|
| 
Your legal guide to motoring |
| | |
|
Car Insurance does not pay out as much as
i thought!!
I was dumbfounded
to realise that, although everyone in any car I hit, and the passengers in my
own car, can get millions of pounds in compensation for horrible injuries, the
same does not apply to me, as the driver, if I am at fault in the accident. Under
my policy I would get about £1,000 compensation.
I was so shocked, I immediately took out the first £500,000 personal accident
policy I could find on the net, in case my wife or I get injured tomorrow in a
crash that we cause, or if fate overtakes.
The latter was well illustrated four years ago when a deer jumped a six-foot hedge
and landed on our bonnet. The crash is recorded as my "fault". If it had landed
on the windscreen and broken my neck, I would have received peanuts. Why does
the industry permit this state of affairs?
GC, Canterbury (The Observer sunday 25 Jan 2009)
This isindeed a little-understood
aspect of car insurance. If another driver causes an accident, you are covered
by their third-party insurance for millions of pounds for your injuries. Some
motor policies have no limit for the amount they will pay if a driver causes death
or horrendous injuries to others and will pay millions of pounds for the rest
of those people's lives.
But the driver who is held responsible for the accident might get £2,500 or even
less. And, as you have found out, you can suffer an at-fault accident through
no fault of your own. Car insurers should make this discrepancy more obvious in
their policy wording.
Instead, they offer increased personal accident cover as an optional extra but
it still takes the maximum payable to drivers to perhaps just £40,000. Norwich
Union says the take-up, unlike legal expenses insurance, is low and suggests this
is because customers never consider themselves bad drivers. I think it is more
likely that customers are unaware of how little they would get if they were badly
inured.
You can buy separate accidental disability or personal accident insurance, but
realistically only for amounts way below the millions of pounds available for
other people. A £100,000 accidental disability policy with Norwich Union costs
£60 a year and personal accident insurance, which includes a death payment, is
£125 but benefits are halved when you reach 65.
|
My Campervan is in secure storage and I have declared it SORN. The MOT will have expried by the time I come to use it again. It will be insured but obviously won’t have an MOT. Is it correct that I am OK to drive it on the road to a pre-booked MOT?
|
| Chris,Stratford upon Avon |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes this is true. You can drive the vehicle to a pre-booked MOT. This is the only time you can drive the vehicle without an MOT |
|
My car was due its first MOT in Oct during which time my Father died, because of all the trauma I went through I completely forgot about my MOT. I have just remembered simply because my TAX is now up end of Jan, I tried to tax my car and was unsuccessful due to not having my mot certificate. As I have 14 days grace am I able to get my car MOT’d urgently in order for me to tax my car before the 14 days are up?
|
| Jeanette,Belfast |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes you can get your MOT done. Just book it in as normal to a garage and then you will be able to tax the vehicle |
|
How long after MOT does the database take to update.
|
| George,Alloa |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| As the database is central it is updated almost instantly |
|
Car up for first mot march 12. Tax runs out Feb 12 will I be able to tax my car before it’s tested
|
| P foster,Sheffield |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes, as long as its within the three years on the first registration, taxing a vehicle at this point is not a problem |
|
Although my wing mirrors work fine and can be adjusted as required manually, both back casings are missing. Is this relevant to the MOT?
|
| Danny,Luton |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| As long as the vehicle had mirrors it will pass. The only reason it would fail is if there are sharp edages on there that can be cassed as unsafe for others. This is down to the discretion on the MOT tester |
|
Does advisry fail a mot
|
| Val,Leeds |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No, advisory notices are for information purposes only. They are items that are near failure that need attention. usually by the next MOT date |
|
I have noticed I have the rear lap bekt missing from my Rover 45. Will it fail an MOT for this?
Thanks
Andy
|
| Andrew McHardy,Stafford |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| yes this will fail the MOT. if the car was manufacturered with a rear seatbelt then it has to be fitted to pass the MOT |
|
Will no third gear fail mot
|
| Eddy,Liverpool |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No this is not tested in the MOT |
|
my mot expired today. how many days do I have to get mot certificate.
|
| ali,enfield |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| If you want to continue using the car legally you will have to get the MOT completed today. You will not be able to drive the vehicle after this date unless it is to a pre-booked MOT test |
|
If the front screen (windshield) is cracked, and can be repaired (glued or strapped) is this a MOT failure
|
| Dan K,Romford |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The only reson for failure for damaged windscreens is that it does not impeed with the drivers swept view or ’damage not contained within a 40mm diameter circle’ |
|
How many day’s I can be late from taking MOT,and thay’ll pay a penalty?
|
| James,crawley |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| There are no days of grace with the MOT. If you are pulled over by the police anytime after the MOT date, you are may be fined |
|
What are the dimensions of the windscreen swept area, ie the width?
|
| I E YOUNG,NUNEATON |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The drivers swept view guidelines currently is anywhere that the window wipers work. |
|
my mot expires 2 days before i return from holidays,can i take it for the mot test 2 weeks before it is due
|
| Jeremy ,Cardiff |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes you can take any vehicle early for an MOT. It will be valid a year from the MOT date |
|
The abs light is not working will it fail the mot
|
| paul,norfolk |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Dashboard lights are not checked on the MOT test. Only ones that are constantly on stating that there is a fault |
|
abs can i disconnect this
|
| paul,kings lynn |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No you can not disconnect the ABS. If the car is ment to have it, it will fail. If its disconnected it will aslo fail. It will be classed as unsafe |
|
If I take my car for an MOT 1 month before it expires, and it fails, is the old MOT certificate still valid? I wouldn’t include tyres in this as it would be illegal to drive on worn tyres.
Thank you.
|
| Mark,Sittingbourne |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| If your vehicle fails its MOT a month early, Yes, you can drive it on the old MOT test certificate untill that expiry date |
|
Are MOT garages obliged to contact the owner (after a test failure) BEFORE they carry out the required work?
I’ve just taken mine in to get something replaced + an MOT test. No call from the garage whatsoever and afterwards a large bill received (some of which was for additional work I didn’t think was necessary to pass the test).
|
| MARK,BANBURY |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes the garage should contact you before any work is carried out. You should get a copy of the test with all fails stated on it. Then put in for a retest if the work has been carried out by any garage |
|
My car has failed it’s MOT, but the cost of repair seems excessive. Can I drive the car to another pre-arranged MOT test so that the results can be vailidated and the cost of repair checked
|
| Mike Molyneaux,High Wycombe |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes - as long as the car is booked in at the MOT ststion and you drive straight there |
|
Are SAT-NAV windscreen mounts legal
|
| Don Smith,Fareham |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| As long as it is not mounted in the drivers swetp view then it is legal |
|
Hi,
I have just bought a new car and when i bought it i was provided with a brand new MOT certificate from the same garage as i bought the car from. Since then I have noticed that my indicators don’t self cancel, should the car have failed the MOT for this?
Regards,
Mark.
|
| Mark,Cheltenham |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No this should not be anything to worry about. the self cancelling indicators are not part of the test. |
|
my car will not go into reverse gear!will this fail on its mot?thanks stu.
|
| stuart,lincoln |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No it does not have to - it goes not get tested in the MOT |
|
if i have a 7 year warranty do i still need to mot my car after 3 years
|
| micky,bradford |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| yes you do need to get the car MOT’d, every year after 3 years no matter what warranty you have with the car. |
|
hi my car just passed an mot but the handbrake still travels up quite alot is this normal ?
|
| mark,aberystwyth |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| this is fine to pass an MOT. As long as the handbrake works there is no limit on the amount of travel on the leaver |
|
Is an SRS (safety Restraint System) warning light that stays on an MOT failure?
|
| Richard,Wickford |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Cars will fail if there are any warning lighst showing. this is because the MOT tester could see the car unsafe |
|
can my car fail it’s MOT with a faulty heater fan? (sometimes it blows air and sometimes it doesn’t)
|
| Angela,Telford |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No the cars heating is not part of the MOT test. it does not have to be working |
|
when do new MOT checks come into force?
|
| Martin Murphy,Armagh |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The first test must be carried out on or before the 3rd Anniversary of the vehicle registration |
|
Hi, are the mirrors on a motorcycle required during the mot test ? Many thanks
|
| stephen,taunton |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| If the vehicle came with mirrors when bought or were present on the original manufacturers specs it must have them |
|
MY HIGH BEAM WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT WORK , IS THIS AN MOT FAILURE
|
| Bry ,HULL |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| yes all lights must be working for the MOT. As it is a warning light it will faill as the car is deemed unsafe |
|
can i get a copy of my MOT certificate ? I lost my one
|
| pepe ,london |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| yes you can, you can get a copy from the MOT garage that issued you with it in the first instance. There is normally a charge of £10 |
|
MY MOT EXPIRES ON THE 30TH DEC 2011,CAN I DRIVE IT ON THAT DATE ?
|
| PAUL,GLOUCESTER |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| yes you can drive the vehicle on that date! up untill midnight! |
|
my mot is 3 months overdue. will my new mot run for 12 months from now?
|
| sharpe,nottingham |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Your MOT will run from 12 months from the date of the MOT even if you are getting it completed late |
|
my car has failed the mot, on the horn not working, the part cannot be delivered to the garage until thursday, but the mot runs out today, can I still drive it around?
|
| JACKIE,GOSPORT |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No you cant drive the car after the MOT runs out. You can drive it up to and on the day of the previous MOT but not after unbtill it has had a re-test |
|
We have a clio and the centre seat belt has been took out. Is this still legal??
|
| Scott,Lowestoft |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No the car will fail its MOT - If the vehicle was manufactured with a middle seatbelt it has to have one fitted for the MOT |
|
does a car with fitted air bags that have gone off without an accident need the bags replaced is it a mot fail
|
| tomcollins,hayes |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes this will fail due to the car being unsafe. they will have to be replaced before the MOT |
|
If a car fails the MOT test, does it have to be re-tested at the centre where the original test was done?
|
| Kate,Exeter |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The retest does have to be completed at the same garage - If not you will be charged for the full test again |
|
Can a first mot for a motorcyle be taken a few weeks before the bike’s third birthday?
|
| Paul ,Fleet |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes you can take your first MOT any date before the 3rd year of the date it was registered. Then your MOT will run yearly from that point |
|
MY CAR IS DUE FOR MOT l5th Dec Can this be done beforehand - what is the advice please?
|
| Jean,Shipton on Stour |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes you can get your MOT done anytime within the year. Your MOT will be due in 12 Months from the day its completed |
|
How long does my m.o.t. last for ,i bought the car brand new in july 2009.thanks
|
| chris,liverpool |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The MOT will be due from the date of 1st registration. So it will be due July 2012 |
|
why are the seatbelts left fastened in the back of the car? is this a sign?
|
| Webb,Ulster |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Seatbelts are put in the fastened position to make sure the belts work and can be inspected correctly |
|
The speedometer of my moped bike is broken. Is this considered during the MOT test? Will the bike fail the test because of this?
|
| Daniele,Grimsby |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| No the speedometer is not part of the MOT test for any vehicles |
|
If my idicators flash fast, but all work, will it still pass MOT?
|
| Ted,Bermingham |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| There is a certain speed the flashing has to be for it to pass the MOT test - But this usually happens when a bulb has blown - so check all bulbs including side repaters |
|
Can a car fail an mot for having worn cv joints, mine are knocking slightly.
|
| Kaz,Scotland |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| Yes worn CV joints on a vehielce is a Failure on the MOT test |
|
How much is a Motorcycle MOT test?
|
| Dennis,Southport |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| The current (29/11/2011) of the motorbike MOT test is £37.80 |
|
Where could I find out any details about my car’s previous MOT? Thank you.
|
| Katerina,Leeds |
| Ukmotorists
Comment |
| With the new MOT Test you can check the history of the MOT online - to do this please visit the direct.gov.uk/mot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
