lorry plating

[xanti]

i have a ford cargo and was wondering if plating is similar to a car MOT in that if it fails can you still use the lorry until existing certificate expires. Also do you get a free retest and how long do you get until retest.

[sddsddean]

Plating is nothing to do with the MOT. The plate issued by the Vehicle Inspectorate (now by VOSA I think) and shows the vehicles maximum allowable weight on each axle and gross weight, together with any provisos (eg road friendly suspension). This lasts for the life of the truck, unless any major modifications (such as adding an axle) require it to be re-plated. The MOT acts in exactly the same way as for any other vehicle. It is valid until the expiry date and you can still legally use the vehicle until that date. You don't get a free retest. If you are retesting for a minor fault (say, a loose bolt) you can repair it and then will be charged �25 for a retest if on the same day as the original test, otherwise a full fee for retest applies. Unlike cars, trucks need an MOT from when they are 1 year old.

[sddsddean]

Forgot to say, you should have 2 copies of the plate. One is fixed to the vehicle (usually in the cab, or on the chassis if it is a trailer) and one should be held in the 'office', which may be, as in my case, your home address.

[kempie]

Am I misreading the question and answer when both say a vehicle can still be used if it were to fail an interim MOT test taken before the expiration of the current certificate?

Surely, as soon as a vehicle fails (or passes) an MOT the previous certificate is void?

[sddsddean]

'Fraid not Kempie. An MOT is valid until the date on the certificate. Thats why it is best to get your MOT done a few days/weeks before the old one runs out so you can get the vehicle fixed. Garages are reputed to 'prey' on those who leave it until the last minute, by saying the work will have to be done at their premises.(A nice little earner!) All an MOT says is that the vehicle was legal when the vehicle was presented for its MOT. You would probably find most vehicles would fail their MOT if they had no preperation. One of the testers at my local test station where I take my truck said he would probably fail most of the vehicles after they had been on the road 6 hours, 'cos something minor, like a bulb blowing, will have occured.

[kempie]

sddsddean - I am aware of the one month extension period for re-issue of MOTs and that the certificate is no guarantee of roadworthiness; ref. this quote from VOSA

'Your MOT certificate confirms that at the time of the test your vehicle met, as far as can be reasonably determined without dismantling, the minimum acceptable environmental and road safety standards required by law. It does not mean that the vehicle is roadworthy for the life of the certificate and is not a substitute for regular maintenance.'

but it makes no sense to me that if you were to present your vehicle for retest prior to expiry of your current MOT certificate (especially outside of the one month extension period) and it failed, it would not meet the standards required by law at that time but can still be driven because of the existence of that certificate.

My point is not that you are wrong (for I know this is not the case) but rather the law is (to me anyway).

[adydb]

Hmmmm I thought the same as Kempie here....

 

You car has a valid MOT for say 1 month...then the 'new' MOT fails.....therefore you car is NOT roadworthy.

 

If you had a serious smash then you are knowingly driving an unroadworthy vehicle...which will also void your Insurance......??????

[sddsddean]

Know what you are saying Kempie. This is probably covered by the C & U regs (Construction and Use) which most people are unaware of. Lets say you have a car that has 2months to run on its MOT, but now has bald tyres, whilst it has an MOT (so insurance etc is not voided) it is illegal under the C&U regs and thus you can be done under those regs by the police, but it still has a valid MOT. As the quote implies, You can't just get your MOT and turn your back on your vehicle. You have to keep it road worthy both for the safety of yourself and other people. I suppose the law could be re written so that if you fail an MOT, the old MOT is now invalid, but thats not how it works at the moment.