Car Tax/MOT problem - Ian71
I have a bit of a problem looming and would appreciate some advice.

My 2004 Vectra estate went in for its first MOT in mid August. It failed, becasue it apparently needs 4 new suspension springs! This is being done under warranty, so I'm not really that bothered. Two weeks on, there is still no sign of the springs arriving at the vauxhall dealer and they have no idea when they will get them.

However, the cars third birthday is 1st September 2007. This is when both the tax and MOT run out. I can't get tax becasue it has not yet passed the MOT. Assuming that the parts come in after the 1st, will I still be able to drive the car - without valid road tax - to the garage to have the work done and the MOT certificate issued? Obviously, I will get the car taxed as soon as I have the certificate.

I am a bit miffed that I am without a car becasue of poor workmanship/materials, but I guess I would be on thin ice if I were to demand a replacement car.

I would really appreciate some advice on the legal implications (if any) of driving a car without tax/MOT to the garage to allow me to get the MOT and therefore the tax.

Thank you in advance!
Car Tax/MOT problem - Falkirk Bairn
You can drive a car to an MoT station without RFL & MoT (but insured) - you must have made an appointment for the MoT and be going directly there
Car Tax/MOT problem - Cliff Pope
You are allowed to drive a car without MOT and/or tax to a pre-booked MOT. Also you can take a car to a garage to have MOT-related work carried out. They don't necessarily have to be the same place, although in your case they are.
The only proviso is if the car has anything wrong with it that would make it unroadworthy, but that would be true even if it did have a current MOT. I would not have thought road springs could cause a car to be unroadworthy, unless broken or missing of course.
Car Tax/MOT problem - jc2
You are allowed to drive to a pre-arranged MoT with no Tax/Mot but only to the test-must still have insurance tho'.
Car Tax/MOT problem - Cliff Pope
You are allowed to drive to a pre-arranged MoT with no Tax/Mot but only to
the test-must still have insurance tho'.

>>

No, read the Failure Notification, if you ever have one. You can drive it to somewhere to get it repaired in order to prepare it for an MOT.
There is no limit on distance, as long as that is all you are doing, eg not taking in a shopping trip or a motoring tour of Scotland on your way.
A friend verified that he was covered driving a car back from Wales to his local tester in Leicestershire. The police did check that it was booked, then waved him on.
Car Tax/MOT problem - NARU
No problem driving to the garage as long as its to a pre-booked MOT.

I assume the car is still safe to drive (or you've already committed an offence driving it home).
Car Tax/MOT problem - OldSock
Is there a limit on the location of the testing station? I have always used a particular testing station because that's all it does - testing. It does not, therefore, have any vested interest in failing a vehicle just to bring in work for the mechanics!

My problem is that I have now moved approx 35 miles from this place and can't find a similar one more locally. Am I still entitled to drive 35 miles to a (pre-booked, of course) testing station without a valid MoT certificate?
Car Tax/MOT problem - bell boy
Am I still entitled to drive 35 miles
to a (pre-booked of course) testing station without a valid MoT certificate?


oldsock for a definative answer ring vosa and get the persons name and the time of the call logged if they give you yes as the answer
vosa tel....0870 6060440 7am till 8.30pm
Car Tax/MOT problem - bell boy
insist the mot garage book your car in with the make registration and time of test just in case you get anpr"d
Car Tax/MOT problem - Sim-O
Can't a vehicle be taxed upto two weeks early?
if so get a new tax disc before the old one runs out and the 3 years MOT free period is up.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
Car Tax/MOT problem - Dynamic Dave
Can't a vehicle be taxed upto two weeks early?


Only if you have an MOT certificate that runs out after the tax disc does. Given that the car hasn't previously been MOT'd (coming up to 3 yrs old) there is no certificate and the tax renewal form will request one.
Car Tax/MOT problem - Bill Payer
>> Can't a vehicle be taxed upto two weeks early?
Only if you have an MOT certificate that runs out after the tax disc does.


This is definitely something worth thinking about when buying a new car that you intend to keep for a few years - I had to tax 3 of our cars for 1st Sept, and all of them were, for various reasons, registered a few days into Sept so online tax worked fine (allows purchase from 15th August) and could all be done in one session and in good time.

However I've realised my youngest daughter's car was registered on the 1st (March) so when the time comes it will have to be MOT'd before the tax can be bought. The frustrating thing is that we ended up not actually collecting it until the 2nd anyway!
Car Tax/MOT problem - henry k
>>Can't a vehicle be taxed upto two weeks early?
>>
Have you tried retaxing it online to see if it requires an MoT certificate?
Car Tax/MOT problem - Dynamic Dave
My 2004 Vectra estate went in for its first MOT in mid August. It failed
becasue it apparently needs 4 new suspension springs! This is being done under warranty so
I'm not really that bothered.


The garage should be supplying you with a free courtesy / hire car if the parts aren't available. Especially as the car will no longer be road legal after the 31st August. Presumably they have said that the faulty springs aren't compromising the safety of the car? If they haven't, then you should have been given another car straight away.
Car Tax/MOT problem - adverse camber
I thought that failing an MOT immediatly invalidated an old one. ie you shouldnt be driving it.
Car Tax/MOT problem - Dwight Van Driver
Depends on the defect found AC.

Whilst the old certificate will still be valid could be parts and accessories in such condition as likely to cause danger.

If really bad defect then PG9 issued and vehicle put off the road until it passes a new Test.

dvd
Car Tax/MOT problem - Bill Payer
What could be wrong with all four springs anyway? I know they commonly break now, but presumeably that makes the car unroadworthy?
Car Tax/MOT problem - RaineMan
The problem I see is if you get to the 1st September and have no tax. I heard of someone in a similar position with an older car. They got a SORN penalty after a few weeks whilst they were still waiting for the parts to MOT the vehicle.
Car Tax/MOT problem - Dwight Van Driver
If repair not completed or likely to be by the time the Excise Licence expires then as an 'insurance' bang in a SORN - you can do it on line, keep copy.

DVLA do a monthly computor check and anything that has not been licensed over amonth and no SORN then they send out an £80 penalty.

dvd
Car Tax/MOT problem - martint123
I thought that failing an MOT immediatly invalidated an old one. ie you shouldnt be driving it.


It hasn't got one - new car coming up to it's 3rd birthday.

Even if it had an old one, the old MOT is still valid, although you may be committing an offence if the vehicle is unroadworthy.