Mot validity ..France

[PG’s trips]

Does anyone know if the French authorities ask to see a valid UK MOT certificate? I ask as heading to France (Dublin Cherbourg) for first major trip in September and my MOT expires in August but can’t get a appointment until October as there is a major covid related backlog here in Northern Ireland where MOTs are only carried out by designated government MOT centres. Both insurance companies, government enforcement agencies and the police allow you to still use your vehicle provided you have an MOT booked. Breakdown companies are also still providing a service. I am just a bit concerned that once I hit French soil I could fall foul of a local rule as the Northern Ireland situation is unlikely to be known in France!!
Thanks.

 

[Lenny HB]

To drive a vehicle in a other country it has to be road legal in the country its registered in. So yes you need a valid UK MOT.

 

[Shrimp]

Go elsewhere for an MoT test!

 

[Lenny HB]

Go elsewhere for an MoT test!

He is in NI it would be very expensive MOT to pop over to England.

 

[Sue and Rick]

What about in Dublin or on your way down?
Can you even?

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[PG’s trips]

that answers it Lenny. It's actually still legal to drive it without MOT IN UK which is confirmed on the NI DVLA govt website so by definition it's legal In France. Unusual I know but I live in an unusual place!

 

[PG’s trips]

Thousands of vehicles in NI are currently driving around without an MOT but it's legal provided you have booked one.

 

[grumps147]

Please not this is not legal advice. It has surprised me.

I have just carried out numerous searches under every combination of words I could think of, and nowhere on any government advice or on foreign government sites, or motoring organisation sites can I find anything that refers to a vehicle test certificate being required for foreign travel. You seem to be conforming to all the advice I can find for Northern Ireland, though there are two things you need to be mindful of.

Firstly, there seems to be a requirement under some circumstances to keep checking for cancellations, even not at your own local testing station, you will know more about this than anyone.

Secondly, the need to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy. Just saying it’s delayed without ensuring your vehicle is safe would not exempt you if defects are found either in a roadside check or after an accident. That onus remains with you, so it may be advisable to have it checked and documented by a local garage before leaving, that would be good evidence you had done all you can.

As stated, both the PSNI and insurance companies have said providing a test is booked AND the vehicle is roadworthy then you are both insured and will not be prosecuted.

If it were me in your shoes then I would have it checked and travel, keeping a copy of all relevant documentation and advice with me just in case.

This is different from the position a lot of us over here found ourselves in, and still do, with DVLA C1 licence issues where we are permitted to drive in the UK with an expired licence while DVLA sort our medical licence permissions, but not drive outside the UK as we have no driving licence when that happens.

 

[frwjd]

Is the insurance still valid whilst driving round waiting for an mot?

 

[Sapper520]

I’ll be very surprised if your Insurance company will be happy should you require their services.

Pay your money and take your chance.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

I suppose it's like the section 88 driving licence ci whilst awaiting the DVLA, legal to drive in the UK but not outside the UK

 

[Sapper520]

When it comes to things like this I tend not to take chances.

 

[62272]

Given all the circumstances that you have outlined and that this is local government policy in your home country, I cannot see for one minute that this would be an issue for you on your trip. French police would not be requiring to inspect an MOT (assuming in the very rare event that you were actually stopped and checked), they would be concerned with your Insurance and registration document (as well as passport and driving licence).

British police dealing with foreign vehicles/drivers do not have any interest in MOTs on foreign vehicles. You state that your insurance will cover you in this particular case (which would be my highest concern).

 

[nicholsong]

If one were required to prove an MOT or equivalent, I wonder how one would get on explaining that one is not required, i.e. proving a negative. French police are probably acquainted with the fact that Jersey/Guernsey and IoM vehicles do no need one, but I am not sure about my Polish 'Veteran' registration being within their knowledge.

Hopefully the situation will never arise. But in Spain the Guardia Civil might be a little more difficult.

 

[jollyrodger]

A little off track I know...

I got stopped by a very offensive arrogant gendarme on a trip around the vendee, Mrs Garmin had sent me the wrong way.
A little tooing and froing verbally between us
And then with hands on hips
Papiers monsieur!

I dug out a folder from the glove box and gave him

An agreed valuation certificate with the vehicle reg on it
He looked at both sides and gave it back , d'accord!

Identity monsieur!

I showed him my Tamar bridge /ferry pass id

D'accord!
Gave it back muttered you must go and pointed me in the right direction.

Don't mess with an old fart when he's having a bad day

Would they know what an mot cert looked like even if they could read it?
The garage that does mine and prints it off has advertising on it.

And apart from the above I have never been asked specifically for an mot or even other vehicle paperwork in all the years I've been traveling over there.

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[Sapper520]

If you get away we things, no mot / no insurance / no licence / or any grey area involving them it’s fine until something goes wrong. Then you’ll find out if it was worth it.

As I said before, pay your money and take your chance……I’m not comfortable with gambling.

 

[dunnah01]

It's nearly as cheap to cross to GB and then Dover-Calais to France as it is to go direct from Ireland to France so may be worth taking the long route to get a GB MOT?

 

[Riverbankannie]

If it is ok for you to drive to Dublin (i.e. in the EU) to get to the port then surely ok in France.?

 

[VXman]

Totally agree with @jollygrodger

A little off track I know...

I got stopped by a very offensive arrogant gendarme on a trip around the vendee, Mrs Garmin had sent me the wrong way.
A little tooing and froing verbally between us
And then with hands on hips
Papiers monsieur!

I dug out a folder from the glove box and gave him

An agreed valuation certificate with the vehicle reg on it
He looked at both sides and gave it back , d'accord!

Identity monsieur!

I showed him my Tamar bridge /ferry pass id

D'accord!
Gave it back muttered you must go and pointed me in the right direction.

Don't mess with an old fart when he's having a bad day

Would they know what an mot cert looked like even if they could read it?
The garage that does mine and prints it off has advertising on it.

And apart from the above I have never been asked specifically for an mot or even other vehicle paperwork in all the years I've been traveling over there.

Totally agree. Been stopped 3 times in France (in a little sports car on the way to Le Mans with a British number plate - they love us!) Once even got fined but never asked to see MOT cert. And good job as in all my years of travelling I've never taken it with me. In fact, MOT setificates don't really exist anymore - it's all online. (Yeah you get a print out from the garage but it's not a certificate as such)

Foreign police wouldn't understand ins and outs of every countries requirements. License and insurance is about it.

Interestingly, the fine in France was for not having the number plate screwed into the body of the car. It is a fibreglass bodied car and the number plates are attached by double sided sticky pads - it's the way they are manufactured (VX220/Lotus). It's not a legal requirement in UK but is in France. I wonder how many other regulations differ and whether you are expected to research them all and modify your car before going on a trip?

The police enjoyed collecting wads of cash from a convoy of 20 cars.

 

[pappajohn]

that answers it Lenny. It's actually still legal to drive it without MOT IN UK which is confirmed on the NI DVLA govt website so by definition it's legal In France. Unusual I know but I live in an unusual place!

Only if going to or from a pre-booked MOT.

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[stewartwebr]

I don't give advice as I am not legally qualified, but can give what I would do if in your position. Firstly, as others have said, the French shall have no idea about an MOT and I have never heard of anyone being asked for it so I would not be concerned on that front, provided I have my registration document, insurance certificate and driving license. My biggest concern would be my validity of insurance. I would get in writing from my insurer that I was fully covered as per my policy to allow me to drive in France without a valid MOT. I think I could satisfy myself that I was legal if i had that based on what is legal in home country is legal in visiting country if visiting for short duration and the fact the authorities shall never ask for an MOT and if they did and I fell foul (very very unlikely) I could pay a fine. However, God forbid I was in an accident and my insurer were unhappy and washed their hands it could have life changing consequences, so my focus would be insurer. If they were happy off I would go on holiday.

 

[ontheroadagain]

The following is a recent quote from the BBC website. This applies to MOT's in Northern Ireland only and you must have a MOT booked and the vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has confirmed that the lack of a valid MoT certificate will not invalidate a motor insurance policy.
An ABI spokesperson told BBC News NI: "Insurers recognise that this is a worrying time for everyone and will take a pragmatic view until the delays to the DVA testing system are resolved.

 

[Sapper520]

The following is a recent quote from the BBC website. This applies to MOT's in Northern Ireland only and you must have a MOT booked and the vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has confirmed that the lack of a valid MoT certificate will not invalidate a motor insurance policy.
An ABI spokesperson told BBC News NI: "Insurers recognise that this is a worrying time for everyone and will take a pragmatic view until the delays to the DVA testing system are resolved.

Okay. But does it say ’fill your boots and we’ll cover you abroad’?

The devil is always in the detail. For example…..when we used to do Continental tours on our motorcycles, when taking out travel insurance I would always ask if our policy covered us for motorcycle touring. Yes, would be the answer. Technically correct, but the wording of the document stated ‘up to 125cc only’…..great when you’re on a 1000cc bike and your wife on a 600cc bike.

I’d email my insurer and ask the question posed on here, after all, it’ll only take you the same amount of time and effort as doing it on here.

Then, when you’ve got their reply you’ll be able to print a copy for safe keeping.

Job done.

 

[Emmit]

Totally agree with @jollygrodger



Totally agree. Been stopped 3 times in France (in a little sports car on the way to Le Mans with a British number plate - they love us!) Once even got fined but never asked to see MOT cert. And good job as in all my years of travelling I've never taken it with me. In fact, MOT setificates don't really exist anymore - it's all online. (Yeah you get a print out from the garage but it's not a certificate as such)

Foreign police wouldn't understand ins and outs of every countries requirements. License and insurance is about it.

Interestingly, the fine in France was for not having the number plate screwed into the body of the car. It is a fibreglass bodied car and the number plates are attached by double sided sticky pads - it's the way they are manufactured (VX220/Lotus). It's not a legal requirement in UK but is in France. I wonder how many other regulations differ and whether you are expected to research them all and modify your car before going on a trip?

The police enjoyed collecting wads of cash from a convoy of 20 cars.

Next ime???
Get some plastic No. Plate bolts, cut off the thread and superglue the heads in place.
Simples!

 

[ontheroadagain]

Interestingly, the fine in France was for not having the number plate screwed into the body of the car. It is a fibreglass bodied car and the number plates are attached by double sided sticky pads

Thanks. I didn't know that. My number plates are stuck on.
I will need to change that before Sept.

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[yodeli]

Does anyone know if the French authorities ask to see a valid UK MOT certificate? I ask as heading to France (Dublin Cherbourg) for first major trip in September and my MOT expires in August but can’t get a appointment until October as there is a major covid related backlog here in Northern Ireland where MOTs are only carried out by designated government MOT centres. Both insurance companies, government enforcement agencies and the police allow you to still use your vehicle provided you have an MOT booked. Breakdown companies are also still providing a service. I am just a bit concerned that once I hit French soil I could fall foul of a local rule as the Northern Ireland situation is unlikely to be known in France!!
Thanks.

Hi
Sorry I didn't take the time to read all the answers but IF you have an appointment and proof of it, you will be fine.
Write this down and give it to the gendarme.

Madame, Monsieur
Actuellement les RV pour contrôle technique des véhicules sont longs à obtenir suite aux conséquences du COVID. Nous avons, comme ce fut le cas en France un allègement des obligations dans la mesure où un RV est pris.
Voici le dernier contrôle technique validé, et les récentes factures.
Merci de votre compréhension.

Get a copy of your recent invoices and the last MOT.
You should be perfectly alright

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[Brains]

I'd either get a MOT issued in the Republic (assuming they can issue a Mot for a foreign plated vehicle)
or I'd get one issued in England on your way through (assuming they can issue a MOT for a NI vehicle)
or I'd get a letter from a NI garage saying that as far as they can see on this date it would have passed a MoT had they been able to issue one.

Just try to cover your arse in the case of a serious accident in France which may not be anything to do with you, but insurance companies are notorious for getting out of any payment that they can

 

[VXman]

Thanks. I didn't know that. My number plates are stuck on.
I will need to change that before Sept.

I wouldn't worry for general driving. We were a target as a group of high performance sportscars on a run to Le Mans. One of our number did a bit of silly driving too which made the local plod determined to punish us all. I've been many times on my own and not had any problems.

 

[62272]

Totally agree with @jollygrodger



Totally agree. Been stopped 3 times in France (in a little sports car on the way to Le Mans with a British number plate - they love us!) Once even got fined but never asked to see MOT cert. And good job as in all my years of travelling I've never taken it with me. In fact, MOT setificates don't really exist anymore - it's all online. (Yeah you get a print out from the garage but it's not a certificate as such)

Foreign police wouldn't understand ins and outs of every countries requirements. License and insurance is about it.

Interestingly, the fine in France was for not having the number plate screwed into the body of the car. It is a fibreglass bodied car and the number plates are attached by double sided sticky pads - it's the way they are manufactured (VX220/Lotus). It's not a legal requirement in UK but is in France. I wonder how many other regulations differ and whether you are expected to research them all and modify your car before going on a trip?

The police enjoyed collecting wads of cash from a convoy of 20 cars.

I would have challenged that fine as it not compatible with the Vienna Convention of Road Traffic 1968 (and subsequent amendments). The officer was clearly confused with domestic legislation, and was over exuberant (probably wanted to nit-pick).

I cannot see how this would have been illegal given France are a signatory to this convention (as are the UK), which is separate to EU and Brexit. There is nothing I can find that specifies in UK legislation that a number plate must be secured by mechanical fixings.

 

[VXman]

I would have challenged that fine as it not compatible with the Vienna Convention of Road Traffic 1968 (and subsequent amendments). The officer was clearly confused with domestic legislation, and was over exuberant (probably wanted to nit-pick).

I cannot see how this would have been illegal given France are a signatory to this convention (as are the UK), which is separate to EU and Brexit. There is nothing I can find that specifies in UK legislation that a number plate must be secured by mechanical fixings.

Try that when you are detained by half dozen cops at the side of the motorway. Cash only/immediate fines. France doesn't quite work like the UK in situations like this. We had a ferry to catch - it wasn't worth the arguing for 50 Euros or whatever it was.