Can I drive to retest on SORN? gov. site is outdated

[CBA]

all info on .gov seems to be a year+ old as far as the Road traffic act/unlicenced vehicles is concerned.
Anyone got a link to latest edition of the RTA? cluckin funny acronym. :-p

[sven360]

Insurance required.

Tax not required but must be booked in at test centre with specific appointment.

Hasn't changed for decades

[CBA]

Thats what I know.
Just theres so many amendments to the Act, I'm not 100% sure anymore.

[Speedy88]

Yeah you can still do it but the garage has to be within a certain distance and the test has to be booked. Then after the test you must return to where you are storing the vehicle (not going to the post office to get the tax).

However, most reasonable police will realise after explanation that you're not just rolling around with no tax and that you're just trying to get the car legal. Mostly they are concerned about insurance when it comes to cars.

[Chris_C]

I'd love to see how a roadside ANPR camera deals with it, we have them once a month on one road in Soton.

[volvosneverdie]

I'd love to see how a roadside ANPR camera deals with it, we have them once a month on one road in Soton.

Personally, Id be checking my route to the nearest garage carefully to avoid cameras if poss. I wouldnt want to argue the case.

[macplaxton]

but the garage has to be within a certain distance

That's cobblers. No distance is specified, just to and from any detours or stops can be done, but you'd better have a reasonable excuse for them to satisfy the magistrate...

About ten years back, I really did stretch it a bit. Bought a car in Peterborough, booked it for pre-arranged test in Thrapston, and drove it home to High Wycombe. I suppose it was taking the piss a bit, but I did travel directly to and from the testing station.

It's nothing to do with the RTA 1988, but it covered under Section 6 (2) of The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981

(2) Pursuant to section 44(6) the Secretary of State hereby exempts from section 44(1) the use of a vehicle :-

(a) (i) for the purpose of submitting it by previous arrangement for, or bringing it away from, an examination, or


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(a) (iii) where a test certificate is refused on an examination :-

(A) for the purpose of delivering it by previous arrangement at, or bringing it away from, a place where work is to be or has been done on it to remedy for a further examination the defects on the ground of which the test certificate was refused; or

(B) for the purpose of delivering it, by towing it, to a place where the vehicle is to be broken up;

(b) for any purpose for which the vehicle is authorised to be used on roads by an order under section 42;

(c) where the vehicle has been imported into Great Britain, for the purpose of its being driven after arrival in Great Britain on the journey from the place where it has arrived in Great Britain to a place of residence of the owner or driver of the vehicle;

(d) for the purpose of removing it in pursuance of section 3 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 of moving or removing it in pursuance of regulations under section 20 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 as altered by the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles (Alteration of Enactments) Order 1967 or of removing it from a parking place in pursuance of an order under section 31(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967, an order relating to a parking place designated under section 35 thereof, or a provision of a designation order having effect by virtue of section 39(2) thereof;

(e) where the vehicle has been detained or seized by a police constable, for police purposes connected with such detention or seizure;

(f) where the vehicle has been removed, detained or seized or condemned as forfeited under any provision of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 for any purpose authorised by an officer of Customs and Excise;

(g) for the purpose of testing it by a motor trader as defined in section 16(8) of the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971, to whom a trade licence has been issued under that section, during the course of, or after completion of repairs carried out to that vehicle by that motor trader.

So this is the deal:

1) MOT has to be pre-arranged.
2) Can be any MOT station, just travel there and back. You can probably justify stopping for petrol.
3) If it fails, you can drive it to and from a pre-arranged place of repair to have the failed items sorted.

Edit:

Other bit of legislation that applies is Schedule 2, paragraph 22 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994

22(1)A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a)submitting it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a compulsory test, a vehicle identity check, a vehicle weight test or a reduced pollution test, or

(b)bringing it away from any such test or check.

(1A)A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a)taking it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) for a relevant re-examination, or

(b)bringing it away from such a re-examination.


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(3)Where the relevant certificate is refused on a compulsory test, or a reduced pollution test, of a vehicle or as a result of a relevant re-examination, the vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used solely for the purpose of—

(a)delivering it (by previous arrangement for a specified time on a specified date) at a place where relevant work is to be done on it, or

(b)bringing it away from a place where relevant work has been done on it.