MOT and lockdown

[M-J]

As I understand it, it is legal to drive a vehicle to a pre-booked MOT when it does not have a current MOT, but not legal to do so when it is SORNed. I stand ready to be corrected, as happens often enough.

When you can drive your vehicle​

You can only drive a vehicle with a SORN on a public road to go to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment.

Taken from

When you need to make a SORN

How and when to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) to stop taxing and insuring your vehicle, including when the SORN is valid, penalties and rules for motor traders.

www.gov.uk

 

[Carpmart]

As I understand it, it is legal to drive a vehicle to a pre-booked MOT when it does not have a current MOT, but not legal to do so when it is SORNed. I stand ready to be corrected, as happens often enough.

If this were true, you would never be able to get a vehicle back on the road as you be stuck in a perpetual loop of despair of not being able to tax the vehicle and take it off SORN or test it as one could never be able to drive to a test centre to get a ticket to get tax...

Prebooked MOT; make sure they’ve recorded registration etc and that you have a specific slot booked and all is fine.

 

[xYachties]

Of the government website. Can only....

"getting an MOT, if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home"

What does that mean?

 

[Aerialmark]

This why i took my MH for its mot last week when it had a days mot left. I taxed it for the month so everything was legal on the way. I too am with comfort and when i spoke to them although its a grey area i was told if i was to be very unlucky and be involved in an accident either on the way to the mot or on the way back (mot but no tax) it would not be covered.
I thought it has to be done at some stage so why not now instead of spending months worrying about putting it back on the road. The other bonus is we are good to go at the drop of a hat (or Corvid restriction). Im glad i had it done now. Also the bonus is that because i did my tax online they still haven't taken a payment and Ive cancelled the direct debit. I received an email saying if i don't reinstate the DD my MH will not be taxed and i should sorn it (which I have )

 

[Phill D]

to me its simples!!! the op has been specifically told by his insurance he is not covered if he does not get an MOT,,, so he has to get an MOT.

It is easy to strongly advises against getting an MOT when it is not your risk.

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[Coolcats]

This why i took my MH for its mot last week when it had a days mot left. I taxed it for the month so everything was legal on the way. I too am with comfort and when i spoke to them although its a grey area i was told if i was to be very unlucky and be involved in an accident either on the way to the mot or on the way back (mot but no tax) it would not be covered.
I thought it has to be done at some stage so why not now instead of spending months worrying about putting it back on the road. The other bonus is we are good to go at the drop of a hat (or Corvid restriction). Im glad i had it done now. Also the bonus is that because i did my tax online they still haven't taken a payment and Ive cancelled the direct debit. I received an email saying if i don't reinstate the DD my MH will not be taxed and i should sorn it (which I have )

You really do not have to worry about an MOT or Tax, So as long as you notify the insurance company that you have SORND the vehicle you cannot be expected to Tax a vehicle until it has an MOT as only then can you TAX it.

As Comfort in thier blurb recommend that you have Comprehensive insurance even with a SORN they cannot then penalise you for taking the vehicle to an MOT station first (without TAX) as you have shown intent to make the vehicle legal and you would TAX it once it has had an MOT. (In this day and age you could probably do it via your mobile before returning home)

Comfort Say:
Once the registered keeper of the vehicle has made a SORN, whilst there is no longer a legal requirement to insure the vehicle, you can maintain your Comfort Insurance motor policy. In fact, because motorhomes and campervans are highly expensive, with the typical price being in region of £60K-£70K, it is highly recommended that fully comprehensive motorhome insurance cover is maintained at all times, even if the you have no immediate intention of taking your vehicle out on the road. There are several key reasons for this recommendation

 

[Coolcats]

to me its simples!!! the op has been specifically told by his insurance he is not covered if he does not get an MOT,,, so he has to get an MOT.

It is easy to strongly advises against getting an MOT when it is not your risk.

Typical the Broker probably has not read what Comfort Say on the web site but agree if the OP believes the Insurance company is saying he isn't insured then I am not arguing with the OP

 

[Aerialmark]

I was told by Comfort insurance that if i was involved in an accident on the way to the mot (pre-booked or not) that it would not be insured if the MH was not road legal ie mot & tax. Im not arguing with your reasoning Coolcats but when your insurer tells you that i think its better to get it sorted than risk it in a few months time with no tax or mot especially when I can save myself a whole lot of stress. I do agree it is a grey area.

 

[Carpmart]

I think some posts are completely missing the fact we are in the middle of a Pandemic. 1500+ people died in the last 24hr figures. The only way the virus transmits is through human interactions. You don’t need the vehicle at the moment, it is clearly insured even when SORN. you can legally drive to get an MOT when you need one and we are in a different position post this huge infection problem.

 

[Phill D]

The point I am making is that it matters not one jot! what any of us thinks about this or the impact of the virus or anything else that going on. ( which i wholly acknowledge and do not diminish the situation).

The OP's insurance has specifically said the motorhome will not be covered if it does not have a current MOT. That is as far as insurance cover goes the only opinion that matters.

Does the OP feel lucky? while his van is uninsured

I am with Comfort insurance and my van was MOT'd on Monday.

I came into no contact with anyone, it was arranged by phone, arrived in carpark van collected and wiped as i was stood away from the van, i collected after paying by phone, I wiped the controls and steering over and drove the 2 mile home.

considerably less risk than going food shopping.

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[nicholsong]

I am in a worse bind, being 900 miles from UK and MOT due end of month.

Driving to UK is not feasible in COVID restrictions.

It is off the road but I cannot SORN it because it is not in Great Britain.

I did tax it from 1st Jan while MOT is still valid.

I wrote to DVLA asking for advice and they only trotted out the law which I already knew. They did not offer a (further) MOT extension nor to accept it SORNed outside UK. I think I shall take it up with DfT as their sponsoring Ministry.

I shall have to contact insurers.

Geoff

 

[Spriddler]

I was told by Comfort insurance that if i was involved in an accident on the way to the mot (pre-booked or not) that it would not be insured if the MH was not road legal ie mot & tax.

I think you either misunderstood them or they misled you. They should have said (or perhaps did say) 'roadworthy', not 'road legal'.
I've been professionally involved in this subject for a national motorcycle organisation and if the accident was due to a fault that rendered the vehicle unroadworthy (whether or not it had an MOT) they could use that fact to decline acceptance of any claim from their insured. The key element is 'unroadworthy' and not whether the vehicle was taxed or MOT'd. Any vehicle used on the public road is required to be maintained in a roadworthy condition regardless of whether or not it has an MOT.

 

[Coolcats]

I think you either misunderstood them or they misled you. They should have said (or perhaps did say) 'roadworthy', not 'road legal'.
I've been professionally involved in this subject for a national motorcycle organisation and if the accident was due to a fault that rendered the vehicle unroadworthy (whether or not it had an MOT) they could use that fact to decline acceptance of any claim from their insured. The key element is 'unroadworthy' and not whether the vehicle was taxed or MOT'd. Any vehicle used on the public road is required to be maintained in a roadworthy condition regardless of whether or not it has an MOT.

This is my understanding as well, if I had an accident that was my fault caused by my vehicle being unroadworthy (maybe a split in a tyre that had gone unnoticed) my Insurance would revert from Fully Comprehensive ( a maintained and roadworthy vehicle) to potentially 3rd Party only. It gives an insurance company wriggle room, when my vehicles where stollen last year they wanted to see the Service history along with MOT, TAX and proof of purchase along with asking how I had financed the vehicles.

 

[Spriddler]

This is my understanding as well, if I had an accident that was my fault caused by my vehicle being unroadworthy (maybe a split in a tyre that had gone unnoticed) my Insurance would revert from Fully Comprehensive ( a maintained and roadworthy vehicle) to potentially 3rd Party only. It gives an insurance company wriggle room, when my vehicles where stollen last year they wanted to see the Service history along with MOT, TAX and proof of purchase along with asking how I had financed the vehicles.

Yep. I was drawn into the insurance/roadworthy/unroadworthy issue after a no fault collision when an oncoming foreign 7.5 tonne lorry driver came round a blind corner in a country lane on the wrong side of the road and damaged my 65 yr old m/bike, causing me multiple serious injuries. The country lane was restricted to maximum 3.5 tonne vehicles.
My legal team had submitted a 6 figure claim - mostly for serious and life-changing injuries.

A long and stressful story kept as short as possible.......

Although my bike had been MOT'd 3 weeks before the collision the other side sent an assessor who tried really hard (he also had it taken to a specialist technical assessor) but they couldn't find any faults. Fortunately I had 6 years of detailed service records scribbled on cupboard doors in my workshop.

There's lot more I could add and it took 15 months of emails, reports and phone calls to resolve my claim. (Incidentally, during my extensive research I discovered that the specialist technical assessment company had recently been set up by a retired director of the other side's insurance company ).
Posts on a bike club forum detailing my experience and research throughout the entire saga had been followed by a national motorcycle organisation who commissioned me to do further research and document my findings for publication.

 

[M-J]

I’ve called comfort for clarification and although they state it must be MOTd to be officially classed as roadworthy, because of the way I responded it has been referred to aviva for further comment.

Basically I told them an MOT only confirms the vehicle is roadworthy at the time of the test and what difference would it make anyway if stolen without the MOT, I also pointed out that thieves don’t carry out an MOT history check before stealing a vehicle.

I also talked about whether or not it was responsible of them to be forcing customers to make unnecessary journeys and put them at unnecessary risk.

The clincher was when I asked: if I am not sorned, fully MOTd and out on the road, I break down which in theory means not roadworthy, walk to a garage round the corner to get help and my MH is stolen in the meantime... would I be covered?

A few of the funniest comments made by comfort:

It must be roadworthy if stolen, without an mot we have no way of telling if the vehicle was locked.

Without an mot it could have mechanical or electrical defects which could be a contributing factor of the theft.

If the vehicle was stolen without an mot we have no way of valuing it in the event of a claim.


*edit*
Just had this email response

Good Afternoon

Thank you for your time today.

After speaking with th underwriters they have said

Driving without an MOT won't always make your insurance invalid. In most instances the insurers will still pay out in full - and if your car is stolen, or damaged, the payout will usually only be reduced to reflect the value of the car without a current MOT.

If you have an accident and you have no valid MOT, your insurance company may state that your insurance was invalidated as a result. You are then left liable for any costs as a result of that accident. ... Find out when your MOT is due then book your car in for its MOT

If you need any more assistance with your policy, or have any further questions, please contact us on the number below.

Kind Regards

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[LesW]

It must be roadworthy if stolen, without an mot we have no way of telling if the vehicle was locked.

Without an mot it could have mechanical or electrical defects which could be a contributing factor of the theft.

If the vehicle was stolen without an mot we have no way of valuing it in the event of a claim.

... and people insure with these clowns.

 

[Geo]

Funny comment No 3 is not so funny and a very valid point

 

[2x2camper]

Funny comment No 3 is not so funny and a very valid point

But it could still have those faults 2 minutes after it has been MOT'd

 

[M-J]

Funny comment No 3 is not so funny and a very valid point

I understand on paper the vehicle could be seen as having a lower value but to say they have no way of valuing it was funny. I’m not sure how it would stand up given the reason it might not have an mot in current times especially when the vehicle has a full documented service history, yearly hab checks etc and has only done 2000 ish (could be closer to 1000 thinking about it) miles or so since the last mot.

 

[M-J]

My reply to their email is as follows, after this I will know for sure and will also know what type of company I have been dealing with.

Can you please confirm that to be fully covered by the insurer without penalty or reduction in payout value I must have a current MOT therefore I am forced by the insurer to make unnecessary journeys and put myself and others at unnecessary risk to get the MOT test carried out?

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[Spriddler]

I am forced by the insurer to make unnecessary journeys and put myself and others at unnecessary risk to get the MOT test carried out?

Quite so.
My m/h MOT was always due in August which didn't matter much as I never used to go abroad in that busy month. Last time I had it done in April, about 4 months early, so that after the lockdown frustration and with luck I'd be able to go abroad whenever I wanted without having to be home for the August MOT.
I had to drive the m/h a fairly long way for the MOT since none of nearer garages can handle its height and weight.
Not much point in garages being allowed to open if customers aren't allowed to go to them.

 

[Agatha]

I would get it MOTed. It is an essential journey in my eyes. Then when restrictions are lifted you will be ready to go. Plus it gives the van a bit of an airing. It is an expensive bit of kit, so you need to keep it in good order. And in my limited understanding, a run now and again is important for tyres etc

 

[Nigel P]

I was told by Comfort insurance that if i was involved in an accident on the way to the mot (pre-booked or not) that it would not be insured if the MH was not road legal ie mot & tax. Im not arguing with your reasoning Coolcats but when your insurer tells you that i think its better to get it sorted than risk it in a few months time with no tax or mot especially when I can save myself a whole lot of stress. I do agree it is a grey area.

The reference to road legal by the insurers is questionable. The very fact that driving to a pre-booked MOT is legal makes their position nonsense. It is perfectly legal to drive to a pre-booked MOT without tax/MOT, as others have mentioned it would create an impossible scenario for a significant number of vehicle dealers/restorers if it was any other way. The law provides for exactly the scenario described and whilst the insurers may have a view they are still bound by the unfair contracts consumer law and would perhaps struggle to duck out of cover.

 

[Richard Sale]

Not insured to use but surely it would be insured against theft?

Correct that was my understanding too when I asked Comfort

 

[Richard Sale]

As I understand it, it is legal to drive a vehicle to a pre-booked MOT when it does not have a current MOT, but not legal to do so when it is SORNed. I stand ready to be corrected, as happens often enough.

You can’t get it off Sorn unless you have an MOT so you are incorrect. As long as pre-booked you are OK

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[Richard Sale]

Not insured to use but surely it would be insured against theft?

That was my understanding too when I checked, it is still insured fully comp and insured for when it is booked to go for a pre-booked MOT. My insurance company is also Comfort, so I suggest you misunderstood them

 

[minesapint]

My MOT on the motorhome is due on the 25th Jan. As the Moho is in storage and we have no plans to use it until lockdown is lifted I thought I would just leave it till later in the year when lockdown lifts then make an appointment for MOT.
I then thought perhaps I should check with insurance (comfort) if I would be covered should my van be stolen.
Short answer ...... No
So booked in for tomorrow....... whether or not this is classed as an essential journey is anybody’s guess.

Hi had ours MOT'd last week it is apparently allowed as an essential journey, as there is no holiday this time round on MOT status.

 

[The Welsh Wizard]

My Mate who owns an MOT Service Station advised me that I would need to get an MOT in Feb as my Road Tax is due in March. He takes the view that if the Government are allowing MOT Stations to operate in the current climate then it should be classed as an essential journey to travel to get an MOT certificate. He booked me in for a specific slot, which they are obligated to do, but told me that I'd have to "bugger off" for an hour as they are not allowed to have people waiting on the premises (seems fair enough)

 

[Ian Bosman]

Not for travel to and from a pre booked MOT test.

Perfectly correct to be able to take a SORN vehicle without a valid MOT on it because you cannot road tax the vehicle unless you have a valid MOT. The test MUST be rebooked, you are not allowed to just turn up as then if you are stopped by the police they can check your story about taking it for a test. My own SORN motorhome last year had its MOT run out in Sept 2019 which as it was parked in front of the house securely I left until March 2020, booked the test, passed of course, and then while sitting in the garage forecourt taxed it - note you are allowed to drive it back home and tax it from home but no deviating on the way to visit the pub or supermarket, say!

 

[Ian Bosman]

My Mate who owns an MOT Service Station advised me that I would need to get an MOT in Feb as my Road Tax is due in March. He takes the view that if the Government are allowing MOT Stations to operate in the current climate then it should be classed as an essential journey to travel to get an MOT certificate. He booked me in for a specific slot, which they are obligated to do, but told me that I'd have to "bugger off" for an hour as they are not allowed to have people waiting on the premises (seems fair enough)

Every garage will have done its own risk assessment which might include asking the customers to make them selves scarce (politely of course|) or they may allow you to hang about as mine did provided I kept the social distance and a mask on.

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