MOT Validity Date

[Juliand]

Any MOT experts?

If you take your car in earlier than the expiry date, and it fails, is the old one still valid until its expiry date, or does it mean you have no MOT at all??

Ta

[stealthwolf]

Original one is still valid until expiry.

[Carpy25]

My opinion.

If you fail an MOT. The vehicle is not road worthy until another MOT is taken and passed

I'm not an mot tester , or a member of the police force but surely once the car is deamed unroadworthy it's not legal to drive on the road unless it's being driven to a pre booked mot test

Rob

[f00glee]

I agree with both of the previous responses. I'm under the impression that the original certificate remains valid (as if you had not been for the most recent test at all), but depending on the reason for failure, may be unsafe to drive. If brakes/tyres/steering/suspension - bad, maybe illegal in its own right e.g. tyre tread. If something more trivial then maybe not an issue until you can get it sorted and re-tested.

Not an authority on the matter by any means, but would be my approach if I were in that situation.

[slix]

In theory a new test is a new test. And at the end it's either a pass or a fail. The year would start again albeit a fail or a pass.

[grey golfster]

I agree with both of the previous responses. I'm under the impression that the original certificate remains valid (as if you had not been for the most recent test at all), but depending on the reason for failure, may be unsafe to drive. If brakes/tyres/steering/suspension - bad, maybe illegal in its own right e.g. tyre tread. If something more trivial then maybe not an issue until you can get it sorted and re-tested.

Not an authority on the matter by any means, but would be my approach if I were in that situation.

Agree as above, and no professional opinions!

Being cynical I woukd expect any involved insurer's to take the unroadworthy get out if it was available to them?
Does a new failed test within the 1 month window come up on the gov data base...guess it would?

[Dan_FR]

The certificate remains valid, and you are legally allowed to drive the car home unless it has been deemed as dangerous by the tester on the MOT.

You will be in the same situation had you not taken the car for an MOT i.e. you can be done for any and all defects, regardless of your current MOT status

[ady-uk]

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/can-you-drive-your-car-after-an-mot-fail-if-the-old-test-hasnt-expired

[Dan_FR]

Exactly:

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.

If your MOT has run out you can take your vehicle to:
.have the failed defects fixed
.a pre-arranged MOT test appointment

In both cases, your vehicle still needs to meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times or you can be fined

[slix]

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/can-you-drive-your-car-after-an-mot-fail-if-the-old-test-hasnt-expired

Still contradicting info on that site. Even the official people went back on what they said.

[ady-uk]

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/can-you-drive-your-car-after-an-mot-fail-if-the-old-test-hasnt-expired

Still contradicting info on that site. Even the official people went back on what they said.

not really.... I think the last statement, pretty much sums it up......

""It now states: “You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.”

Beware, though – if you do drive your car away it is technically unroadworthy. If you were to be caught driving a dangerous vehicle, you could be prosecuted – and you definitely can’t plead ignorance if you have an MoT fail sheet informing you of this.""

[Juliand]

Thanks for all of the comments......

Seems to boil down to.....Yes the old MOT is still valid; but, if the failed MOT shows up 'issues', then the driver could then be prosecuted for the relevant issues, but NOT for driving with an expired MOT. Same as driving any other day of the year really, as the MOT is only a check on the car on the day it is issued, except that with the Fail sheet, you have been given hard evidence of the issues with the car.

Interesting  comments though. Not sure about the insurance position, in the event of an accident whilst driving during this period, but any any chance of avoiding payment seems to be the insurance companies'  'modus operandi'.......

Conclusion: No real advantage in taking the car in for MOT a month earlier than the expiry - so begs the question - what's the point of it in the first place???

[grey golfster]

To me taking mot early is a "least worst" option, particularly if the car is a daily?

Allows time to plan:
repairs, order parts, schedule garage work and any associated loan car off them, budget...all while you are still mobile? Maybe even allow time for some diy?
Works for me.

On the other hand, my old cabby is in for mot while i am away on holiday, so ready to use if any summer still remains when i return home. I do this to avoid the spring time rush, when all such "classics"  are being reactivated

[JamieKirk95]

Conclusion: No real advantage in taking the car in for MOT a month earlier than the expiry - so begs the question - what's the point of it in the first place???

An MOT can be carried out up to one calendar month prior to the expiry date of your existing MOT certificate, whilst still preserving the anniversary of the expiry date. If you have your test carried out a month before the due date, your MOT is effectively valid for 13 months.

[Dan_FR]

I had my MOT done nearly 3 weeks ago, and still have OVER 12 months MOT..... works for me