MOT kerfuffle

[SchoolZooTrip]

Had MoT done last year and they put on one of the things that they couldn't check the seatbelt as there was a childs seat there.

The seat was (obviously) movable so I was a bit annoyed. It's the first MOT I've had done so I didnt know I needed to move it.

I travelled there with my child, but would have put it in the boot if they'd told me they needed me to.

Is this normal for a garage? Its due again, and I'm just wondering whether to take it back to the busy but walking distance garage or find somewhere with better communication, and I think it'll help me know what I should expect if I get a few replies here.

Yes that's completely normal

MOTs aren't great earners for garages. The price is pretty low. So it is unlikely they are going to want to dedicate much time to mess around with stuff like removing car seats etc while doing them.

Completely normal. I don’t move the seats, they just make a note of it. Not an issue.

The child seat is a safety device fitted by you. They are not going to remove something that may have legal recourse for them

You should remove it. I don't think they like to touch them in case they are accused of damaging it.
If you need to drive there with your child, then remove it yourself when you get there.

Yes, its standard to have to remove them. They can't remove them.
It wouldnt harm them to put a sign up or to remind a driver who arrives with a child.

Thanks all! I'll use them again then :)

Yes a sign for newbies would be good, but apparently it's not a big deal so I'm okay with it

That's standard - they aren't allowed to remove them.

All they do to a seatbelt is plug it in, hence seatbelts being fastened when you pick it up

I was mot as a baby mom mom forgot I was in the car till I was up on the lift always wondered what they put on that "unable to check due to baby"

Yeah normal i had that. I didn't no at the time but I always remove now

I love the word Kerfuffle.

ours always says unable to check on the back 2 - we have a 7 seater
This is due to the 6th and 7th seat not being used often anymore. Also opting for bigger boot space for the dog.

A mot tester has to carry out the test from start to finish without interruptions so wouldn’t be able to ask you to remove it. They cannot do anything to remedy an advisory or fail during the test even if you think it’s simple such as removing a seat, replacing a bulb, filling washer fluid.

This. With the exception of adjusting headlight alignment.

I thought the exact same thing don't hear it very often anymore

From a technical perspective: if the child seat covers the buckle or seatbelt, the tester won’t mark it as checked and will note the reason instead. It’s not necessarily a fail, but it will remain as an advisory. Keep in mind they’re not allowed to remove and reinstall the child seat - if something happened, the liability would fall on them. I usually do my MOTs at MB MOTORS; when booking, they specifically ask about child seats/boosters, and they even have a space at reception where you can leave it during the test.