Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Need MOT done today!

There is always difference of opinion with various MOT centres. I guess the biggest thing I see is how they react when stuff fails. I had a leaky brake hose on my last one that only required about half a turn with a spanner. Why they couldn't have done this whilst it was up on the ramp, I don't know.

Had to take it home, sort it and bring it back. About 2 hours of my life that I won't get back!

They could have stripped the thread / snapped the brake pipe doing it, and where would that leave them

if they swang off it with a torque wrench then yes, but hardly likely with a small amount of force from a 12mm spanner.

I may be wrong but I don't think they're allowed to repair anthing they find wrong (no matter how trivial)?

that's how most garages make their money, remedial works from MOTs.

I tend to fix the car myself and take it back. I hate garaqes with a passion; if I thought they were trying it on I'd contact VOSA or sue them. I only go near garages when I absolutely have to.

I meant they're not allowed to do (even apparently simple) repairs to a failing item DURING an MOT test.
If the vehicle remains on the premises, of course, yes, you can have them repair it but only AFTER the failed test (and then they can retest most things for free within 10 days, IIRC)?

You are correct CV

They can complete the MOT repair minor defects on the spot and then using the PRS (Pass after Repair at Station) system, issue the fail and pass certificate at the same time, this saves a bit of mucking around of formally failing it, then repairing, then passing it.

The only repair during MOT that VOSA are at all lenient on is headlamp adjustment - anything else VOSA will raise an issue with repairs being done during the MOT. But even headlamp adjustment is against the rules - its just to save putting the measurement equipment away to get it back out again.

The main reason for this appears to be for VOSA to collect statistics on what fails.

makes a bit more sense with a comma after the first MOT ...

They can complete the MOT, repair minor defects on the spot and then using the PRS ....

As a customer you wouldn't care if it had failed then afterwards they'd tell you that some remedial work needed carrying out. If the cost was modest you'd probably agree then let them re-test. The issue I see it having to take it away and bring it back when it's something the garage could have easily addressed when the car was on the ramp.

In my experiences some cheaper MOT garages will make a meal out of it and try and charge you above the odds for the likes of bulbs and windscreen wipers. This happened to my girlfriend the other week. Garage wanted £25 for wiper blades, we got them in Halfords for about £8 and took them along when we picked the car up.

you can moan all you like about garages, however when you run one you know what its like, theres all sorts of bills to pay rent, electric,gas,rates,water,wages etc etc, so they need to make some money

also what DD says is true, i used to do MOT testing
it is ILLEGAL for a tester to damage/repair a car, and there is a prison sentance involved if im right!

Even then, there is a list of what they are allowed to do on that day, and I think brakes is not included. Some MOT stations dont have Garage facilities, of which I think Walsh's is one....

I can see it from the point of the customer - wanting to get through and MOT, but if you were the tester, and you nipped the line up and it fractured - how would you explain to the customer that they needed a new brake line when it was just in for an MOT

I have a friend with an MOT station / garage, and you get some really arsey customers who would kick off about something like that even when you are trying to help them out

Ive seen bulbs changed, washer jets cleaned, and headlights adjusted to get cars through, but anything more serious is generally left as not to clog up the test bay; for a better reason.

TO which MOT testing station you take your car to is your own personal choice. There could be a number of reasons why you may pick a particular test centre including:

* Cost
* Workshop facilities
* Ability to fit you in
* Previous experiences
* Recomendations.

If the car fails you have again another choice what to do:

* Ask the garage where the MOT took place to repair it, if they have workshop facilities and can provide you with a quote
* Repair it yourself and take it back
* Take it to another garage altogether
* scrap or sell the car.

It's always best to consider your options to make a choice on the appropiate course of action to take. Most MOT centres would be able to give a ball park cost on the remedial work or suggest an appropiate place to take the car to if they can't do it themselves.

It's like anything else you buy in life, it pays to shop around when the price quoted is expensive.

As for moaning about garages, the customer is KING. They pay the bills, without the customers there is no business. If the customer thinks they are getting ripped off they will just go elsewhere.

Garages are not unique, all businesses have overheads and how businesses are run will ultimately deteremine their success; charging customers particular prices is only a small part of it.

It's a very crowded market and there are plenty of garages and MOT centres everywhere.

Just used Cavendish today (Pass - yeah!), £47 no nonsense, usually do bulbs free.

I took the car to get MOT'd, and apart from the tester being all hissy and bitchy (saying it was only good for 'the oval'), he said I needed extensive welding to 'excessive corrosion' on the rear sills (both sides).

a) The sills are covered with 'side skirts'. These are clipped on,
b) The tester isn't allowed to remove the side skirts, or even pry them back for a better look,
c) There's no corrosion there,
d) There's NO fooking CORROSION.

Apart from seam sealer from new arches welded in, there's nothing there

Take it back with the skirts removed so he can see they are ok...