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Original poster

Can't get MOT booked in for a whole month. Can I drive my car?

129 replies

F0Xintherainbow · 03/10/2023 10:47

MOT runs out tomorrow. Can't get it in anywhere for at least three weeks. Anyone know if I can still drive it if it's booked in somewhere? This didn't used to happen! Is it just my area? I've called four garages and all booked up

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 03/10/2023 14:56

Cross posted!

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 14:56

That's good OP

Original poster
F0Xintherainbow · 03/10/2023 14:58

RandomUsernameHere · 03/10/2023 14:56

Cross posted!

Ha! That's exactly what I did though. Booked online

OP posts:
Lavender2021 · 03/10/2023 15:00

Ijustdontcare · 03/10/2023 10:50

Once it expires, you are only allowed to drive it to a pre-booked MOT appointment. You would ping every police ANPR and are likely to get stopped. Fine is £1000 plus potential of losing your licence. Also, your insurance would be invalid, and you would have to pay for any damage/injuries you are involved in

You would hope that was the case but I know of a car that ran out in May and still being driven around and it's marked as sorn online! So no mot or tax, which means no insurance. Still hasn't been caught.

Gillypie23 · 03/10/2023 15:00

No your not insured. Not worth risking. Plan better for the next one

charabang · 03/10/2023 15:09

Glad you got sorted OP. This happened to me recently. Live in a big city and never previously had issues ringing up about a week beforehand. Ended up in the back of beyond as it was the only place that could fit me in. Fings aint wot they used to be!

Mouldyfoodhelp · 03/10/2023 15:12

I don't really understand leaving it until the day before it runs out as I feel that's playing with fire but I had to book 5 weeks in advance ( could drive my car for a week)

HurdyGurdy19 · 03/10/2023 15:15

Do a Google search for drive up MOT places. We have one near us, which I've had to use once before.

Literally drive up and wait your turn. I ended up waiting about 90 minutes, but at least I got it done.

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 15:23

Lavender2021 · 03/10/2023 15:00

You would hope that was the case but I know of a car that ran out in May and still being driven around and it's marked as sorn online! So no mot or tax, which means no insurance. Still hasn't been caught.

Show quote history

Probably no cameras if you just stick around local town, I doubt there are any in our town because every so often the ANPR car parks on the main road through and they wouldn't do that if there are cameras there.

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 03/10/2023 16:42

I managed to get mine in to ATS, but had to take it 11 miles, have you considered what might happen if it fails? The ATS I took it to was on a direct bus route to my house. Mine failed but the tester didn’t quite understand the rules of driving a car after it had failed, he told me I couldn’t do it but that wasn’t true. Mind you he failed it on the middle seat belt and turns out he’d put the fasteners in the wrong way round. I managed to get it in to my usual garage for repairs and he said the tester was very harsh as he couldn’t find anything wrong with an advisory but heyho.

The issue I did have as they didn’t explain at the time, was that I’d have to wait for a retest which took me past my mot expiry date. I asked if I could take it over and leave it with them as I only have on street parking, that was fine and they actually managed to get it through the following day. It’s not a problem if you have a drive but if you rely on street parking then it may be can be an issue.

Hopefully your car will pass and none of this will be an issue for you.

Thatladdo · 03/10/2023 17:11

Try further away until you find a tester with an earlier appointment.

You can drive a car with no MOT for 2 reasons that im aware of, firstly to a pre booked MOT test and secondly by arrangement to a scapyard to scrap it.

Ive never know of a wait longer than a few days, even at my preferred dealer / garage its no longer than a week, sounds like a nightmare wherever you live.

If it fails, it stays there until fixed / cannot be driven on the public road until it gets a pass now thats its expired.

bodypumper · 03/10/2023 18:01

Halfords big chains like that may have more availability

ChiaraRimini · 03/10/2023 18:11

Glad you got sorted OP
Word of warning, sometimes garages try and upsell you for new brake pads/discs, tyres etc when the old ones still have plenty of wear. If it passes MOT, but they suggest extra work anyway take it with a pinch of salt and don't be afraid to go elsewhere for a second opinion.

ChiaraRimini · 03/10/2023 18:12

PS thanks for the warning I'm going to set a calendar reminder to book mine in as my local trusted garage is super busy as well!

mogsrus · 03/10/2023 18:17

I book mot the day the car is having it’s mot so that’s a year ahead

SomersetDreams · 03/10/2023 19:01

halfords or kwikfit are very good. Maybe try them or one further away?

C1N1C · 03/10/2023 19:03

I'm sure there's a law about it... but could you drive it to Scotland if your MOT centre is there? Loophole!

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 19:13

i think you can go where you want as long as it's booked in but obviously you need to think what happens if it fails and a failed car might not be that convenient far from home

aintnothinbutagstring · 03/10/2023 19:22

I'd rather wait for the garage we know and trust (ie not a rip off merchant) than take it to a kwikfit miles away. I'd never go kwikfit.

User174085934 · 03/10/2023 19:33

aintnothinbutagstring · 03/10/2023 19:22

I'd rather wait for the garage we know and trust (ie not a rip off merchant) than take it to a kwikfit miles away. I'd never go kwikfit.

That is why I book mine well before as I like to have a service at the same time at a garage which I use each year

Cramlington567 · 03/10/2023 19:38

This all stems from the government letting Mots be done after lockdown. People could put it off until October 2020. Now loads of mots expire in October and the garages can't cope.

RaisedByHedgehogs · 03/10/2023 19:42

So glad you got it sorted. I once got caught out and people saying, “you should have booked earlier” was really unhelpful. I knew, you know, sometimes things happen.

B1993 · 04/10/2023 01:39

Thank you for this topic OP, you've just prompted me to check when my own MOT is due... 3rd November. I shall book something in the morning but I do think appointments are more readily available in my area.

Have you manged to find a test centre now that can fit you in? If not, I hope you manage to sort it soon!

adomizo · 04/10/2023 06:55

Lol in NI our MOT due end Nov. The earliest available is mid February across any testing centre in the country! We can still drive though with proof of booked test.

MyCircumference · 04/10/2023 07:00

you will not be insured