Saab MOT oddity...

[Marina door handles]

At we work we appeared to have gained a Saab 95 trade in, as Mrs MDH has a soft spot for these Sabdahooligan cars, I sent her a picture and she did what anyone with time to spare would do and immediately checked the MOT history!

When you go into it it shows as MOT until August but if you click on the history button,  you get a fail form the middle of last month and no re test?

I had assumed that any fail would void its current MOT no matter how long it had to run? Is this not the case or is there a glitch at VOSA?

Its not good!

Anyone else spotted anything odd like this?

 

[Imhotep]

It does still show as having a valid test on the system even if it fails, as long as the fail is within it still having a valid test, if that makes sense. I took my MG in for test on January 2nd, but the MOT for the previous year didn’t expire until January 27th, so despite failing it did show as still valid. I don’t know the legalities around driving a car that way. I’d assume not legal. 
 

[Split_Pin]

These are all absolutely rotten now, avoid!

[Mrcento]

2 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

I had assumed that any fail would void its current MOT no matter how long it had to run? Is this not the case or is there a glitch at VOSA?

Nope. Not the case. It never has. Once it has 12 months MOT, it has it until it expires.

A fail in the middle won't void the MOT. That's why it's stated an MOT certificate isn't a guarantee of roadworthiness and it's up to the owner/operator to ensure it is at all times on the road.

[Spiny Norman]

I'd be asking the question how the hell that passed an MOT in August last year because all that rot hasn't happened in the last 10 months. 

[artdjones]

3 minutes ago, Spiny Norman said:

I'd be asking the question how the hell that passed an MOT in August last year because all that rot hasn't happened in the last 10 months. 

Not really so, if it was heading that way but not bad enough to fail in August, a winter on salt laden roads would easily push it over the edge. There's not far off 10 months between those tests.

[Spiny Norman]

3 hours ago, artdjones said:

Not really so, if it was heading that way but not bad enough to fail in August, a winter on salt laden roads would easily push it over the edge. There's not far off 10 months between those tests.

Last winter was quite mild though, there wasn't much salt on the roads. OP hasn't given the reg so we can't see how the previous MOTs have progressed but for all that to happen within a year suggests either an over lenient or over harsh tester to me. 

Anyway, only a fool would take that one on if it's as bad as the MOT suggests. But then this is Autshite... 😛
 

[Split_Pin]

The entire rear chassis rails disintegrate on these together with the inner rear arches, backs of the sills and outer arches. Even one that looks fine on the surface can be badly rotten underneath. These were great up until about 20 years old then the chassis and suspension components just fall to bits. Petrol engines are needy now too. Still awesome cars in Aero HOT form.

[Talbot]

the subject of "car still within 12 months of valid MOT pass but with a fail in the meantime" keeps popping up in various places.  Some people will absolutely swear that the vehicle cannot be driven, however as far as I can see the legislation states no such thing, only that the vehicle has to have a valid MOT test certificate.

I suspect the main issue has come about with computerised MOT testing, as it essentially means that someone has told you the car is not roadworthy, and it's there for the world to see.  It has ALWAYS been true that a vehicle has to be maintained at a minimum standard, and if anything falls below that standard, then the car isn't technically roadworthy.  The difference is that before 2005, you could get another MOT test, fail it badly, but not tell anyone and it wasn't an issue.  Now, it's highly visible that your vehicle is rotten/broken/whatever.

After all, the vehicle would have still been just as rotten/broken/dangerous/etc. for the previous day/week/month before you did the second MOT test, but not visible.  Now it's visible.

[loserone]

33 minutes ago, Talbot said:

It has ALWAYS been true that a vehicle has to be maintained at a minimum standard, and if anything falls below that standard, then the car isn't technically roadworthy.

This.  The existing MOT is valid, but if it's not roadworthy then that's why you will be done if you keep driving it.  

 

 

If the fail was for a wheelbearing or brakes or something, and you fixed it - or if you had a massive weldathon on this one - then the car would be both roadworthy and have a valid MOT.

[New POD]

Lets imagine you decide to MOT your car with 6 months remaining on the old MOT and it fails. It's Saturday morning and the MOT garage can't do a retest until Monday. 

But on Sunday you are heading to the airport for a few weeks in the sun.

Something as serious as a tyre. 

Saturday afternoon. You buy that tyre. 

Car is now safe, and you still have a valid MOT, so you can drive to the airport.

On your return you go to get a retest, and they want to charge you, because you took it away and its been too long and they don't like you.

Unfortunately all your money was spent on holiday. No matter. Legally your car has 5 and a bit months of MOT remaining. 

Obviously if you get stopped by the police for driving like a dick they will check all the failure points and advisories as they are easy to see.  But legally its all good.