Is that true then - a failure over-rides an otherwise current certificate? I've always taken my cars in a month early, in order to give me time to order any parts I need and do the repairs while still able to use the car (not if dangerous, obviously). There's not much point if it's now illegal anyway. That's a subtle change they didn't tell us about.
As for charging, I think the garage can charge anything they like, up to the published maximum, for both first test or retest. But there are rules about which failure points require a full retest rather than just a check on the specific items. But even that rule can be circumvented if you are friendly with the examiner.
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No No No!
The rules have NOT CHANGED! All that has happened is that the introduction of the new system means that the VOSA big brother can now watch over the test remotely and knows if the tester is doing a 5 minute skim over retest when he should be doing a full re-test (as he always should have been). Garages may still offer a free / discounted re-test at their discrection, but they are less likely to, as they have to do the full test again. In brief:
Partial test / free restet provided failure is on a number of small items and returned within 24 hours OR vehicle is left at station for repair / re-test.
Full retest / full fee may be charged if not returned within 24 hours / vehicle taken away for repair.
As it has been for some considerable time.
Failing the test does not negate the old cert - it clearly states that the cert relates to condition of the vehicle at the time of test only. Provided old cert still in force no problems. However - you can be prosectued for driving an un-roadworthy vehicle - regardless of whether it's got a cert or not!
There's a lot of mis info out there about this, as there is about what is tested!
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Thanks Guys, what RichardW says seems to make a good deal of sense.
Regards.
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Thanks RichardW. That's a relief, anyway.
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I've taken one car in since the computerised system was introduced. At the testing centre I use, you can have a free re-test if you take it back within *7 days*. All that has changed at this place is that the price has gone up to £35, and the test took 15 minutes longer than it used to.
It obviously varies from tester to tester, some are greedy, and some charge a lot less.
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On my last but one test on the Vectra a broken front coil spring on the Vectra was found. (A very common fault on Vectras they told me)
The Boss said you can take it away and have it done or leave it here for us to do.
He said he would retest free whichever I chose but to be correct it shouldnt be taken away unless a full retest was done. I chose to take it to my usual local small garage and took it back in a couple of days or so.
He could clearly see the new black shiny springs (had both fronts done) but insisted on putting it back up on the ramps and checked out some other things again.
There is a MOT testing station in my town which only does tests and no repairs so this rule of not taking it away presumably means they would have to take it somewhere to get it repaired ?.
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I guess that that they have do a full re-test to ensure that no other work has been carried out on the car since the orig. test that would cause a fail.
Say you'd fixed the coil spring, but had a puncture on the way to the TC. The spare you put on was below MoT standard. Should the tester issue a new cert just because he could see the new spring?
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Replacing both front springs is a fair old job and there is some dismantling involved - plus the possibility of ham-fisted mechanic damaging brake hoses, ball joints etc - so it is not unreasonable to do a proper retest.
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Aren't there some new regulations regarding the charging for MOT retests due in a few weeks time?
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Just found this, new retest procedures in August, doesnt say what is new though!
www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/carlgvowners/mottesting/motre...m
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No I wasn't complaining of what they did as obviously I'm all for safety. They are very good and have gone there for many years. And as I mentioned before the Boss confidentially told me that he wont have the diesels ran up to max revs under no load as he disagrees with it.
However he says they are being pressurised more and more by the MOT Inspector who was due to visit that very afternoon, and he had a lad working his socks off tidying, cleaning and ensuring everything was ship shape and Bristol fashion.
His man who does the MOTs often asks me to sit in the car while he puts it up on the ramps to do the technical bits like turning the lights on and off and turning the steering wheel to check for movement etc. He is a classic example of time and motion going from item to item on auto pilot.
He even has a small bar laid on either side of the lift for checking suspension.
And a small tin of grease with a brush which he uses on the brake pipe fittings etc.
A year or two ago he failed both our cars within a month of each other. Both with exactly the same fault a nearside bottom swivel. 'You won't believe this, I'll let you down to have a look' he shouted up to me........
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Just found this, new retest procedures in August, doesnt say what is new though!..
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cheddar, it does say :- the above links futher to this-
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents...p
amazing: they talk a lot of sense - it seems the message is being heard and acted upon ! !
... ..... It would appear that some VTS's that previously didn't charge a fee have now chosen to attach a fee.
VOSA have been reviewing the current retest procedures after analysing the results of thousands of tests over a 3 month period. Additionally a consultation process began in March 2005 (alongside the MOT fee increase consultation) to consider proposals to amend the MOT retest requirements.
This has resulted in the following final proposals to restructure the level of re-examination carried out by the same VTS that completed the initial test.
1. If the vehicle stays at the test station where it failed the MOT, so that it can be repaired, it requires only a partial re-examination, if carried out before the end of the 10th working day after the day of the initial test. No fee should be charged.
2. If the vehicle is brought back to the same testing station by the end of the next working day on one or more of the following items only:
Boot lid, bonnet, brake pedal anti-slip, doors, dropsides, fuel filler cap, horn, loading door, mirrors, all lamps, rear reflectors, registration plates, seat belts (but not anchorages), seats, sharp edges or projections, steering wheel, tailboard, tailgate, vehicle identification number (VIN), windscreen, windscreen wipers/washers, wheels* & tyres* - only a partial re-examination is required and no fee should be charged.
*not applicable to class 1 & 2
3. If the vehicle does not qualify for a retest, as listed at point 2 above, and is brought back to the same testing station by the end of the 10th working day after the day of initial test for a retest - then a partial re-examination is required and a maximum 1/2 of the full fee may be charged.
4. A Class IVA or VA that passes on seat belt installation, but fails on other areas of the test, maybe retested at the same test station as a Class IV or V - the extent of the test and fees are as for Class IV or V.
5. In any other case a full re-examination is required and a full fee may be charged for the retest.
...... ..... etc. etc.
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Many thanks for this information Dalglish.
It looks as if we have some good news about retests at last.
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Thank god a little bit of common sense is entering into the MOT retest situation. The garages have for the most part chosen over the last year to increase their prices and not give free retests, which has made the whole procedure more open to abuse (by garages) and prohibitively expensive for perfectly good cars. The garages main excuse to the customer was to lie and say it was all due to new computer system, some would go further and lie that it was a requirement of the new system that the retest fee had to be charged in full.
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.. Thank god a little bit of common sense is entering into the MOT retest situation ..
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i am going to send them an email to congratulate them on this proposed new retest fees structure.
may i suggest that anyone else who feels that this is a welcome development should also do the same.
contacts list is at:
www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/contactus/contactus.htm
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents...p
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Richard; that's reassuring, although the garage I used (who I trust) were adamant about this. With the integrated computer database (i.e.insurance and MOT's on computer) and the use of ANPR cameras, surely the "system" will know that a vehicle has been tested AND FAILED on date X, and, if it has not subsequently been retested AND PASSED that the vehicle doesn't have a current, valid certificate? In my circumstances I had a non computerised cert, and was changing to a computerised one, but I'm not sure you're right.
Tim{P}
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It only has to have an MOT test once every 12 months and that MOT is then valid for a year.
If it is tested before that year is up, then pass or fail the currency of the existing certificate is not impacted.
Totally seperately; if that car fails an MOT because its unroadworthy, then while you will not be guilty of drviing without a valid MOT test certificate, you will be guilty of using an unroadworthy car on the public highway.
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50% reduced retests www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=42...7 (he he 9th June).
Can confirm that an MOT failure will not invalidate an existing certificate. ISTR it says this on the failure slip.
Not every MOT failure will result in an unroadworthy vehicle.
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