Car tax MOT nightmare please help

[Alex.Mahone]

Hello,

My car tax expires midnight tonight but i am unable to renew it as it failed its M.O.T last week due to a headlight alignment problem.

Now a couple of days ago i had an accident which damaged one of the headlights amongst other things so i assume the alignment is out of sync again.

I can't tax the car as i dont have a valid MOT i cant get an MOT because the car is damaged, my car is due to be fixed next week though which will mean the tax will be out of date by 2 weeks.

Is there a grace period allowing you to tax your car after the date of expiry without incurring a fine?

If their is a fine how much is it likely to be?,

Would i be better going down the SORN route?,

And if my mechanic can straighten the headlight today could i take a chance and get the car retested for the mot with any likelihood of it being passed?

[logic]

If the car is on a public highway, or any place maintained by your council, it must be taxed tested and insured,
If it is on your own private property, SORN it till you can make it legal
Note, you can drive it without MOT as long as you are driving it to a prebooked mot testing station, and of course it must be insured, the tax can then be sorted, but you must notify them that it has been used on a public road since the last expiry date,
of course if it fails its MOT, you can legally drive it to a place of repair.

[tamborine]

if you have evidence of an appointment for repairs you wont be prosecuted.

[ABerrant]

While your vehicle is off the road, you have 14 days from the date your current tax disc expires in which to get a new tax disc or to make a SORN.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVe hicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_069727

[Hymie]

I don�t know the answer to this question, but if tamborine is correct, no one need mot or tax their car � just have a piece of paper with them showing that their garage mate has agreed to fix the car sometime next year.

[Iggle Piggle]

No Hymie, like Logic said about the MOT, it only covers you if you are driving directly to the place of repair.
There is a grace period on car tax, as ABerrant says, so this is your best route.
If the mechanic can sort the car and re-test, this will save you time and money, he may refuse a re-test after an accident though as things may have been damaged that were tested ok before .... :-( best check with him.

[Iggle Piggle]

Don't forget, insurance is *generally* still effective with no tax but no MOT *generally* voids your insurance as the vehicle is technically unroadworthy.
Check the small print on your policy as companies vary.