Bugger MOT expired a month ago!

[craig1]

I did that a few years ago, sheer oversight. Was stopped by a traffic cop who was sitting at a major roundabout junction checking cars with his ANPR kit. Pulled over, he did a basic roadworthiness check of the car, tyres, lights and so on, then gave me a warning telling me to get it done ASAP. A friendly chap who said that most vehicles without MOTs were older cars with at least one roadworthiness failure like bald tyres or the driver had no insurance.

[VectraMan]

The fun bit is driving back from a test centre having failed an MOT - totally legal in MOT terms, but you could still be done under the construction and use regs etc. And the fact that you have a piece of paper telling you that your brakes aren't working properly (for example) isn't going to help your defence!

You're allowed to drive the car to have work done for the MOT, as the law explicitly states, but that must mean you're driving a car in an unroadworthy state or it wouldn't need the work.

[BlueSharp]

I managed four months with no MOT, due to sheer oversight. My insurance was still valid and did not get stopped or spoken to by the police once. I even had the brake pads replaced as they were worn during that 4 months so I was happy the car was roadworthy.

[vwdan]

You're allowed to drive the car to have work done for the MOT, as the law explicitly states, but that must mean you're driving a car in an unroadworthy state or it wouldn't need the work.

Nope, that's the point I'm making. The MOT is mutually exclusive to the Construction and Use regs - if you fail the MOT because your brakes don't work, you absolutely can not drive that vehicle home legally.

[ZARDOZ]

Yep. Its fixed penalty.

Same as for having a dodgy numberplate. Fine but no points.

Mrs had one a while back. Thought her classic black/grey mini looked nicer with black plates on but of course you can only use these on cars older than a certain year (hers wasnt).

Stroppy copper. £60.

Bit harsh I thought considering the state of both cars and numberplates some of the local young scrotes drive around in. Could have warned her and got her to change.

Jan 1st 1973 was the latest date for Black Silver/White plates. August 72 was an L plate running to July 73, so SOME but not ALL L plates have a choice. Anything pre L reg is straightforward.
Doesn't stop some people trying to put them on cars much later than 72.

[vetran]

Yep. Its fixed penalty.

Same as for having a dodgy numberplate. Fine but no points.

Mrs had one a while back. Thought her classic black/grey mini looked nicer with black plates on but of course you can only use these on cars older than a certain year (hers wasnt).

Stroppy copper. £60.

Bit harsh I thought considering the state of both cars and numberplates some of the local young scrotes drive around in. Could have warned her and got her to change.

keeps his figures up and your missus is unlikely to key his car or beat him up in retaliation.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Yep. Its fixed penalty.

Same as for having a dodgy numberplate. Fine but no points.

Mrs had one a while back. Thought her classic black/grey mini looked nicer with black plates on but of course you can only use these on cars older than a certain year (hers wasnt).

Stroppy copper. £60.

Bit harsh I thought considering the state of both cars and numberplates some of the local young scrotes drive around in. Could have warned her and got her to change.

Your Mrs was exceptionally unlucky, there are almost more illegal than legal plates around here these days.

I put the lack of enforcement on the silver/black ones down to young coppers not knowing :-)

[psychocandy]

Jan 1st 1973 was the latest date for Black Silver/White plates. August 72 was an L plate running to July 73, so SOME but not ALL L plates have a choice. Anything pre L reg is straightforward.
Doesn't stop some people trying to put them on cars much later than 72.

Which the mrs did.

[ZARDOZ]

Which the mrs did.

Surprised a shop would make them up. Should have at least said thay can't be used on the road and are an MOT failure.

[psychocandy]

Surprised a shop would make them up. Should have at least said thay can't be used on the road and are an MOT failure.

She knew though :-) Easy to order off the internet - no-one asks why you want them.