URGENT - MoT test on Sunday

AFAIK they're not allowed to.

Sorry I can't help but I do have a question.

Why do you want the test at the need of the journey?

If it has already expired you will need the test at the beginning of the journey. You are allowed to drive a car without a current MOT but only to the NEAREST MOT test centre. I presume you could argue nearest OPEN MOT centre on a Sunday but only within reason.

If it expires the next day can't you book one for 8.00 the following morning at the NEAREST test centre to your home?

Can't it be any pre-booked MOT?

That would explain a lot - though none phoned so far have said as much.

That leaves the question: why not?

Thought so.

I assume because not all stations can (or will test all vehicles). Some only test bikes. others can't do 3 wheels (had that in the past), and some aren't geared up to do trucks etc.

"At Scotlands Ash we aim to make MOT testing as easy as possible for you, to this end we are open from 6:30am on weekdays, 8:00am on Saturday and will even carry out MOT tests on Sunday 9:00am to 12:00 noon."

I refer m'learned friend to section 29 of the 1994 Act, "A vehicle is [exempt from displaying a valid vehicle excise duty disk] when it is being used solely for the purpose of - (a) submitting it (by previous arrangement for a specified date) for a compulsory test, or (b) bringing it away from a compulsory test."

I fear "solely for the purpose of" does not include ferrying it from vendor to purchaser. However, why not prebook a test on Monday and arrange with the garage to leave it with them (on their forecourt, not in the street) from Sunday, keys through the letterbox or something? Then you can be all legal and pick it up Monday.

Thanks for that, damned fine idea - but I think I'm in the same "sorry guv" territory for getting an MoT done on "Bank Holiday" Monday too ;-(

I'm beginning to think metal tow-rod, trailer plate and light bar, and less-than-happy wife co-driver here...

Sorry to put a spanner in the works here too, but it has to be an all-wheels-off-the-ground tow (ie, a flatbed or trailer) if it's uninsured.

R.

I'm covered in this regard - a small nominal £15 for the day on my regular insurance.

Not a question of insurance - it's either a car, or a trailer: if it's a car, it needs an MoT, if it's a trailer, it needs a proper coupling and automatic brakes, etc. Then you have to think about the maker's towing limit for your car.

The trailer stuff doesn't apply to genuine "recovery of mechanically disabled vehicles". I doubt whether sophistry would get you far if push came to shove.

If your car's up to it - hire a trailer, if not, think in terms of £1 per one-way mile to someone with the right kit.

-- Kevin Poole

However there is a part int he RTA about the vehicle being fit for use on the road.

Nope there is no rule. An MOT station could do testing 24 hours a day, every day of the week if they wanted to.

Graham

Just a little warning - if you do this, don't stop en route. Drive from where the car is to the MOT station, no stops (I suspect fuel would be okay). Just in case. If you stop for five minutes to get a sandwich, you could potentially be done.

Richard

In article , conor snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com spouted forth into uk.rec.cars.modifications...

However, no MOT does not mean it is unfit for the road, just as having an MOT does not mean it is.

One of the sales guys at work is quite proud that his last 3 cars have never had MOTs and he must have spent something like £150k to do it.

Aye, thats what i'd do :) Just gently tootle home, stick on my drive, then take it for an MOT on Tuesday (Monday being a BH).

Secretary of State for Transport vs Richards (1998)

Almost exactly this: Richards was taking his car for a pre-booked MOT and stopped en route for cigarettes. During the ten minutes he was in the shop, he was reported for no VED. Magistrates convicted him; Richards appealed, Crown Court reversed the decision and acquitted him (basically on the grounds of common sense); SoS4T appealed, Appeal Court upheld the CC's decision.

Which is a reasonable precedent - taken to the extreme, would he have been convicted if he'd stopped for a piss? Jeez.

Anyway, thanks to all for sage counsel and wisdom. Clearly, though, no-one knows of an outfit in the Midlands that does MoTs on a Sunday. To add to this, I spoke to my father at the weekend (who lives in Fife) who knows of at least two garages there that oblige (one in Methil, one in Kirkcaldy) - so it wasn't *that* unreasonable a question ;-)

Car retrieved via driving back - documents in car: insurance cover note, receipt for purchase, phone number of garage I was aiming to leave the car at over Sunday and Monday nights, no stopping, no erratic "hello I'm here" driving.

-- Ken Davidson