ALL - MOT - sammy1

My car is due for its first MoT - do I need to take it to a dealership or can I take it to my local garage without invalidating the warranty?

On HJ today, they advise taking the car to the dealership for MOT. What nonsense is this to be telling people. Probably paying the dealer full price for the MOT. The local BMW dealer here contracts out their MOTs to another garage so your precious car is driven across town for its test.

ALL - MOT - Brit_in_Germany

Clearly he was talking about having it serviced rather than just the MOT.

ALL - MOT - dan86

I always use the council depot where I work (its sub contacted out) as they don't do repairs to private vehicles so will have no reason to fail the car unnecessarily.

ALL - MOT - RT

I take mine to a local independent that I trust - it gives me an independent opinion - best done a month before the warranty/MoT runs out to give the dealer time to effect any warranty repairs identified.

ALL - MOT - John F

I take mine to a local independent that I trust ........

......and with whom I have built a mutually respectful relationship over many years. I do my own servicing and regard the MoT as a professional check on our ancient cars' (average age 23yrs) roadworthiness. The trouble with new cars is the obligation to pay £100 per hour for an apprentice to oil the door hinges and top up the screen washer.

ALL - MOT - Andrew-T

You are lucky if you get your door hinges oiled, John. They can charge you for a litre of screenwash, but not (yet) for a few drops of 3-in-1.

Edited by Andrew-T on 09/05/2019 at 09:58

ALL - MOT - bathtub tom

You are lucky if you get your door hinges oiled, John. They can charge you for a litre of screenwash, but not (yet) for a few drops of 3-in-1.

Round here they point an aerosol of spray grease in the approximate direction of the door hinges. Similarly with brake cleaner, which they squirt through the holes in the wheels. They charge for both, of course.

ALL - MOT - edlithgow

Check. When I was in London I used Borough of Enfield, initially because they were the only non-HGV place I could find that could do my truck, since they used a pit rather than hoist.

When that got knicked I continued to take cars there for the above reason.

ALL - MOT - SLO76
I don’t let the main dealer Mot my cars even if they do service the newer or more complex stuff I’ve owned. I find they tend to use the test as a means to profiteer with lists of unnecessary advisories to freak you out and any potential future buyer who checks the Mot history. Ask friends locally to find a trusted independent to Mot your cars and avoid fast fit chains who tend to have staff on commission to sell up.

Edited by SLO76 on 09/05/2019 at 12:20