Interesting point, as you don't need an excise licence to go to a pre-booked MOT, or (I think) to go to a place of repair for repairs and an MOT to be carried out. So answering "yes" says nothing really.

Does a pre-booked test now appear on the electronic records though? They will show when XXX123X had a MOT, whether it passed or failed and what advisories were given. Last time I drove a SORNed car to a MOT, it was years ago, and the MOT garage just kept a written diary on paper of such bookings.

Not that I'm advocating being naughty, but checking up, while possible, does seem to involve quite a bit of work, especially if the driver like me, had played everything to the book so a check would reveal no transgressions - or at least a valid use of the legislation to get an MOT. However, it would say nothing whether the car was illegally used untaxed for other journeys.

Don't think claiming he was going to a pre-booket MOT would do the OP much good. First it was over Easter when garages were mostly shut and he was 200 miles from home, pretty sure you are supposed to visit a local garage.

"No big deal bet everyone on this forum at some time has driven a car on the road without a valid tax disc." (The point being that in the case above, the vehicle was supposedly SORN-ed.)

You are joking of course.

Some of us take this more seriously than you do.

Hey FP & skidpan, chill out guys.

Not condoning untaxed vehicles just pointing out that most of us have probally done it at some time or other and whether the OP made a geniune mistake or not only he knows. At least now he knows what the likely outcome is.

Cheers and happy motoring to all