MOT

[Worty]

Decent fella Adler.  Would be nice if all officials were more like him!!

A comparable experience is where I take my cars for their MoT.  The guys only do MoTs - no repairs at all so no vested interest in ripping you off.  Always get a bit of advice and a wink - in other words, get the work done asap.  Only failed once on a broken rear spring (the tail of the spring had broken in the cup).  Took it back the following day after getting it sorted and he wrote out the MoT without even looking at it.  I always give my motors a pre-MoT check, so they rarely fail.

I think decent people recognise we're not idiots when it comes to these things, and they have a job to do after all.  I reckon if you turned up with bald tyres, lights that don't work, wipers hanging off, then they'd be a bit firmer in their assessment.

[Greybeard]

Worty, yes, I also found that our local ambulance station did MOT, (Ministry of Transport) tests. Although they charged the standard full price they were not looking for work so an honest test.

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

I've been an MOT tester for 44 years (and still am) and I can assure you my aim is to pass every one, and let common sense prevail when necessary - less paperwork too when they pass ! 

[Worty]

The guys charge a straight £50 cash - I'd rather pay the extra than get it failed by a garage looking for work then having to retest elsewhere.  Many years ago, I had a car fail at a normal garage because 'the brake pads are wearing low'.  I asked if they passed the brake test, which they did, but his reply was that it was a safety concern as, in his opinion, they would wear out before the next MoT.  I could smell the bull^&%&, but there wasn't a lot I could do.  I paid the fee, took the car elsewhere, and it passed no problem.

I know a lot about MoT testing as I've read up on what is testable and what the requirements are.  Like with brakes, if they perform as they should, then thickness of pads is simply an advisory.  I've even heard of pre March 2018 cars failing on DRLs not working when they weren't even testable until that date.

Pity more testers weren't like Rog

[Greybeard]

I avoid those places that offer cut-price tests because I believe they will be looking for work. By that I mean failing something that should really be an advisory.

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

Not quite right Worty about brake pad condition .

From the Manual


(a) Brake lining or pad:

(i) worn down to wear indicator - Major (Fail)
(ii) worn below 1.5mm - Dangerous (Fail)   

[Worty]

Not quite right Worty about brake pad condition .

From the Manual


(a) Brake lining or pad:

(i) worn down to wear indicator - Major (Fail)
(ii) worn below 1.5mm - Dangerous (Fail)

The problem was that they weren't worn down to the wear indicator - probably a couple of mm away.

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

In that case , you can appeal the test result