Sorry if you know this, but after surfing for a 5th year service I discovered that most local councils offer an MOT service!

They do not carry out any repairs, so, because they do not do repairs, they have no reason to try to fail a car to get some revenue (not that any garage would dare to do that )

They charge the normal rates, so it seems to me to be a safe, good alternative to any garage that may not necessarily have your best interests at heart!

Some claim to have saved loads on unnecessary work

Look up your local council website and search for MOT  MY2014 SD4 XS
Ipanema Sand

MY10 TD4-e GS Manual
Lago Grey Now retired after 8 trouble free years

Leeds city council testers are the keenest for miles, I would suggest a local garage from trusted recommendations

I've used my council garage for many years and never had any problems with them.

Scroll down for list
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

that's very helpful!

Cheers! Current - MY 2007 HSE i6 3.2 Auto, Baltic Blue
Previous - MY2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S, Bonatti Grey
Also own - 2011 Jaguar XF S 3.0D Polaris White

If a car failed during a council MOT are you allowed to carry on driving the car to get it repaired at a different garage? With the MOT tests being computerised doesn't a car show up on the police computers that it failed an MOT even if it has a week or so to go before the expiry date? Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

It makes no difference where it's mot is done either council or private garage as the fail does not over ride the current mot that's still in place. It won't show on the police computer as a fail only on vosa's system.

A fail can override a mot certificate if it is an immediate prohibition under the categorisation of defects manual or if its in an unsafe condition to be used on a on public highway

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/syst...efects.pdf

if you fail an mot the only movement of that vehicle should be between the mot station and a place of repair once the defects have been rectified you can use the vehicle on the road until the retest or until the current mot cert runs out,


it is illegal to use a vehicle on the public highway with known defects and leaves you open to prosecution

In our wee part of the UK (Northern Ireland) ALL MOT's are carried out in government test centres and has been this way since introduction of MOT tests. 2014 SE Loire Blue SD4 Auto (MY15)
Gone - 2011 GS Baltic Blue, Retrofit Electric Leather, Side Steps, 19"SC's, Roof Rails, TT Sat Nav Mod, Retrofit Premium Audio, Retro fit 2013 Xenons with DRL & Sig Strip (Clutch at 47k)
Gone - 2007 GS Narvik Black, Privacy Glass, 19" SC's, Side Steps,Roof Rails, Roof Spoiler, Lamp Guards, Retrofit Electric Leather (Clutch at 115k)
Gone - 2007 SE Santorini Black (Clutch at 120k)
BT IID (best money ever spent on a car)

Years ago the Fire Brigade workshop used to do MOTs. My dad used to get his car done there - but then, he was the Station Officer! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

bashracing wrote:

A fail can override a mot certificate if it is an immediate prohibition under the categorisation of defects manual or if its in an unsafe condition to be used on a on public highway

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/syst...efects.pdf

if you fail an mot the only movement of that vehicle should be between the mot station and a place of repair once the defects have been rectified you can use the vehicle on the road until the retest or until the current mot cert runs out,


it is illegal to use a vehicle on the public highway with known defects and leaves you open to prosecution

An mot fail is a delayed prohibition
A fail for say '''Brake pipe excessively chafed or damaged'' (Failed or failure imminent) which under the cat of d's is an immediate prohibition, whether or not the mot tester realises it overrules any current mot cert and it's an offence for that vehicle to be even driven on the highway and should be taken to a place of repair via suspended tow,
once you know there is a defect on your vehicle you are responsible for your actions,

Again that's a prohibition the car has been prohibited to use not a fail,if the car fails on say a rusty exhaust that wouldn't be a prohibition so you are allowed to remove it and get it fixed else where.the tester has no authority to stop your from driving away from the test centre all he can do is phone the police.