MOT (1 Viewer)

[LordElpus]

Hi all,

Now that we are full time I have a problem regarding the MOT for the Motorhome. It is due at the end of February but we are pitched up until the endof March. My usual MOT garage is 3 hours drive away and our next trip dosent take us in that direction. Likewise a friend has recommended a garage he uses but likewise its a 2 hour drive away.
How can I find a local MOT garage that is not going to try and rip me off?
I know I can drive with an expired MOT as long as its to a pre-arranged test so a local garage would be the best bet.
We are in Chipping Norton in west Oxfordshire. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Thanks.

 

[jollyrodger]

Knowing that you were going to be away ,could have had it done early and save the stress ,but yes book a mot and drive to it at your convenience , Evan to your own testing stn if no-one else can accommodate it ,imo enjoy xmas

 

[jollyrodger]

Maybe worth a call

httpsBroken Link Removed

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[Geo]

99'999% pass
Take it anywhere you like but first
Crawl under you van with some yellow crayon and scrawl VOSA test vehicle on the under floor
If questioned drop hints but deny any knowledge

 

[LordElpus]

Cheers guys. We left ‘home’ back in August and had intended to go back before now. However we were made an offer we couldn’t refuse hence the pitch until March. This is our first season full time so hopefully we will be better organised next year! I like the VOSA tip!

 

[Minxy]

If you intent to stay put and not go for your MOT until after it's expired first check your insurance docs to make sure you are still covered as some require it to be MOTed at all times. Another thing, if you are definitely NOT going to move it off pitch at all don't forget to SORN it and get your road tax back!

Personally I'd decamp and get the MOT done before it expires but it's up to you.

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[mikebeaches]

Historically, I'm a big fan of Local Authority test centres. They don't do repairs, so no risk of being ripped off. Used the one in Bristol for years and always impressed by the service - never had a problem. Bristol even offered a discount price.

I think I've read in this thread that you are in Oxfordshire at the moment, so here's the local council one for the county - think it's about 12 miles from Chipping Norton:

Oxfordshire Thorpe Lane Depot, Banbury OX16 4UT 01295 221916

And for a national listing, try this link:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot#mapfinder

 

[rod_vw]

Try BT Fleet at Cowley http://www.btfleet.com/GarageNetwork/Garage-Details.aspx?d=Xdw4QhkYiXw=

The BT workshops provide MOT on most sizes of vehicle and are unlikely to be 'looking for work' and can't be more than 30 miles from you.

Rod

 

[LordElpus]

Historically, I'm a big fan of Local Authority test centres. .....

Oxfordshire Thorpe Lane Depot, Banbury OX16 4UT 01295 221916

And for a national listing, try this link:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot#mapfinder

Thanks for that. Yes I have used the LA test centres in the past but completely forgot about them for the Motorhome! Doh.

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[bobandjanie]

We find it best to plan it for a time you are likely to be around, what ever motorhome we have the mot is always done in August so mid July to mid August, this one was April so retested after 4 months but problem solved.

When you say pitched up until the end of March, it would be OK if your local, but not so good if you were in Spain.
Bob.

 

[mikebeaches]

Thanks for that. Yes I have used the LA test centres in the past but completely forgot about them for the Motorhome! Doh.

The thing is, they should be geared up for carrying out an MOT whatever size your van is, because they do all types of Council vehicles and buses etc.

 

[tacr2man]

@LordElpus The best is Oxford City Council depot
https://www.oxforddirectservices.co.uk/services/commercial-motor-transport-services/mots
It can test any class of vehicle ,if you have any glitches they can sort as well . They are a very helpful bunch . The managers name is Jaimie
They are very fair , and dont MOT to generate work for workshop
which is for their own fleet.

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[nicholsong]

Do VOSA's Test centre Licensing rules really allow the MOT station to test vehicles owned by the same organisation?

There is a conflict of interest. i could imagine a test centre employee being sacked for failing one of his employer's vehicles. This should not be allowed, surely?

Geoff

 

[Scotsblood]

Do VOSA's Test centre Licensing rules really allow the MOT station to test vehicles owned by the same organisation?

There is a conflict of interest. i could imagine a test centre employee being sacked for failing one of his employer's vehicles. This should not be allowed, surely?

Geoff

This is no different to a dealership putting vehicles through their own workshops for service work and MOT prior to sale!
Common practice is for techs to get others to test their work but not always by any means.

 

[tacr2man]

The testers get checked by DVSA (VOSA is no more ) , and they can also check ones they have tested . The only vehicles that they cant test are the ones that DVSA testers have to eg PSV and HGV
IIRC they also can test a vehicle that they own but normally its considered too risky by the site owner .

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[Northernraider]

99'999% pass
Take it anywhere you like but first
Crawl under you van with some yellow crayon and scrawl VOSA test vehicle on the under floor
If questioned drop hints but deny any knowledge

Unless it's a test vehicle riddled with faults to catch out mot stations

Then they go over everything twice in case they miss it ha ha

 

[mfw]

Get mot done 1 month before it expires if it passes you get 13 months mot if it fails you have 1 month to sort it out

 

[JeanLuc]

If you just need the MOT then the Cherwell DC testing station in Thorpe Lane Banbury has already been mentioned in a post above. If you need any work done then I recommend Peter Haines Engineers which is next door to the MOT centre. Peter’s team has looked after my Hymer for several years. I get them to do an annual service and take it next door for the MOT each January.
http://peterhainesengineers.co.uk/

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[2bob]

if it fail 1 month befor it is dueit is class as fail// you get no free month

 

[2bob]

Many drivers put their car in for an MOT early to find out if any faults need repairing, in the belief they can still use the vehicle until the old test runs out despite any discovered issues.

But if their car fails it is immediately deemed to be no longer road legal, regardless of how long the previous MOT's validity has remaining.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

Drivers that choose to drive their vehicle after a failed MOT test are at risk of being slapped with a £2,500 fine, a driving ban and three penalty points, even if the old roadworthy certificate is still valid, according to the DVLA.

 

[Puddleduck]

Why would you ever drive a vehicle that has failed an MOT unless it's a dire emergency?

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[Allanm]

According to the Gov website, not The Sun......

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.

If your MOT has run out you can take your vehicle to:

• have the failed defects fixed
• a pre-arranged MOT test appointment

So, anyone that tells you that you can’t drive your vehicle on its current unexpired certificate, if it fails an mot test, are probably wrong.

The ONLY reasons not to be able to drive the vehicle away is if it deemed too dangerous to drive or it fails to meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness.

The mot tester should tell you if it’s too dangerous to drive.

 

[mfw]

Many drivers put their car in for an MOT early to find out if any faults need repairing, in the belief they can still use the vehicle until the old test runs out despite any discovered issues.

But if their car fails it is immediately deemed to be no longer road legal, regardless of how long the previous MOT's validity has remaining.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

Drivers that choose to drive their vehicle after a failed MOT test are at risk of being slapped with a £2,500 fine, a driving ban and three penalty points, even if the old roadworthy certificate is still valid, according to the DVLA.

Been doing it for years never realised it must of started when mot's became internet based for details with set minimum times for mot recorded

 

[Minxy]

According to the Gov website, not The Sun......

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.

If your MOT has run out you can take your vehicle to:

• have the failed defects fixed
• a pre-arranged MOT test appointment

So, anyone that tells you that you can’t drive your vehicle on its current unexpired certificate, if it fails an mot test, are probably wrong.

The ONLY reasons not to be able to drive the vehicle away is if it deemed too dangerous to drive or it fails to meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness.

The mot tester should tell you if it’s too dangerous to drive.

It depends how you interpret that ... I read it as meaning you can ONLY drive it to somewhere to get it fixed (or home if its gonna stay there) or a pre-arranged MOT appointment NOT that you can keep driving it generally (ie for tootling around) which is what others are saying.

I certainly would NOT want to be driving it with a failed MOT as it would possibly invalidate your insurance anyway so if you had to claim you could have difficulty getting a pay out!

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[Manic]

When we staying around Banbury, I used John Darby
https://www.johndarbyautorepairs.co.uk/
Always seemed fair to me.

 

[chaser]

Hi all,

Now that we are full time I have a problem regarding the MOT for the Motorhome. It is due at the end of February but we are pitched up until the endof March. My usual MOT garage is 3 hours drive away and our next trip dosent take us in that direction. Likewise a friend has recommended a garage he uses but likewise its a 2 hour drive away.
How can I find a local MOT garage that is not going to try and rip me off?
I know I can drive with an expired MOT as long as its to a pre-arranged test so a local garage would be the best bet.
We are in Chipping Norton in west Oxfordshire. Any suggestions or recommendations?
Thanks.

Why would an mot place rip you off? What would be different from one to another, if your motor is right , it's right , if not I presume they would all fail it.

 

[Allanm]

It depends how you interpret that ... I read it as meaning you can ONLY drive it to somewhere to get it fixed (or home if its gonna stay there) or a pre-arranged MOT appointment NOT that you can keep driving it generally (ie for tootling around) which is what others are saying.

I certainly would NOT want to be driving it with a failed MOT as it would possibly invalidate your insurance anyway so if you had to claim you could have difficulty getting a pay out!

So many urban myths about mot’s, you drove the vehicle to the mot station without thinking it was dangerous, so why would you not drive it after a fail, as long as your current certificate is valid and it still meets the minimum standards.
There is no mention on the government website about not being able to “ tootle about” or that you can only drive it to get it repaired, so why would you read it like that?
Of course, if you are not happy driving it about, don’t
Having no not will not invalidate your insurance either, but your payout, if it is stolen or damaged, will usually only be reduced to reflect the value of the car without a current MOT.

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[dave newell]

So many urban myths about mot’s, you drove the vehicle to the mot station without thinking it was dangerous, so why would you not drive it after a fail, as long as your current certificate is valid and it still meets the minimum standards.
There is no mention on the government website about not being able to “ tootle about” or that you can only drive it to get it repaired, so why would you read it like that?
Of course, if you are not happy driving it about, don’t
Having no not will not invalidate your insurance either, but your payout, if it is stolen or damaged, will usually only be reduced to reflect the value of the car without a current MOT.

You are wrong Alan, the mot is a test to minimum standards so if it meets minimum std it will pass, if it doesn't it will fail. A fail therefore means the vehicle does not meet the minimum required std and so is not road legal. If your vehicle fails the rest it can be driven to a place of repair, home or to a pre arranged not and that is it, you can not legally "poodle around".

D.

 

[Allanm]

You are wrong Alan, the mot is a test to minimum standards so if it meets minimum std it will pass, if it doesn't it will fail. A fail therefore means the vehicle does not meet the minimum required std and so is not road legal. If your vehicle fails the rest it can be driven to a place of repair, home or to a pre arranged not and that is it, you can not legally "poodle around".

D.

I was just clarifying what is on the governments website.
Not my opinion, but theirs.
I assume then that any mot failure means the vehicle is in a dangerous condition or has a major defect?