Driving With No MOT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Asterix
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I wouldn't worry about being randomly stopped or because of ANPR cameras. I worked for a large vehicle rental company for 10 years until 2016 and even with the car was marked as stolen it normally took around 2 weeks for it to be stopped.
 
Looks like i won't have to test that particular law,i went and had a look at it yesterday,it all looked good until i got up the ladder to have a look on the roof. It was so sunken in the middle that I could've kept goldfish up there after rain. Pass on that methinks,pity because it would've been a good mh otherwise.
But thanks all for the comments,all good info for the future.
 
Another note of caution. Many expat vehicles in France are on SORN's so they legally shouldnt be driven in France. If you try and re-patriate and go through the ANPR cameras at Dover or elsewhere the DVLA will come after the registered keeper for back excise duty. A SORN is only for a vehicle kept in the UK off the highway.
 
As i understand driving without an MOT is £100 fixed penalty no points ...Booked in for MOT is ok .
 
ian81 said:
Another note of caution. Many expat vehicles in France are on SORN's so they legally shouldnt be driven in France. If you try and re-patriate and go through the ANPR cameras at Dover or elsewhere the DVLA will come after the registered keeper for back excise duty. A SORN is only for a vehicle kept in the UK off the highway.
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Ah but in theory you can I believe drive a SORN'd vehicle to an MOT station which is what you would be doing once in Dover. You are right about it being illegal to be sorned out of the UK according to DVLA but how would they know? If you were picked up driving from Dover to your MOT garage which could be anywhere as long as you have proof that is where you are going then you should be ok.
 
as far as insurance wording goes re licence last time i read the small print it said something like "holds a licence or has held and not been disqualified" which i thought strange.
 
barryd said:
Ah but in theory you can I believe drive a SORN'd vehicle to an MOT station which is what you would be doing once in Dover. You are right about it being illegal to be sorned out of the UK according to DVLA but how would they know? If you were picked up driving from Dover to your MOT garage which could be anywhere as long as you have proof that is where you are going then you should be ok.
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That is correct but I dont see how you could explain coming through the ANPR at the port. Also whilst driving on the continent you would not be 'legal'. OK continental plod might not know that. Also from next month any traffic infringments on the continent the DVLA can be asked for vehicle / owner details.

In the event of an accident potentially any insurance could be void.
 
ian81 said:
That is correct but I dont see how you could explain coming through the ANPR at the port. Also whilst driving on the continent you would not be 'legal'. OK continental plod might not know that. Also from next month any traffic infringments on the continent the DVLA can be asked for vehicle / owner details.

In the event of an accident potentially any insurance could be void.
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True but are there ANPR cameras at the ports? I know there are when you pull up to get your ticket but whether there are any that are linked to the Police or DVLA to catch out people driving illegally I dont know. I wasnt aware of an agreement for the DVLA to provide details for infringements abroad, I thought it was a long way off. This is all hypothetical of course. I am not looking for ways to flout the law
 
Certainly when I lived in France, I met several people who had deliberately sorned their vehicles on the basis not turning a wheel on British roads. I never did but it was annoying having to tax mine fully aware that I was not going to turn a wheel on a British road ( nor did I want to I was happy where I was thank you)

When I returned to the UK my van was taxed but the MOT had expired so booked it in with a garage in Doncaster. I got them to confirm the booking by e mail to prove to anyone if stopped I had done what was necessary.

NFU confirmed my insurance was still valid,

The reason I never sorned is quite simple , in France or any other country my understanding was as a visiting vehicle it has to comply with the rules and regulations of its home nation i.e has to be taxed.

Re the MOT, I was based in Frejus and had 6 weeks work in Wassenaar Holland....SO drove to Holland aware no test but taxed and I knew I was insured. I wasn't in a position work wise to have come back early.

When in France I did consider going the route of controle technique or whatever they call it but more red tape than worth the bother. Gib off limits as explained earlier.

Channa
 
barryd said:
True but are there ANPR cameras at the ports? I know there are when you pull up to get your ticket but whether there are any that are linked to the Police or DVLA to catch out people driving illegally I dont know. I wasnt aware of an agreement for the DVLA to provide details for infringements abroad, I thought it was a long way off. This is all hypothetical of course. I am not looking for ways to flout the law
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Certainly there are ANPR cameras on landing as you come down off the elevated roadway prior to customs.

As to the exchange between governements it starts on 6th May. See http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/554/made
 
In the unlikely event you did get stopped & then prosecuted I think you would have a good case to argue in any court room.!
I'd book it into a convenit mot station then go for it......
Darren..
 
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