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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH and MOT - AIBU?

56 replies

FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 15:09

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?

OP posts:
piegone · 21/09/2022 16:11

So no courtesy car then? Such a logical and easy solution to a non probelm.

VariationsonaTheme · 21/09/2022 16:12

I’d have booked it in for this weekend, it only takes an hour. I certainly wouldn’t be leaving it until the day after I moved house, there’s enough to be doing without adding that to the mix!

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 21/09/2022 16:16

I really don’t understand why you’re fretting about it failing. Are you expecting it to fail? Is it an old banger?

i agree it makes way more sense to do it once you’ve moved but I’d do it the week before it’s due. I’ve had fails before and they’ve always sorted it in a day or less.

123ZYX · 21/09/2022 16:19

It sounds like you're moving a long distance (100 miles?) - does that mean it's your DCs last time at their clubs? If that's the case, it would be mean to make them leave without having had chance to say goodbye.

That doesn't mean don't do the MOT then, but you really need an alternative plan to get them there if you do

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:20

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:01

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

Are you not embarrassed that it pisses you off that other people are more organised than you? There’s no downside at all to doing it early, there are loads to doing it at the last minute. Why would you insist on taking the risk?

OP posts:
Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:22

piegone · 21/09/2022 16:11

So no courtesy car then? Such a logical and easy solution to a non probelm.

Is this normal? I’ve never known anyone get a courtesy car for an MOT. We’ve only ever had one through our insurance.

OP posts:
piegone · 21/09/2022 16:24

Is this normal? I’ve never known anyone get a courtesy car for an MOT.

Very normal. I have one for every service and MOT and anything else the car is in for. I have never not taken one. I can't be doing with fading about with no car when there is no need.

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:27

FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:20

Are you not embarrassed that it pisses you off that other people are more organised than you? There’s no downside at all to doing it early, there are loads to doing it at the last minute. Why would you insist on taking the risk?

Show quote history

You aren't more organised. Call up the garage, book it in a day or so before it is due and then drive there and get it done. Really simple.

titchy · 21/09/2022 16:28

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

If it's done a month early that month gets added to the expiry date, so effectively the certificate can be up to 13 months long.

Discovereads · 21/09/2022 16:30

YABU.
He’s the one taking it to the garage and having to fit it in around his work schedule. You need to stop micromanaging it. Let him book the fucking garage and stop being an arse about it. It’s super nitpicky and annoying to argue over him picking the 27th Sept vs your preferred 4th Oct.

On a side note, better to get the MOT out the way before your 3 Oct completion date too. I think your date is idiotic double booking madness and if I were your DH would think you were picking a fight with me for your own amusement.

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:32

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:27

You aren't more organised. Call up the garage, book it in a day or so before it is due and then drive there and get it done. Really simple.

Show quote history

I’ve explained to you why what you’re demanding I do is a stupid idea. The answer is no. I’m sorry it pisses you off that strangers won’t follow your (bad) advice.

OP posts:
Mumoftwoinprimary · 21/09/2022 16:33

I agree with you. (In fact I’d probably leave until the 11th as your life if stressful enough both now and on the 4th.) But…..

Your husband appears to be worried about the safety of the car. Whether rightly or just because it has got caught up in his head and he is randomly panicking for no reason. It is him who would have the hassle if it all went wrong. So let him make the choice.

It has taken me years but I have stopped arguing now with Dh when he is set on doing something that will cause him problems (and not me) if it goes wrong. If he wants to go out in 5 degree weather in a t shirt (he doesn’t feel the cold) then I grab coats for me and the kids, say “sure you don’t want a coat” then let him get on with it.

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:34

FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:32

I’ve explained to you why what you’re demanding I do is a stupid idea. The answer is no. I’m sorry it pisses you off that strangers won’t follow your (bad) advice.

Show quote history

I'm not demanding anything. Im bemused as to why you are making your life more problematic than it need be.

Such an incredibly simple thing made into such a huge drama.

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:34

Discovereads · 21/09/2022 16:30

YABU.
He’s the one taking it to the garage and having to fit it in around his work schedule. You need to stop micromanaging it. Let him book the fucking garage and stop being an arse about it. It’s super nitpicky and annoying to argue over him picking the 27th Sept vs your preferred 4th Oct.

On a side note, better to get the MOT out the way before your 3 Oct completion date too. I think your date is idiotic double booking madness and if I were your DH would think you were picking a fight with me for your own amusement.

If it’s on the 4th then I could do it just as easily as him so it would be me taking it to the garage.

Why is it better to do it before the move?

OP posts:
Clarinet1 · 21/09/2022 16:36

Just a thought OP - if you’re about to move house some distance, isn’t getting the car serviced (which could extend to MOT) one of things that pre-move check lists often recommend? In which case an date before the move might be best.

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:36

titchy · 21/09/2022 16:28

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

If it's done a month early that month gets added to the expiry date, so effectively the certificate can be up to 13 months long.

I know that. They are in the middle of moving house. Seems utterly ridiculous when they can really easily just do it a couple of weeks later once they are not 100 miles from the garage.

But you don't get drama with those fries.

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:36

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 16:34

I'm not demanding anything. Im bemused as to why you are making your life more problematic than it need be.

Such an incredibly simple thing made into such a huge drama.

Show quote history

Read your comments back - you’ve very clearly demanded it. And the irony of your comment is brilliant. Leaving things to last minute for no reason causes far more stress than just getting them done within a reasonable timeframe. How you’ve managed to conclude that it’s more stressful to have jobs done is beyond baffling.

OP posts:
sheepdogdelight · 21/09/2022 16:37

I'm just jealous that you have such a pick of MOT dates. We booked ours today and the earliest date available was the 28th October.

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 16:38

sheepdogdelight · 21/09/2022 16:37

I'm just jealous that you have such a pick of MOT dates. We booked ours today and the earliest date available was the 28th October.

I thought this would be the case but the few places we looked at all had availability. It’s one of the reasons we’d tried to get it booked in early (despite how that has angered other posters). Sorry for your stress though.

OP posts:
andtheweedonkey · 21/09/2022 16:53

Discovereads · 21/09/2022 16:30

YABU.
He’s the one taking it to the garage and having to fit it in around his work schedule. You need to stop micromanaging it. Let him book the fucking garage and stop being an arse about it. It’s super nitpicky and annoying to argue over him picking the 27th Sept vs your preferred 4th Oct.

On a side note, better to get the MOT out the way before your 3 Oct completion date too. I think your date is idiotic double booking madness and if I were your DH would think you were picking a fight with me for your own amusement.

^This.

If DH tried to argue with me and I was doing the task, it would be firmly handed back to him to book, do and pay for.

Original poster
FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 17:33

andtheweedonkey · 21/09/2022 16:53

^This.

If DH tried to argue with me and I was doing the task, it would be firmly handed back to him to book, do and pay for.

Show quote history

As I said though, I would do it on the 4th and we share finances (and I’m the higher earner anyway) so this logic doesn’t apply

OP posts:
Discovereads · 21/09/2022 19:29

FightMeOnTheBitches · 21/09/2022 17:33

As I said though, I would do it on the 4th and we share finances (and I’m the higher earner anyway) so this logic doesn’t apply

Show quote history

Sorry, you’re actually arguing over who gets to do the MOT? Why on earth?

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 19:35

Discovereads · 21/09/2022 19:29

Sorry, you’re actually arguing over who gets to do the MOT? Why on earth?

Show quote history

For the first and possibly the last time ever, I totally agree with you. Such a fucking ridiculous thing to be arguing over.

HotDogJumpingFrogHaveACookie · 21/09/2022 19:35

If he has to arrange the MOT and take the car then he should do it whenever he wants.

Discovereads · 21/09/2022 19:37

AlisonDonut · 21/09/2022 19:35

For the first and possibly the last time ever, I totally agree with you. Such a fucking ridiculous thing to be arguing over.

Show quote history

Hiya @AlisonDonut
We should celebrate this rare moment of accord. Have one on me 🍷

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