Driving a SORN car to MOT

[FredTransit]

Can it be done? Is it an exception? If you are caught on ANPR how would the DVLA know you are going to the test?How else are you supposed to get a car that's SORN'd to MOT?

[dollywobbler]

If you're booked in, it should be fine. It's not like speed cameras which send you trouble in post - ANPR means that a copper will stop ya I think.

[Anglevan]

It must be booked in for the MOT - make sure they take the reg number down. And it must be local - ie you cant live in Bradford and say it's booked for it's MOT if Brighton ANPR means the authorities can stop you but all you do is give them name of garage and if they check your fine

[FredTransit]

That's OK then, I have heard of cars on trailers (being transported) and SORN'd and getting a fine cos the plate is caught on ANPR. I often see people putting tape on the plates on cars on trailers for that reason. A mate of mine was keeping a van off road on a housing estate, but when moving it from one spot to another was spotted straying on the road and got a fine.

[retrogeezer]

I'm going to need to do a 30 mile trip to my MOT guy - he is the only one I trust to do it properly and do any work for a reasonable figure.What would I say if stopped?

[Station]

Needs to be insured.

[FredTransit]

Yeah I had grasped that, the trader's policy will take care of that.

[Anglevan]

I'm going to need to do a 30 mile trip to my MOT guy - he is the only one I trust to do it properly and do any work for a reasonable figure.What would I say if stopped?

If your in a rural area I dont think you would have a problem however if theres plenty of local testers around it will depend on discreation of the authorities and we all know they dont have any ?? personally i'd not risk that distance it's not worth them taking the car away remember it's now £150 recovery and £20 per day storage !!!!

[nigel bickle]

I got stopped by a traffic car on the way back from such an MOT(failed too!) recently.Knew it was going to happen -bet his dashboard lit up!2 mins with failure slip (nowt serious) & a photocopy of insurance- no probs.

[retrogeezer]

I'm going to need to do a 30 mile trip to my MOT guy - he is the only one I trust to do it properly and do any work for a reasonable figure.What would I say if stopped?

If your in a rural area I dont think you would have a problem however if theres plenty of local testers around it will depend on discreation of the authorities and we all know they dont have any ?? personally i'd not risk that distance it's not worth them taking the car away remember it's now £150 recovery and £20 per day storage !!!!

Thing is, I know it needs a few small jobs doing and the garage I use is owned by a friend so I know I won't get ripped off.I would hope that if I did get stopped on the way the Police would understand that it's a classic car and be a bit more lenient.Can you get a fine through the post for this then?It is insured by the way.

[dollywobbler]

You might get away with 30 miles. I think they'd really get the hump if you bought a car in Cornwall with no MoT and attempted to drive it back to Newcastle using the 'booked in for MoT' line.

[Anglevan]

Can you get a fine through the post for this then?

Not as I understand it - it's only picked up by the ANPR cameras as such they only work if linked to somat else (ie a cop car or the DVLA mobile tax vans) You will only get stopped on the road if these flag up no mot. So if you get there nowt to worry about. I know what you mean about a friendly MOT guy - i've used the same one now for 12 years and I wont let anyone else touch my cars. It's not that i'm after favours - if it's wrong he wont pass it. It's just that I dont want someone who just sees em as old cars, you need someone who appreciates em in my opinion (which he does + plus he likes the attention his garage gets when my Cars are parked on this forecourt !!). Plus he knows that only he's allowed in my Capri / Fiesta - dont want some oily clad MOt guy getting in that mint interior

[Pillock]

As a rule ANPR-equipped vans and cars do not have camera equipment that is admissable in court, so they use them in conjunction with police bikes and cars that pull you up further up the road.30 miles is probably going to be OK for a 'reasonable distance', it's down to the officer you stops you's personal opinion so it's one of those situations where if you're nice to him, reasonable, explain yourself fully you're more likely to be let on your way. Also condition of the car will matter, he won't have a problem letting a regular daily drive 30 miles but if you take a real shitheap to see what it'll fail on with bits hanging off, no lights, broken windows and all then you're more likely to be seen to be 'taking the pee'.

[retrogeezer]

Yeh, I've been using the guy for 10 years and I trust him to fail it on what it needs failing on and fix it for a reasonable price.I take my other cars on a 300 mile round trip from where we now live in the North West because I trust him. The Fiesta however is at my parents down South still.I would take a few docs to back up the reason it's on the road just in case.

[Pete-M]

You might get away with 30 miles. I think they'd really get the hump if you bought a car in Cornwall with no MoT and attempted to drive it back to Newcastle using the 'booked in for MoT' line.

I've never had a problem with this. I've bought stuff in Kent, say, and booked it in for MOT here in Liverpool. Been stopped by the Dibble as well, they seemed happy enough that I wanted to use my local garage.

[hennabm]

Under the Motor Vehicle Test Regs 1981 a vehicle is allowed to be driven to an MOT and taken from one without tax. The MOT station must record the appointment giving reg number and time of appt when booking it for the test.The regs also do NOT state any time or distance or even the nearest station. That is why the fellow earlier mentioned about driving to Liverpool for an MOT and not been done.

[Guest]

So I won't get done going to and from Sale to Wrexham thenCos I'm getting a 'cop shop special' MOT on the Celeste.And that's all I'm saying.