Hi there.

I know you can drive a car to a pre-arranged MOT appointment without a valid MOT as long as its taxed and insured. BUT how far can you drive?

Does it have to be to the reasonably nearest test centre or can it be, say, from the South East back to the Midlands?

It would just be easier and cheaper for me to drive this car back than trailer it. Any ideas?

James

I've taken the mickey a bit myself, I guess make a call depending on the condition of the car. If it looks like it doesn't have an MOT and you know it's going to fail, trailer it. If its good and just expired a day or two but sound, I'd drive it to brum for test.

Just don't get stopped

Have a look at the DOT website, if it doesn't mention it , assume you can drive as far as you want.

However as WMT mentions, try not to get stopped

Cheers.

Just done a search and found this on the "ask the Met" section of the Metropolitan Police website;

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Q) Am I allowed to drive my car to the MOT station without an MOT?

A) Any vehicle driven on the road does not require a test certificate, providing:

- It is used solely for the purpose of taking the vehicle for examination for a test Certificate, providing the test date and time has been pre-arranged;
- Whilst it is being tested on the road;
- Where a vehicle fails a test and it is being delivered to a previously arranged appointment for work to be done to rectify the identified defect.
Any further questions attend your local police station.

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I think I'm OK then. I just need to make an MOT appointment around here somewhere and then cancel before the appointment. Not the best I suppose messing MOT stations around but I could drive the car up a couple of days before the MOT is due. Theres nothing there that says anything about it being driven there well in advance.

James

James

My brother in law took his bike from Kent to Essex to get an MOT, a few years back, because he knew someone with an MOT garage in Essex. I guess the journey was around 40 miles each way. He was stopped on the way, and when they asked about addresses, etc, the police said that he should have reasonably found an MOT station nearer to home and stuck him on.

Mind you, that bit on the Met site about "whilst it is being tested" is interesting. I never knew that. I've recently got one of my bikes running after a lay-off and actually do want to test it (only locally, say a 3 mile radius of home) but I thought I'd have to get it MOTd first. 'Appen Stan will be along to confirm once he's finished his "10 for 99p" bag

Hmm. Interesting.

I've also just found this on the BBC website;

"However, if you intend to drive your car away from the test station with a Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate, there are some stipulations. It is illegal to drive a car of MOT-testable age that does not have a current MOT test certificate on public roads, with the exception of driving it away to a place of repair, which may include your home residence. From there you may be permitted to drive to a pre-booked place of repair, and to a pre-booked MOT test station."

I'm really sorry to cause fear etc. but the big problem now is that the MOTs, tax and insurance are all computerised and you will be driving past any number of roadside cameras- maybe some with ANPR?.

I assume you will just get a summons through the post if you drive past some kind of automated MOT check, then you have the hassle of trying to wriggle out of it. I have noticed that some cars on transporters have their number plates taped over- maybe for this reason?

Now that, Skinflint, is a very good point. Hmm.

Goood thinking Cappo bit I think in this instance it is refering to the MOT station being on the road in it whilst testing. Not the owner

Lol at Cappo

I drove back from Motormech to Essex (albeit to a pre booked MOT, which it passed) without an MOT earlier in the year, a distance of some 160 odd miles.

I got lucky in all honesty and every camera had me nervous I wouldn't recommend it tbh.

I don't think you need be taxed either when going to a pre booked MOT.

Thanks gents.

I'll have a good think. I'll drive it if I have to but I'll trailer it if I can.

James

I'm sure I've missed something here but can't the seller get it MOTd for you? I'm guessing it needs work to pass?

Oh yes - its a bit of a project. Needs quite a bit of work to pass an MOT.

James

Oi!

Morrisons do two bags for 99p at the moment


Anyway, the answer is, as people have said, you are expected to take the vehicle to the nearest testing centre. We did have a discussion about this recently on here in general chat.

Also the bit about *whilst it is being tested on road* does indeed refer to the MOT tester, the reason being that some vehicles can't have brakes tested on the rollers at test centres so need a device placed in the car to measure braking efficiency.

The point about ANPR is very valid and the one that everyone forgot was VOSA. They have fairly strong powers now.

If I had to give you advice on this it would be, for your own peace of mind and protection, to get the MOT done locally.

Thanks everyone. Trailer it is then.

James

I have the same dilema with the Caterham. I have insured it and have the V5 green slip, but no tax or MOT. I will be booking it into my local MOT centre when driving it back from France next week and will have all the paperwork with me. Just hoping that if stopped I will be given the benefit of the doubt and be sent on my way with a producer? It must be a good 100 miles from port to the MOT centre!

Ohhh. Temptation...

Stan, I know fo aguy who is driving from........lol! Only joking, I think it is a woman!