MOT?

Mon May 02, 2005 8:22 pm

I've got a question about tax/MOT and driving.

My car is currently SORN (and undrivable), the MOT runs out at the end of the month (27th), although I hope to have it drivable before then. Although it's likely to fail, expect the worse then if it passes it'll be great. It is insured.

What are the rules about driving to a MOT test, with or wothout valid MOT of tax. Also I remember a topic about towing, what does the car need to have to be legally towed? Is it different for a rigid bar? (If I could persuade the wife to tow me).

If I need to I'll tax it while the MOT is still valid.

Mark

Mon May 02, 2005 8:33 pm

just reading the back of my fail sheet and rules are as follows it is an offence to use on a public road unless a\ taking it to a testing station when booked in advance b\ bringing it away from station after it has failed and c\ bringing it to or takeing it away from a place where work is to be carried out that the car has failed for hope this helps m8

Mon May 02, 2005 8:38 pm

im not sure about towing, but
If your MOT has expired. You ARE allowed to drive your car to and from its MOT test (as long as the test is pre-aranged)

I would assume you can drive it to the test station without tax too.

The answer is a simple phone call away! call the mot station and ask them.

Tue May 03, 2005 12:23 am

No need to call the station, Smithy's right, you're allowed to drive it there without MOT/tax as long as:
1) The test is pre-booked.
2) The car is insured and has legal tyres.

If your car's undriveable then to be towed with a tow-bar all you need is legal tyres.

Tue May 03, 2005 1:19 am

Zayyan wrote:No need to call the station, Smithy's right, you're allowed to drive it there without MOT/tax as long as:
1) The test is pre-booked.
2) The car is insured and has legal tyres.

If your car's undriveable then to be towed with a tow-bar all you need is legal tyres.

We just be discussing this :lol:

You will also need working back lights and the same number plate on the back of the car being towed as the car doing the towing.

The rules are the same as what applies to trailers when using a tow pole.

Tue May 03, 2005 1:23 am

Jesus325iTouring wrote:We just be discussing this

You will also need working back lights and the same number plate on the back of the car being towed as the car doing the towing.

D'oh! Forgot about the rear light thing, and didn't know about the numberplate thing when I posted!

At least all the right info's here now!

Tue May 03, 2005 1:25 am

Thats the great thing about the Zone,there is so many people each with there own bit of knowledge there is hardly ever a query that can't be answered one way or another

Tue May 03, 2005 1:30 am

Yup, sure is a great place to be

Ahhh, group hug!

Tue May 03, 2005 1:31 am

Zayyan wrote:Yup, sure is a great place to be

Ahhh, group hug!

Seconded..........

Yup, sure is a great place to be

Ahhh, group hug!

Tue May 03, 2005 9:33 am

Zayyan wrote: If your car's undriveable then to be towed with a tow-bar all you need is legal tyres.

I'm assuming that this is for a rigid bar, where would that connect to on the E30, I'll have a Discovery at the other end, and a nervous wife

If I need to do it, the car's only undrivable because it has no steering or front brakes, at the moment (nearly ready to put it all back).

Presumably for towing with a rope the same laws apply as if you were driving it.

Thanks for the help, Mark

Tue May 03, 2005 12:22 pm

I'm assuming that this is for a rigid bar, where would that connect to on the E30

There's a square on the offside of the bumper (if it's plastic) you just clip off with a flat head screwdriver.

Then you go into the boot and on the left there'll be a hook, which you take and screw into the socket you've uncovered by taking the square of plastic off.

Don't know about the chrome bumpers though

the car's only undrivable because it has no steering or front brakes, at the moment (nearly ready to put it all back).

With a pole, you'll need steering! So I can only suggest one way to overcome this problem unless you put the steering back together....

I got towed by the AA a few weeks ago and they got my front wheels onto the truck (the car was tilted by about 35 degrees).

So if your steering "breaks" while you're driving to the MOT then the AA should tow you there in this way, and you wouldn't need steering for it!

Remember it's not just legal tyres as I originally said, it's:
1) Working rear lights.
2) Legal tyres.
3) The numberplate of the towing car on the back of the towed car.

I really wouldn't recommend towing with a rope without front brakes seeing as they account for 92% of the braking force!

Tue May 03, 2005 12:41 pm

Don't worry I wouldn't consider towing (or driving) it in it's current state, no rack or front calipers. I've just rebuilt the calipers (new seals etc) and have a new rack to put in. Jsut been to Dick Lovett (Swindon BMW) to buy/order the last few nuts bolts etc.

By rigid pole I thought people meant the type that control the steering as well, like when people tow a car behind a motorhome.

Thanks for all the advice, hopefully this weekend I can get the front back together. Then all I need to do is replace the rear discs and it's ready for the road (and MOT

Mark

Tue May 03, 2005 3:07 pm

jumare wrote:By rigid pole I thought people meant the type that control the steering as well, like when people tow a car behind a motorhome.

A tow pole's a pole (no shit) that you can get for about 30 or 40 quid (at the very most) and you have to have someone steering the car being towed.

I think one which turns the wheels which is what you were thinking is an A-frame, they're well into the hundreds to buy though, and you need a towbar on the towing vehicle too.

Getting the front back together and driving the car's probably the best option (as long as it's insured etc), as you're kinda gonna need steering and brakes to pass the MOT anyway

Good luck either way