Can Someone Explain How Mot Works?

[HoodRich]

Being from South Africa, I don't quite understand how MOT works in the UK? Could someone pease explain it to me? From what I have gathered, one cannot sell a car that has not passed a test in the past year? Does the certification expire every year?

Here in SA, we only have to take a car for a roadworthy test when it changes owners, ie, when it needs to be reregistered to a new owner. If I own the same car for 20 years, it doesn't have to go for any roadworthy testing. I guess that's why we have so many unroadworthy cars on our roads....not to mention our minibus taxis, aka "moving coffins" :-(

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

The MOT is our roadworthy test. It is illegal to drive a car on a public road without a valid MOT certificate. All cars over 3 years old are subject to this test once every 12 months.

You can sell a car quite freely without an MOT and anybody can check any cars MOT status by quickly putting the registration number into the VOSA (people who govern MOT's) database online.

You also cannot tax a car without a valid MOT certificate.

Also your MOT information is held in the polices database so if you drive past a cop car with an ANPR camera fitted they will know instantly you have no MOT and will fine you/sieze you car and crush it! There's really no getting around not having an MOT in the UK.

Oh and I remember your "taxi's" from when I was in SA. 40 people in a 18 seater and running on slick tyres

[HoodRich]

Chris, thanks for explaining that so nicely. At least you guys won't have (too many?) unroadworthy cars on your roads. Here we just pay an annual fee to license your car - no retesting involved.

So, you know of our notorious taxis? *grin*

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Yes I do mate and I'm trying so hard not to type what you guys call them over there!!

[HoodRich]

Ok, curiosity has the better of me. If you can't type the name here, you gotta at least send me a PM ! :-)