MOT renewal

[Chickadee]

Have just received a note to have the first MOT on our car. I don't drive and hubby is away at the moment.

Car is insured and taxed.

The question is this: My Dad wants to borrow the car but is the insurance valid if the MOT has run out?

And yes the car will be taken for its MOT as soon as hubby is back!!!

Thanks

[hc4361]

Any reason why your dad can't take the car for its MOT? Some garages will collect and return, too.

[patrickstar]

No and points on your license if stopped by the police or caught on ANPR camera. Car must be taxed and have an MOT (if reqd).

[ChuckFickens]

why not get your dad to run it in for MOT?

It would be in his best interests if he wants to use it, it does not automatically invalidate the insurance if the car has no MOT but it may cause problems if he is involved in an accident (especially if something is found wrong with the car that makes it un-roadworthy) and even if he doesn't have a accident he can be done for driving with no MOT.

[R1Geezer]

The insurance is valid in the sense that assuming he would normally be covered he would not be prosecuted for no insurance. However this is inadvisable as if there where an accident the Insurer may well reduce any payout because of this.

[Postdog]

And the insurance might not cover him any way - any driver with permission is usually only for emergency use, not constant.

Insurance is totally academic anyway, because no MOT, it shouldn't be on the road, and no MOT will also mean no insurance at all.

[Chickadee]

Thanks guys.

MOT is booked for next Monday but Dad wanted to borrow tomorrow.

He offered to take it for the MOT but I wanted to wait for hubby to get back because of any work that might need doing (I don't think car will need work - hubby really looks after it!!).

[oldhamfan]

Insurance is not compromised just because a car has no MOT. No MOT is not endorsable ie you would not get points for driving a car with no MOT.

I am not saying you should do it, just clarifying a few points.

[hc4361]

What Happens if I Drive my Car Without an MOT?
If you do drive a vehicle without a valid MOT it will usually invalidate your insurance, and if you have an accident or are stopped by the police, you will be liable to face prosecution for MOT non-compliance.
http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/NoMOTAndThePe nalties.html

[oldhamfan]

It is not as clear cut as that, otherwise every prosecution for driving without MOT would be accompanied by one for driving with no insurance. This is not the case.

If there was an accident, the insurer may decide not to pay out if the car has no MOT. It depends on whether or not it was generally roadworthy. Note she says it is the car's first MOT - so it is 06 reg and unlikely to be a total rot box!

Driving without an MOT is a non-endorsable fine of up to �1,000.

It does NOT automatically invalidate insurance i.e. the police will not stop a car with no MOT and do the driver for no insurance.

Again, I am not saying she should do it by any means in fact I advise against it - you should always drive with your vehicle's documents in order.

[fiesata]

I agree with Oldhamfan having no MOT is an ofence in itself - it does not carry any penalty points and does not invalidate insurance

What is important even if you have a valid MOT is that the car is raodworthy - your car may pass a MOT tomorrow and on the way home you hit a pot hole - this causes a bulge in the tyre and the coil spring to break - the car has a full MOT but is not roadworthy anymore - see my point?

[Postdog]

I knew about the insurance not being invalid, but the point I was trying to make (not very well obviously) is that if insurers can find a reason NOT to pay on a claim, they will probably use it. No MOT might be a reason.

[Chickadee]

Again thanks guys.

I seem to have created quite a drama with this!!

Car is not going to be driven without the MOT so it isn't a problem.

You are quite right oldhamfan the car is not a rotbox, I quite often joke with my hubby that he lavishes as much love and attention on that car as me!! LOL

[New Judge]

Do not give too much credance to everything that is stated on "NoPenaltyPoints". They are often wrong. As an example, when giving information about untaxed cars they say:

"A lot of people don�t realise that if they �forget� to renew their road tax when it runs out � or don�t purchase it at all � then their car insurance is null and void.

This is clearly incorrect. I "asked their experts" where this was stated in law and received no reply.

They are also incorrect with this (MoT) issue. Lack of MoT does not "usually"invalidate insurance. Only if the policy specifically states that lack of MoT invalidates the policy would it do so. Even then the insurers may find that they are still liable to pay for Third Party damage or injuries as required by the Road Traffic Act.

[PeteHull]

You can drive the car to the MOT station provided that it is booked in for an MOT to be done.

Pete

[vulcan]

If ,as Chickadee states,this is the first MOT and you have an appointment date,then surely it's legal to drive the car.Only if the car fails the test and then is still driven,the law has been broken.