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Cutting to the chase, I have a UK reg pickup that I urgently need to get back to Aberdeen from France. Typically, I have just noticed the MOT expired 4 days ago. Chance it? that would mean driving the entire length of UK with an expired test....I don't feel that lucky. Add in to the mix the fact I will be driving it on temporary DayInsure cover, it will scream "pull me" to any police with ANPR. Alternatively, I could book it for an MOT in Dover somewhere. If it passes, cool beans....if it fails - driving from Dover to Aberdeen as returning home from a failed test - I know the law states "reasonable distance" but that seems like taking the curse word to me. I'm kinda screwed arent I?
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Could you pre-book a mot in dover with the understanding that they store it untill you can get it fixed or transported if it fails . The last thing you want is to have your car impounded half way up the country costing you a bomb or end up being crushed beause you can't retrieve it quick enough. I might be tempted just to pay to have it trailered back from the port if its finacially viable . Depends on how much its worth etc .
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Its a scuzzy Mazda 4x4 doublecab pickup. Its value is likely a lot less than the cost of transporting it to Aberdeen. I would be taking a trailer up with me too, just to complicate matters further. Its the trailer that really needs to get to Aberdeen rather than the car, but I have nothing apart from the Mazda that will pull it.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Sort of sounds not worth it either way. If/when more likely you get pulled you will . 1 ] have wasted a day or to getting it 2] wasted a lot of money - ferry , fuel , complete loss of car and trailer at worse , storage costs at minium, 3] More time money if you retrieve it if you get pulled . I would try to get a mot booked with arrangements as i said or not bother and cut losses . If you get pulled halfway up the country[ don't think you would get that far ! ] , it will be big ball ache . I came back from France in a ropey car once and didnt get 15 miles before i got pulled .
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prey
Part of things
Posts: 856
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afaik there's no distance regs on how far you can drive to a prebooked mot - but i'd guess that you'd be out to dry on the 'why the hell i took my trailer to my mot' issue lol.
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Only thing you can really do is to check over the pickup with the help of the MOT handbook online ( www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm ) and make sure it WILL pass an mot, then book in at Dover, drive over to the mot station, and drive to Aberdeen once its passed.
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1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike 1971 Honda C90 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 GLX 1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
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Can you wack a set of France reg plates on it? ;D
Alternatively book it in for an MOT in Aberdeen? Keep your ferry documents with you, explain you have just returned from overseas (hence the trailer) and you are heading to a prebooked MOT in your home town, you are going there because you have the facilities to do any repairs there that it needs. I can't see anything illegal in that nor anything to get charged with doing wrong. If its still taxed and showing up ok on the MID then its not that likely to get a pull.
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I could lend you a car to tow the trailer with, put the pickup on the trailer!
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Last Edit: Mar 5, 2013 21:02:27 GMT by murdock
1971 Range Rover 1977 Jeep Cherokee 1982 W123 Merc 230CE 1992 Peugeot 405 TD Saloon 1995 Peugeot 405TD Estate (having a rest) 1990 Peugeot 205 CJ - For Sale 1985 Peugeot 305 GTX 1979 Honda Accord MK1 1995 BMW E34 TDS 1994 BMW E34 TD 1998 Mercedes 320 CLK
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Only thing you can really do is to check over the pickup with the help of the MOT handbook online ( www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm ) and make sure it WILL pass an mot, then book in at Dover, drive over to the mot station, and drive to Aberdeen once its passed. Sadly, thats easier said than done. I spent a day last week welding up gaping rust holes in the chassis, and the whole underside is a lot crispier than I would like. I have absolute confidence in its mechanical condition, but it was bought to use for collecting firewood and towing on a private estate, so I was not too bothered about its crustyness. Sadly, circumstances mean I would have to press it into road use for this trip, and I don't want to leave myself at the mercy of a garage somewhere.....My inherent Scottish tightness strongly dislikes paying someone to do repairs on it, and I have zero tools available in Aberdeen for doing repairs myself.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Well only leaves fixing it in France then. just make sure its going to be solid enough for the mot, and any bits that are crusty are welded up.
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1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike 1971 Honda C90 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 GLX 1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Without wanting to offend you , if its that bad it should nt be on the road . Remember you might be willing to drive a heap but thing of others mate .
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Thanks for the advice dad.
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Last Edit: Mar 6, 2013 17:50:05 GMT by dave21478
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Just saying , it sounds like you just want someone to say 'ooh you'll get away with it ' so you can give your self the green light to chance driving it over and all the way up the country because you are to tight to sort it properly . Also how will you get insurance without a valid mot . If you have insurance already and have a accident your insurance will be void . What will happen if you damage a third party or touch wood hurt someone .
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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If it was just the truck I'd say tart it up a bit so it doesn't look pullable and drive it. However the trailer would be a bit hard to explain to an officer.
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Also how will you get insurance without a valid mot . If you have insurance already and have a accident your insurance will be void . What will happen if you damage a third party or touch wood hurt someone . Don't talk absolute Bullplop, have you never had a car with an expired MOT that you wanted to take for one? Do you seriously put it on a trailer - no you don't. You insurance is valid without an MOT as long as you are driving to/ from the MOT station, this has been proved in court. They may go to town trying to find reasons to invalidate it but no MOT is not one of them.
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It's not just going for an MoT. Generally insurance is valid if the car is roadworthy.
Anyway, I don't think I'd want to be pulling a trailer 500 miles with "gaping rust holes in the chassis" of the tow vehicle.
If it is any sort of commercial trailer or particularly a car transporter, your biggest threat nowadays is VOSA.
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Just hire a transporter for a couple of days?
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Dodgerover - withstrain your inner internet hardman - , I'm trying to say if he has somesort of trouble and it turns out he's driving 500 miles with a trailer to go for a mot his insurance might say ' No deal mate , your taking the P£££ really ' As for getting short term insurance cover they can be very picky and want lots of details and specific info due to the very nature of what they are offereing - i.e , People often just want insurance on vehicles which have not been used regulary etc .
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Dodgerover - withstrain your inner internet hardman - , I'm trying to say if he has somesort of trouble and it turns out he's driving 500 miles with a trailer to go for a mot his insurance might say ' No deal mate , your taking the P£££ really ' As for getting short term insurance cover they can be very picky and want lots of details and specific info due to the very nature of what they are offereing - I.e , People often just want insurance on vehicles which have not been used regulary etc . I understand what you are saying,and up to a point i agree with you, but the insurance company CANNOT use the lack of an MOT to refuse to payout, however as you said, they'd probably find another way of getting out of it .....
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I see it now. You're right, I think grumpy, it's not a question of an annual policy and the insurers trying to avoid paying out because of the lack of MoT.
I would expect the short term insurers are not going to be very interested in hearing you explaining why you want to insure a car without an MoT for one day.
It's not a question of them not paying out, it's a question of them refusing to insure it.
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