonDonut]

@FightMeOnTheBitches

Did you just decide not to read any of my response to you?

You posted in AIBU and you are both being U.

Just fucking it in a couple of days before it is due and stop catastrophising for fucks sake.

[AlisonDonut]

Just book it in...Jesus even the autocorrect is pissed off.