To not let my children in a car with a failed mot and no tax

[General3857492]

I have recently been made aware that my children's dad’s car has failed it’s mot. He told me as he couldn’t have them for the weekend as he was unable to drive to pick them up (I don’t drive). I have since checked up on the gov website and it’s not been updated as passed (I think it’s just been failed, he’s realised it’s too expensive and left it) and has not been taxed for the duration.

I have told my ex that if he wants the kids to go in the car the website will either need to update as having valid for both of them or he will need to provide evidence to me. He is refusing to send valid evidence even though he’s adamant that Everything is up to date, even though the website says that it is not. He has told me I need to get a court order to get any kind of proof off him 😴 am I being unreasonable to not let them in the car (he will not see them if they are not able to go in his car)

As a PP stated no MOT doesn’t automatically invalidate insurance. Most polices are worded around the vehicle being “roadworthy”. What will likely happen if you write off a car with no MOT is that your insurer will pay out based on the reduced value of the car with no MOT, unless of course the accident was caused by something that was blatantly unroadworthy then you might be on a sticky wicket.

None of mine ever has

So you are saying when you have insured your car for the last 40 years with 40 different insurance companies (exaggerated for effect) you always read the fine print to see if an MOT is required. Come on thats just not true is it

Clearly if it failed the MOT it would not be roadworthy.

You dont always get insurance as a 3rd party also. It just depends what has been selected and if it is its not limitless.

To be clear you would have to make a claim through the MIB thats not insurance related especially if they dont have any!

All of this is besides the point its inexcusable to be knowingly driving without it and taking taking passengers is obsurd

None of my current polices mention MOT and none that I’ve had in the past (that I’ve read) have either but I believe there are a few insurers who do specifically state it.

Yes but the point is that it is illegal to drive a car without a valid MOT it would surley be deamed invalid. You can obviously get insurance without an MOT for example if the car is off road but if that car was then deamed unroadworthy with a failed MOT it would be highly unlikley it is covered. Unless you were driving to the test station for example which may be an exception.

He provides the evidence, or you go to the police. If he travels to a place of work, perhaps let his employer know that his car may be unroadworthy, for the consideration of other employees.

It happens all the time, people let their MOT lapse and write their car off and get paid out at a reduced rate due to reduction in market value no MOT.

YANBU. Your children’s safety comes first. Stick to your guns.

She's not witholding contact just saying no to an uninsured vehicle- he could collect them in a taxi or a friends car if he wanted to see them that much surely?

The MOT has not lapsed though has it it failed if you read the thread you will see. I dont think offering encouraging words that there is a small possibility the veihicle may be insured sugesting it will be fine if there was an accident is the right thing to do in this circumstance, do you?

It is never acceptable to drive illegally especially collecting children!

Clearly if it failed the MOT it would not be roadworthy
True, but so much depends on what it failed on - it could fail on headlamp being out and the bulb could be changed the next day.
I was just correcting the urban myth that gets repeated on here all the time that no MOT=no insurance which isn’t always true. Of course no one is advocating putting children or anyone else at risk.

@Unexpectedlysinglemum there’s no chance he would see them if he can’t drive. Going above and beyond is not in his nature. He hasn’t seen them for a month before the last time and called once briefly to speak to them. He’s more than welcome to come and visit them but I wouldn’t let him take them because he 100% would just put them in the car when I wasn’t there. We have no court order at all

@Jovacknockowitch there were 3 major. The most severe being coil spring broken

I was talking in general terms in response to a PP, not about this specific case.

When did I say it was acceptable?

I give up 🤦🏽‍♀️