Is it legal...?

wouldnt you do better hiring a van out for the day do it that way??

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by GOZA

so if your no were near your hoome and you get pulled saying im on my way to the mot station the copper will just laugh at you

Not really though coz if he books it to the one nearest his home address then technically that's legal.

Originally Posted by GOZA

the law about u can ride to a mot station is that it has to be the nearest one to your home address .

Cobblers.

I have been pulled over whilst driving a classic car from home to the MOT station as I had no VED or MOT, and the MOT station was thirty five miles from home, with tens of others between home and there.

Policeman wasn't bothered WHERE it was booked in, so long as it was, and there were no obvious issues which made the vehicle unroadworthy and therefore likely to fail.

Plus, if you weren't going from home to the MOT station, why would the nearest to home help? You might have to travel two hundred miles from where your bike WAS to where it's getting MOT'd near your home.

well plan is the bloke thats selling me the bike is transporting it to larne (van) and i'll ride it on the boat off and straight to the mot place and the docs wont be in my name yet so its all gravy
as for the bike being really cheap the guy has failed his test 9 times so his neighbour my cousin said to him i'd take it of his hands dave my cos has giving the bike a proper look over and quick ride and says its mint so im a happy teddy

[BillyC]

Personally I think this is taking the micky a bit... technically I think you can only ride without an MOT if you're going to a close reasonable test centre, to a pre-booked appointment.

However... I've done quite a lot of riding without an MOT, due to my poor memory and planning, so I wouldn't worry if you think you're okay with the risk.

the law and what coppers do are to diffrent things . you lot should know this by now.

Originally Posted by GOZA

the law and what coppers do are to diffrent things . you lot should know this by now.

You might be right. Can you let us know the legislation and applicable clauses?

Personally, I think a cop would just laugh at your excuse.

Firstly, unless your timing is impeccable, you will not be riding to a pre booked MOT but to home then onto the MOT later. Secondly the deal used to be, reasonable distance, because your bike could be potentially lethal, and a short distance minimises the risks, plus giving the distance you have to cover I'm assuming you won't keep your speed down, thus increasing the risk.

Lastly, how do you know the bike is in fact roadworthy?

Like others have said , I too have ridden a bike that has a lapsed MOT, but was secure in the knowledge that it was safe, although no defence if I'd have been pulled of course.

Best of luck.

You're exempt from both tax and mot if going to or from a pre-booked mot test. The only question, as demonstrated by how much debate it's generated here, is are you taking the **** by travelling so far. No one's come up with a definite answer yet but it's a good point made by petevtwin re the timings. However, nothing is mentioned about any limitation of distance in the legislation.

Here's the key bits of it direct from the police national legal database anyway:

Regulations 6(2) and 6(3) of the Motor Vehicle (Test) Regulations 1981 provides a list of exemptions for vehicles that should have an MOT certificate, but can be used on a road without one in certain circumstances. Provisions exist for vehicles which do not need to be taxed in similar circumstances.

6(2) Pursuant to section 47(6) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 the Secretary of State hereby exempts from section 47(1) the use of a vehicle (that is of a type that should normally have an MOT certificate)

(a) as follows

(i) for the purpose of submitting it by previous arrangement for, or bringing it away from, an MOT examination, or

(ii) in the course of an MOT examination, for the purpose of taking it to, or bringing it away from, any place where a part of the examination is to be or, as the case may be, has been, carried out, or of carrying out any part of the examination, the person so using it being either

(A) an MOT examiner, or a Ministry Inspector or an inspector appointed by a designated council, or
(B) a person acting under the personal direction of an examiner, a Ministry Inspector or a designated Council, or

(iii) where a test certificate is refused on an examination

(A) for the purpose of delivering it by previous arrangement at, or bringing it away from, a place where work is to be or has been done on it to remedy for a further examination the defects on the ground of which the test certificate was refused; or
(B) for the purpose of delivering it, by towing it, to a place where the vehicle is to be broken up;

(b) for any purpose for which the vehicle is authorised to be used on roads by an order under section 44 (an order allowing special vehicles on the road);

(c) where the vehicle has been imported into Great Britain, for the purpose of its being driven after arrival in Great Britain on the journey from the place where it has arrived in Great Britain to a place of residence of the owner or driver of the vehicle;




Schedule 2 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 provides definitions of certain exempt vehicles (from having tax) where they are to be used for testing purposes.Similar provisions exist allowing vehicles to be exempt from a test certificate (MOT).
A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of:

(a) submitting it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a compulsory test, a vehicle identity check, a vehicle weight test or a reduced pollution test, or
(b) bringing it away from such a test or check.

Note: The driver is allowed to stop on the way for petrol or cigarettes (Williams v Richards 1997).

A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of:

(a) taking it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a relevant re-examination, or
(b) bringing it away from such a re-examination.

[yorkie_chris]

So the law doesn't say anything about it!

I reckon so long as you're not taking the mick with your riding then you'll be fine.