Early today I went to my usual MOT garage (I've just realised that I have been going there
on and off for nearly 40 years!) for a drive-in MOT.
"Sorry gov, you'll need to make an appointment, now we are computerised"
It seems that the testers have to allow an hour for each test and therefore they are not happy, because they are not able to carry out so many tests on a Saturday morning.
Does this mean the end of on-the-spot MOTs and discount prices?
And what about re-tests? Will we have to pay the full fee?
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Alas my favourite MOT drive in, the in and out at Shepperton, is closed.
I am fully in support of computerised MOTs but making them harder to get done is not a good move.
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Look at
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=35002&...e
and some of the subsequent spin off implications.
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pmh (was peter)
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I am fully in support of computerised MOTs
Is this system intended to help to stamp out the old dodgy MoT bought for cash without the car being inspected?
but making them harder to get done is not a good move.
agreed
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Does this mean the end of on-the-spot MOTs and discount prices? And what about re-tests? Will we have to pay the full fee?
To answer my own question, it seems that with computerisation of the MOT it is indeed the end of free re-tests (apart from certain items such as bulbs) as the tester has to log on for an hour to carry out the test.
My local testing station tells me that 500 garages have stopped doing MOTs as their hourly rates do not make it worth their while.
He also tells me to expect a £50 plus MOT fee next year.
While I was waiting, someone rang up and cancelled a later appointment, so again the garage loses (having turned away several customers earlier)
The new printed-out MOT cert. has this interesting note on the top:
This document is a certificate telling you that an MOT pass result has been recorded on VOSA's database. It is this entry, not the certificate, that will be used for legal purposes to confirm that your vehicle has passed its MOT test.
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The new printed-out MOT cert. has this interesting note on the top: This document is a certificate telling you that an MOT pass result has been recorded on VOSA's database. It is this entry, not the certificate, that will be used for legal purposes to confirm that your vehicle has passed its MOT test.
Oh 'pfd'. That's just great.
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Does it really take an hour to do an MOT these days?
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Yep - 30 mins to do the test, 30 mins for the depot manager to do the "paperwork" on the computer - have you seen how SLOW some of these guys type? ;-)
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the depot manager to do the "paperwork" on the computer - have you seen how SLOW some of these guys type? ;-)
mot on a nearly new car with no problems could be done in half an hour, just because the car is new/clean doesn't mean you can skip bits just means you didnt have to look see what the problem is. mot is a basic test the standard is a lot lower than a main dealer service standard but the minimun time you can log onto a test is half an hour, >> Yep - 30 mins to do the test, 30 mins for
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Do they actualy have to do the MOT in real time? Can't the tester just do the MOT with his old clipboard list, and then at the end of the day log on and record a whole batch of results?
Can MOTs still be done at odd hours, or does the computer only work 9-5? I knew a one-man MOT tester who always used to do MOTs on Sundays and late evenings - will that still be possible? So how does the computer know he is actually doing the test at that time - does he appear on a live web-cam?
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Do they actualy have to do the MOT in real time? Can't the tester just do the MOT with his old clipboard list, and then at the end of the day log on and record a whole batch of results?
That's what the MOT tester did who did my motorbike MOT earlier this year when he first had his computerised system installed. There were so many bugs and connections glitches in the new system, he had no choice. He was over an hour on the phone trying to get someone at Swansea to sort it all out. He even informed them that he had no choice but to use the old method that he's been using for years and would do the computer side of it later that day. Apparantly the DVLA can raise a query if they see loads of MOT's booked onto the computer system all at once. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the computer side of the MOT should be done at the time of doing the car bit of the MOT.
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Does it really take an hour to do an MOT these days?
yes and the depot manager cant do the computer bit you log on and do the test,using a smart card. my mate got into trouble with a re-test he was logged on for two hours as he was called off to look at something else and forgot he was still logged on the repair work for the re-test had been carried out by him so he knew the car would pass but it still had to have a full re-test.... stupid or what. oh and apparently it is easier to fiddle if you are that way inclined . his garage has bought a kitchen timer to time log ons for retests where they have done the repairs as he said it was getting stupid waiting for forty minutes logged-on for a job which had already been done by him...cheers...keo.
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My local centre have sort of come up with a way round the hour long MOT. They have two registered testers and two PC's but usually only one tester will be testing at one time.
This way he can use the two log-ins at the same time so still do a test in 30 minutes and not have to worry about how long it should take in theory.
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>So how does the computer know he is actually doing the test at that time - does he appear on a live web-cam?<
I understand that this was considered at one stage! Along with automatic connection and recording of brake and emissions testers.
But like all Govt IT projects, they have had dificulty making even the easy bits work!
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pmh (was peter)
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>So how does the computer know he is actually doing the test at that time - does he appear on a live web-cam?<
No, but I am told that an inspector can sit in his car around the corner and using a wireless laptop can log onto the MOT garage. If he then goes to the garage and finds no test in progress, the tester can be struck off.
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also heard of that being done doc,what a local garage does is do the mot as required but fit in another car alongside for a pre mot to cut down on the failure rate when its having its proper mot,seems to work well as all checks are done twice
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and using a wireless laptop can log onto the MOT garage
Certainly not the one I've seen.
I suspect when the project was started all those years ago, wireless comms hadn't even been invented!.
The local garage I use had a spare phone line for the comms, but VOSA wouldn't pay them to take it over insisiting on a new line. This ended up costing many 1000's of pounds replacing half a dozen telegraph poles that had been there for years, but below the new standard height.
VOSA also couldn't believe that BT wouldn't install the line - this being in Kingston Comms area where BT doesn't have a presence.
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They should be careful, if vosa see this they will both be in trouble.
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