Driving With No MOT

[Asterix]

Hi all,I'm looking at a British registered motorhome for sale in France,thats out of mot,would it be stretching the law to book it in for a test in England and drive it all the way there? or would it need to be transported all the way?
Not really sure what the law requires,and what would the insurance implications be?
Any advice gratefully received,thanks,Dave.

 

[mistericeman]

Wording of the important bit as far as driving without an MOT is "to the nearest testing station"

So sadly booking one in the UK from France would be stretching the point.
That said.... if you are permanently importing it then the situation is somewhat different I believe.

 

[Asterix]

Wording of the important bit as far as driving without an MOT is "to the nearest testing station"

So sadly booking one in the UK from France would be stretching the point.
That said.... if you are permanently importing it then the situation is somewhat different I believe.

If the nearest mot tester is 1000 miles away then surely it's still the nearest☺

 

[Asterix]

My guess (not based on firm knowledge) is that you would be OK. You can legally drive to a pre-booked MOT test with no MOT. There is no requirement for it to be nearby.

See Getting an MOT - GOV.UK

As far as insurance is concerned, I've read on this forum that insurance companies require a valid MOT certificate to provide cover, but my personal experience (based on actually reading the policy documents) is that they definitely do not.

If the vehicle isn't roadworthy, you have a problem, but if the vehicle is OK, it should be fine.

If in doubt, I'd get it checked over by a local garage before making the trip.

Thanks HD,that was my thoughts too,as for insurance I've never been asked if it has a current mot,but not sure if it's something they check as a matter of course. I don't really see an issue providing I'm driving it within the legal requirements ie to the nearest mot tester.

 

[Steve121]

Wording of the important bit as far as driving without an MOT is "to the nearest testing station"

So sadly booking one in the UK from France would be stretching the point.
That said.... if you are permanently importing it then the situation is somewhat different I believe.

Where does it say "to the nearest testing station" on any official website or document?

 

[Channa]

I brought my UK van back from France out of test so a couple of things

1) I was at the time insured with NFU I spoke to them and they were happy to continue insurance

2) The Mot doesn't mention about being the closest or most practical, a lot of garages cant for physical reasons test a vehicle....What is important is the vehicle is booked in for a pre arranged test.


I arrived back in Hull had a chat with customs police cars saw me and not pulled !! later that day the van was to be tested in Doncaster 60 miles away.

The road traffic act allows you to use the vehicle to and from a pre booked Mot and back to a place of suitable repair. This takes care of the road tax issue.

What you need to remember and could fall foul is stopping for a paper , pack of cigs etc could be construed as an abuse so overnight stops forget ..pre booked Mot check your insurers are at least aware and given opportunity to refuse risk. It is quite a straightforward exercise

Channa

 

[Asterix]

I brought my UK van back from France out of test so a couple of things

1) I was at the time insured with NFU I spoke to them and they were happy to continue insurance

2) The Mot doesn't mention about being the closest or most practical, a lot of garages cant for physical reasons test a vehicle....What is important is the vehicle is booked in for a pre arranged test.


I arrived back in Hull had a chat with customs police cars saw me and not pulled !! later that day the van was to be tested in Doncaster 60 miles away.

The road traffic act allows you to use the vehicle to and from a pre booked Mot and back to a place of suitable repair. This takes care of the road tax issue.

What you need to remember and could fall foul is stopping for a paper , pack of cigs etc could be construed as an abuse so overnight stops forget ..pre booked Mot check your insurers are at least aware and given opportunity to refuse risk. It is quite a straightforward exercise

Channa

Thanks Channa,gives me confidence that someone else has stretched this law to the limit and is still alive to tell the tale,not sure about the not stopping for a pack of fags bit,couldn't see me driving all that way without a stop,i would be straight off the ferry to my tester about 2 miles away from the port,so shouldn't really be an issue in the UK.

 

[Channa]

Thanks Channa,gives me confidence that someone else has stretched this law to the limit and is still alive to tell the tale��,not sure about the not stopping for a pack of fags bit,couldn't see me driving all that way without a stop,i would be straight off the ferry to my tester about 2 miles away from the port,so shouldn't really be an issue in the UK.

The issue you have and tbh I openly admit I winged it. is in France for example vehicles should comply with the host nations rules and regs. I have seen this abused Gendarmerie trying to issue a ticket because a number plate is not riveted which is French law but not the UK so therefore the Uk rules apply !!.. Mr Icemans comment re importing is irrelevant because the vehicle is Uk registered. And certainly unless it has changed no where does the legislation insist that the testing station is the nearest...

The French possibly expect the van to be tested, so you have to argue the toss if need be. Possibly makes sense to be trailered..pay the money take the choice


In my circumstances I was working in the south of France when the MOT expired. I drove France Belgium to Holland spent a month working in Holland before returning to the UK via Rotterdam Hull. I pre booked a test confirmed by e mail to keep British police and VOsa happy had I been stopped drove from hull to Doncaster for the test. No issues whatsoever ...Doncaster made a lot of sense my hometown, also a member here to help rectify any faults.

What is worth remembering is if stopped by the Police even to a test and obvious you have a bald tyre , dodgy wiper blade, light etc...you will still get a ticket ...So if you believe the vehicle visually will pass a test, then you are OK .

My experience goes back 2012 time , if there are no obvious defects then go for it

Channa

 

[Channa]

Quotation marks signify that you are quoting a specific block of text.

Please share where you found that quotation, because I have tried to find anything about it having to be "nearest" or "near" or even "within a reasonable distance" without any success. Certainly not on the government guidance sites.

You wont have success because the law doesn't say it needs to be "nearest" near" nor mentions reasonable.

Channa

 

[Fazerloz]

Can you not get a French test on it, here you can get foreign vehicles tested.

 

[barryd]

Ive done this a couple of times when the test has ran out abroad. It does not have to be the nearest testing station either, ours is 320 miles from Dover and once I was too late to get there in time and just drove home for the night then on to the station in the morning. The first time I did it expected to be caught on a camera somewhere but never had a fine or anything. Then again the van would have been tested shortly afterwards if it was caught so who knows.

I doubt the Gendermes will be fussed to be honest. The couple of times we have been pulled on the bike as soon as they realised we were British they werent really interested. Flashed the docs at them which they couldnt read anyway.

Just make sure you have written confirmation by email that its booked in and you should be fine.

 

[David & Ann]

Wording of the important bit as far as driving without an MOT is "to the nearest testing station"

So sadly booking one in the UK from France would be stretching the point.
That said.... if you are permanently importing it then the situation is somewhat different I believe.

When I brought my MH from Germany (German plates) The German DVLA issued me with transfer plates valid for 2 weeks or 1 month. I took the 2 week option as it was a lot cheaper. This paper work I took to a German Insurance company who issued me with 2 weeks third party Insurance or fully Comp: I took fully comp: as a safety measure. Use this as a guide line as to what might have to be done. I hope it helps. I think you have to de-register it and drive it on transfer plates into the UK and re-register it in the UK. You need to MOT it in the UK first before registeration.

 

[Channa]

When I brought my MH from Germany (German plates) The German DVLA issued me with transfer plates valid for 2 weeks or 1 month. I took the 2 week option as it was a lot cheaper. This paper work I took to a German Insurance company who issued me with 2 weeks third party Insurance or fully Comp: I took fully comp: as a safety measure. Use this as a guide line as to what might have to be done. I hope it helps.

No need for any of that it is a UK regd vehicle returning to the uK ...so a pre booked Mot is all that is required and an insurance cover

Channa

 

[1 Cup]

no mot just fine tax and insured /

Don't crash or they devalue motor
Radar checks flags
Terrys from IS:bow:X
Insurance /
Tax. /
By this time your gone :mad2: 3g not 4g slow.

 

[Channa]

A couple of weeks ago, I changed Insurance, and I was reading through some of the small print. I can't remember if it was the Saga or Comfort (Aviva) papers, but certainly one or possibly both had a condition of insurance. No MOT = No Insurance! Same as No Driving Licence = NO insurance.
So, you either contact the insurance company for clarification, or take a chance!
I know the French testing station would not do the English MOT, but it would prove the vehicle was road worthy. Maybe another consideration, that is if they would test a UK vehicle!

NFU were quite happy in my case, Testing in the French system a waste of time and money unless you live there and a lot of effort lots of hoops to jump through. A colleague even enquired the possibility of testing in Gibraltar as a British dependency but that wouldn't work either.

Axa will give you insurance based in Nice but the premium will make your eyes water....

The only difference I had to the OP is I already owned the van it wasn't a purchase and had left the uK with a test. I was working impractical to come back I spoke with NFU they spoke with the underwriters and confirmed it wasn't a problem.

Technically I didn't comply with French Belgian or Dutch regulations and was never stopped. As soon as I hit Hull there was no grey areas at all

Channa

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Where does it say "to the nearest testing station" on any official website or document?

To a suitable test station, I think in this case it is on the A2 at Lydden from wherever in France it is at the moment.

 

[izwozral]

As far as U.K. goes, ring your preferred MOT station, book it in, giving them the reg number, your name, phone number and make and model of MH.
You will be sorted.

 

[Channa]

To a suitable test station, I think in this case it is on the A2 at Lydden from wherever in France it is at the moment.

And to a place of repair which could be anywhere ? You may think some garage in Lydden is a suitable test station but to my knowledge the law doesn't prescribe that nor a test case that says reasonably the most practical etc... and for good reason. I live in Yorks so any test repair far more sense here.. I grant that is not the spirit perhaps of the rules, nevertheless the case without a test case. Take 2cv's thread of an old Rover converted to a camper, no one in the right mind would let any garage test it , we would look for and the law allows it seems the owner the opportunity to have the vehicle tested at a facility au fait with older vehicles.

On this occasion the rules seem to work in our favour

Using the rules to advantage without actually breaking them is not an offence, irrespective of the agenda

Channa

 

[271]

Wording of the important bit as far as driving without an MOT is "to the nearest testing station"

So sadly booking one in the UK from France would be stretching the point.
That said.... if you are permanently importing it then the situation is somewhat different I believe.

Why do people just make things up? You make reference to the importance of wording, but quote a phrase that does does not appear in the legislation.

 

[add2much]

This might be of help :
Q360: My MOT has expired can I drive my car to the garage for the MOT test?