Driving To An Mot Test Centre With No Mot... 200 Miles. Quick Opinions

[artois7 21]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking at a 205 tomorrow that has been sorn for a year with no mot.

 

It's late notice and I haven't got a trailer. It'd also four hours each way so I'd rather not repeat the journey. I can't see any stipulation that says I can't legally get day insurance, book her in for an mot in swindon and drive it back? Anyone done this?

[2-Pugs 57]

The law doesn't state a distance on driving to an MoT so you are ok to do that.

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

When this usually comes up on Pistonheads the official view is that so long as the MOT is definitely booked, and you have proof that it's booked, then if you get pulled on your way to the appointment there shouldn't be a problem.

[nveeate 78]

The only thing is that I'd check the T&Cs on your day insurance, just incase there's a clause re valid MOT.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Make sure when you book the MOT that they take a note of the reg number, so if you get pulled, the police can phone the MOT place and confirm you're booked in.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

I drove my current 205 out of dry storage and moved it for the first time in 18 months, 10 miles to an not centre.

 

A few years ago I also dragged my old fiat uno that had been laid up for a while, from my parents house in France, 100km up the motorway, onto a ferry for a 6 hour crossing, then another 150km to a pre booked mot in south London!

 

Both had insurance.

[Alastairh 47]

I've driven from Bristol to Northampton without issue, but wasn't stopped.

 

I did get stopped last year with a 205 which was flagged up because of insurance. Long story short I had insurance but the police man wasn't over the moon the mot was booked for the following day, but the law isn't that specific.

 

If you do get done, I think it's only a £100 cash fine...

[TAG 25 1 Cars]

I drove mine back from Weymouth to Bridgend doing the same. The previous owners insurance had lapsed, so he couldn't tax it. I booked it in for an MOT in Bridgend for the next day, and drove back without issue, although it was about 10 o clock at night, and I didn't get stopped. I'd taken out day insurance with my insurer at the time.

[notamondayfan 44]

Don't forget, MOT booked or not, if the car gets pulled over, and it's not in a road worth state, you'll still get prosecuted.

[artois7 21]

I drove back 200 miles in it and didn't get stopped so all was fine. Cost over £50 on day insurance, though!!

[mikeyd 13]

what about anpr cameras --- you may still get a nasty surprise in the post !

[notamondayfan 44]

Who did your day insurance Dan? When I've looked in the past the usual companies wouldn't cover a car over a certain age.

[artois7 21]

what about anpr cameras --- you may still get a nasty surprise in the post !

 

Yeah, I've had this thought. I was wondering how that works with ANPR as it's perfectly legal to drive a vehicle to a prearranged MOT.

 

I remember before I had a 205, I was driving a mk4 fiesta and didn't realise the MOT was out by three months. I even drove that into the centre of London up the M4 and never heard anything back on it.

 

The ANPR will show the car untaxed and unMOT'd, so presumably you'd have to go to court to show you were driving to a prebooked MOT. Really not sure on that one. Seeing as the route was A30 > M5 > M4, I definitely would have gone through some ANPR cameras.

 

As for day insurance, it was insuredaily.co.uk.

[TAG 25 1 Cars]

For what it's worth, I had day insurance with my current insurer, Admiral, and it was about £25 if I remember correctly

[Alastairh 47]

Yes, I always just insure with my normal family car insurer, it's always cheaper.

[rikky 37]

Not read all the replies properly but having bought loads of "no MOT" cars in the past and drove them back to a pre-booked MOT that same day I know the following

 

You can legally drive it to and from an MOT (or place of where the repairs are being carried out) without distance coming into it. As long as the vehicle is insured as normal, the police may frown but you are within your rights. That said, the tax system was manual the last time I did it so unsure how it works with road tax. But you can't get your car TO the MOT without road tax technically so it should let you tax it regardless.

 

If you're pinged by ANPR or pulled over, the vehicle being booked into MOT will suffice to being let on your way, assuming you aren't 5 time over the limit or the vehicle is a complete wreck

 

I imagine if you're pulled, the police will know full well about the distance not being a factor, but will probably look at other reasons for the car being unroadworthy if they're in a really bad mood

 

I've drove 300 miles before and been pulled over on the way home (not for no MOT, but for seatbelt issue) - they could tell car had no MOT and I confirmed with them it was booked in that same day, giving proof of garage and time, and allowed on my way

Edited May 19, 2015 by rikky

[mikeyd 13]

 

 

 

"But you can't get your car TO the MOT without road tax technically so it should let you tax it regardless."

 

you can take it without tax --- how can you tax it without mot ???? also if it has new tax [which means valid mot ] then why would you want to book it in for another mot [bear in mind tax is not now transfered with the car ]

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

If in doubt,, hire a flat bed..

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

As mentioned - many insurance policies are void if the car doesn't have a current MOT.

 

Whilst perhaps unlikely, an officer could contact your insurance company learn that they don't cover vehicles without a valid MOT and then prosecute you for driving without insurance. I believe many constabularies will now seize an uninsured vehicle.

 

Obviously you'd have to have an unhappy officer who wants to trip you up - but it's worth being forewarned.