timuk
Motoring Public
Posts: 3
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Post by timuk on Apr 28, 2006 23:24:15 GMT
Hello!
Hope you don't mind someone who isn't an MOT tester asking a question.
I've just been advised by my local garage (who isn't an MOT testing station) that there's no longer any point submitting a car for an early MOT test (ie, within 30 days before expiry). In fact, it would be a positively bad thing to do.
Their argument is that if the car fails the initial test, but then passes the retest, that the expiry date of the new certificate will always be exactly 12 months from the retest, and not 12 months from the expiry date of the previous MOT. So you end up effectively 'losing' any days still left on the previous MOT. According to them, this is because the new computer system automatically sets the expiry date to 12 months after the retest date.
So have the MOT rules really changed? Or is this simply a problem with how their MOT station is using the new computer system, and they don't know how to override the expiry date when doing retests?
Thanks for any advice!
Cheers, Tim
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spanner
Nominated Tester
Posts: 191
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Post by spanner on Apr 28, 2006 23:45:12 GMT
Thats not correct. You can add unexpired days no problem at all.
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Rob
Nominated Tester
Posts: 279
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Post by Rob on Apr 29, 2006 6:51:33 GMT
According to them, this is because the new computer system automatically sets the expiry date to 12 months after the retest date. That is nearly right, MOT's are always 12 months less a day. If you had your car tested today, April 29th 2006 and it passed, it would expire on April 28th 2007. But we have the ability to alter the expiry date as long as you present your old certificate. Even if you forget your old certificate at the time of test, you can take it back at any time to have a new certificate with the date amended free of charge. (Providing the system hasn't crashed again, but that's another story) Once you've had your car tested on the computerised system, when you return next year, the system will automatically add on any days when your car passes, if you have it tested up to a month in advance.
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rebel
Nominated Tester
Posts: 32
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Post by rebel on Apr 29, 2006 12:40:01 GMT
The only time that valid extra time cannot be added is when carrying out a fast track retest.
I suspect that your non mot garage is taking it's mot work to another VTS and getting all it's retests fast tracked.
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Post by ammer1t on Apr 29, 2006 13:35:45 GMT
Pretty sure I've added time with a fast track retest ,so long as you have old cert you just need to alter date in box on last screen along with old cert No and pass , Was going to suggest we all read the books again but they will most likely isssue updates soon !!
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timuk
Motoring Public
Posts: 3
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Post by timuk on Apr 29, 2006 13:38:14 GMT
The only time that valid extra time cannot be added is when carrying out a fast track retest. But isn't this simply a restriction of the fast track option within the computer system, and not an actual 'MOT rule'? Is it possible that the VTS doesn't realise, that even if a vehicle retest is eligible to use the fast-track option, that they shouldn't use it if there's still time on the previous MOT? Instead, they should use the Partial Retest option within the computer system, which does allow the expiry date to be changed (this is what it seems to suggest on the VOSA website). As I assume this takes more time, I could understand if some VTS may choose to deliberately tell people that the date can't be changed, so they don't have to spend even more time with the stupid computer! Does this sound plausible, or have I got the wrong end of the stick? Cheers, Tim
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timuk
Motoring Public
Posts: 3
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Post by timuk on Apr 29, 2006 13:45:02 GMT
Pretty sure I've added time with a fast track retest ,so long as you have old cert you just need to alter date in box on last screen along with old cert No and pass , Was going to suggest we all read the books again but they will most likely isssue updates soon !! I got some info about the retest options from this article (3rd or 4th page down): www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/publications/mot%20-%20issue%2030%20-%20jan%202006.pdfAs I mentioned, I'm not a tester so I don't know what I'm talking about, so maybe this article is clearly wrong to you guys who use the system every day. Cheers, Tim
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motdave
Nominated Tester
Posts: 242
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Post by motdave on Apr 29, 2006 17:31:38 GMT
This FAQ supplied with Special Notice 8-2005 explains that you cannot use Fast Track when extending the expiry date: www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/publications/special%20notice%2008-05%20mot%20testing%20stations%20faq.pdfThis does not mean that the expiry date cannot be extended. The vehicle should be registered for a retest, and then the date extended when the results of the test are entered. Perhaps, because of the extra hassle involved, this is why some NT's are not extending the date. If the expiry date hasn't been extended on your VT20 Certificate, the test station is obliged to issue a replacement, free of charge, if you return with the previous year's certificate. The expiry date can only be extended by up to one month. If your vehicle is tested over one month early, then it cannot have an extended expiry date.
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Post by Dave Hill on Apr 29, 2006 18:17:25 GMT
The reality is that sometimes the computer system does not allow you to amend the expiry date & you have no option to proceed & print of a certificate with 12 months, minus one day.
There is an option afterwards to go in & produce a replacement & there you can add the days that should have been allowed to be added if the system had been designed correctly.
It can be frustrating & I can recall being a bit pi55ed of with one guy who I had gone out of my way to help. He returned a couple of days later moaning that his certificate had lost a day & I asked him if it was that important. He said it was. Frustrating it may be but its not the end of the world, Its even more frustrating when you are catching up from emergency testing.
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