Can garages lie about MOT?
Most MOT garages are honest and arn’t out to scam or rip you off. Even if they do MOT repair work and it is therefore in their interest to fail your vehicle most won’t resort to criminal behaviour in order to do so.
Can a garage refuse to MOT my car?
A: A vehicle testing station (VTS) is within its rights to refuse to carry out an MoT. If they decide they can’t reasonably examine your car through no fault of theirs, then ‘an appropriate fee may be charged’.
Can a mechanic hold your car until you pay UK?
If you are refusing to pay while you dispute the bill, the garage has the right to keep your vehicle until the debt is paid. If you need the vehicle back before you can settle the dispute, you should pay “under protest”.
What do you do with a dodgy MOT?
You can usually complain if your vehicle has failed its MOT and you think it should have passed or your vehicle passed its MOT, and you think it should have failed. If your vehicle has failed but you believe it should have passed, you must report this to the DVSA within 14 working days of the test.
How do I avoid getting ripped off an MOT?
The best way to protect yourself against getting ripped off is to find a garage you can trust. If you’ve just moved to a new area and don’t know any local mechanics, check the RAC’s network of approved garages simply by entering your location. You could also take your car to a council-run MOT test centre.
Does a failed MOT invalidate the old one?
An MOT certificate is valid until the date of expiry, and a new test will not invalidate the current MOT certificate. If your customer chooses to have the vehicle retested and it fails the existing certificate will still be valid.
What are my options if my car fails its MOT?
If your vehicle fails its MOT, you can leave it at the test centre where they’ll carry out the essential repairs needed. As long as these repairs are done within 10 working days of failing the MOT, your vehicle can then be partially retested for free.
Can police seize a car for no MOT?
If you are stopped by the police and they request a copy of a valid MOT, failure to provide one can lead to a prosecution for non-compliance. The only time that it is not illegal to drive your car without a valid MOT is when you are driving to a pre-booked appointment at a garage for an MOT test.
How do police know if a car has no MOT?
ANPR cameras cross-check registration plates by taking a snapshot of a vehicles registration. This snapshot is automatically encoded and checked with the national database so that they can immediately tell when a vehicle doesn’t have a valid MOT certificate, road tax or insurance.
How much does an MOT cost at Council Mot centres?
Council MOT centres can seem more expensive up-front, as mechanics will normally charge a lower fee to attract more business in. However, the centres are still limited by the maximum test fee – so can’t charge more than £54.85 at present. What if the car fails the MOT, and has to be brought back to be re-tested?
Do Mot centres actually do repairs?
These MOT centres won’t, for the most part, actually administer any repairs; but instead will carry out the test and advise you of work required. There’s no incentive for them to fail or give advisories that aren’t essential, as the centres won’t receive extra work as a result.
How do I Find my Local Council MOT test centre?
The easiest way to find your nearest council MOT test centre is to check your local council’s website or contact your local council directly, although you can find a list of some of the UK’s council MOT test centres on the UK MOT website. How much should an MOT cost?
Where can I get an MOT in Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland, all MOTs are Government-run and carried out at Driver & Vehicle Agency test centres. None of these carry out repairs, and there’s a fixed fee as well as some other requirements (for example, your first MOT’s needed after four years).