MOT - specialist/friendly, or anyone?

[JAD86]

Hello again folks,

As mentioned in another thread, my new (to me) car is currently SORN - MOT ran out in August.

I have no reason to believe it will fail (other than the side indicator/flasher unit mentioned in the other thread which will be rectified prior to testing) but do you feel anyone could MOT these vehicles? Is it similar to a tyre/oil checker system i.e. the MOT station put in a reg plate for details on what needs checking/what the parameters are?

I'm booked in at a local mass market company purely for ease, cost and they've been good with my daily driver for a few years... but doubt they've seen a Westfield before!

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I always take mine to the same place and the manager is a TR Register member and races a Triumph Spitfire (brave man!). They are sympathetic but not lenient. Never tried anywhere else.

[Captain Colonial]

Certainly local garages tend to be far more friendly and understanding while staying within the spirit of the regs, generally more so than national chains like KwikFit who don’t understand kit cars or the MOT regs in many cases.  My local garage is great and I sit in the car operating the controls as necessary, which saves them time and manpower.  The MOT then gets done quickly and the rest of the hour gets used performing tweaks and repairs as needed for no extra cost.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Personal recommendation would be to find somewhere sympathetic/interested in the cars, with a decent reputation. This could be a “major” but unless you happen to be on good terms with the manager, it’s perhaps unlikely and a good private garage that does Good, reliable service work might be better.

A Westfield shouldn’t necessarily have any issues passing an mot*, that’s not the point. What you want is someone decent, who will cast a professional eye over the car and make you aware of any non mot issues they spot, that you need to sort out for your own peace of mind and safety.

The garage I use is fantastic like that; the owner does the kit mot’s and is well aware that he is the only professional to closely eaxamine them from one year to another. He knows what doesn’t need to be checked in to much depth, cause the (often fastidious) owner will already have done it. But he will check very closely safety related things that have nothing to do with the mot, and offer advice as necessary.

[SootySport]

I use my local garage who is Sunbeam Tiger owner, we spend most of the time talking about classic cars to fill in time as not much to test on a Westfield.  You need to use your local trusted garage for testing and build up a bit of rapport.

[Thrustyjust]

Bob my MOT man finds it very difficult to MOT my old Westie. For one it was a Q plate so not emmisions. For 2, there is no rust to find, for 3 , it was mint. So, his time was spent 10 mins MOT'ing and 35 mins me drinking tea. He does check wishbones and rose joints but he still cant stop the MOT in 10 mins on the new system. Old school garages are best, as they do show more interest in the car and when I sent the daughter for her MOT recently, she said he just wanted to know how my IVA test went 

[Ian Podmore]

I wouldn't go near a 'chain' MOT station unless they had someone there you knew specifically, much better at a local garage that is interested in classics / special vehciles.  Also best with an inspection pit rather than a ramp if possible, I've had to 'lift' the car a bit to clear the ramp at a local garage that is classic friendly, so always go to friends with a pit now.

[DE04*]

I always use a independent garage,the owner used to do rallying,they understand our cars and have more time for them. Would never go to a big mot chain. When it goes on the ramp I have to push the Westy up so they can get the blocks under cos it is to low,you would never get that at quick fit they tell you to wait in the waiting room

[Stuart]

If you tell us where you are then someone may likely have a specific recommendation.  I got an excellent one from this forum after the one I had used for more than 10 years got too corporate and didn't want me to stay with the car anymore.  Or go to your next local club meet and ask - there are actually at least 2 members of my local WSCC area who do MoTs so you never know.

 

[Kingster]

3 minutes ago, Stuart said:

tell us where you are

Indeed. Remember to fill in your contact info so that we can send your welcome pack and club magazine. Your details are not publicly  visible on here. Only you see them when logged in as you!

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

15 hours ago, SootySport said:

I use my local garage who is Sunbeam Tiger owner, we spend most of the time talking about classic cars to fill in time as not much to test on a Westfield.  You need to use your local trusted garage for testing and build up a bit of rapport.

 

14 hours ago, Thrustyjust said:

Bob my MOT man finds it very difficult to MOT my old Westie. For one it was a Q plate so not emmisions. For 2, there is no rust to find, for 3 , it was mint. So, his time was spent 10 mins MOT'ing and 35 mins me drinking tea. He does check wishbones and rose joints but he still cant stop the MOT in 10 mins on the new system. Old school garages are best, as they do show more interest in the car and when I sent the daughter for her MOT recently, she said he just wanted to know how my IVA test went 

I would second all the comments made here in relation to using an independent garage/MOT station, preferably one that are happy to do classic cars or similar but I still find the comments about the minimum time a vehicle must be 'on test' shows a lack of understanding of the MOT system! The time a test takes is driven by the vehicle on test so a Westfield should be a short test time compared to a larger, high mileage vehicle. Testers should log the Westfield off after 10 minutes if they are confident they have carried out a full inspection to the required standard. There is no need to hang around waiting for time to pass, get the ticket and get back on the road......rant over!  

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I think there's a fair bit of confusion over the time thing from the garages themselves, that has got passed on to us customers.

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

12 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

I think there's a fair bit of confusion over the time thing from the garages themselves, that has got passed on to us customers.

That's exactly what I mean!

[JAD86]

1 hour ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

Indeed. Remember to fill in your contact info so that we can send your welcome pack and club magazine. Your details are not publicly  visible on here. Only you see them when logged in as you!

 

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

If you tell us where you are then someone may likely have a specific recommendation.  I got an excellent one from this forum after the one I had used for more than 10 years got too corporate and didn't want me to stay with the car anymore.  Or go to your next local club meet and ask - there are actually at least 2 members of my local WSCC area who do MoTs so you never know.

 

Thank you gents and all. I hear you. I have a good relationship with the local MrClutch but on second thoughts I don’t think they’re aware of Q plates. I have therefore decided to triple my journey (only half an hour but in winter it’s a consideration) to go to my trusted garage in dorking. 

I’m based in New Malden, Surrey. Will update details now I’ve signed up. 

[SootySport]

3 hours ago, JAD86 said:

 

Thank you gents and all. I hear you. I have a good relationship with the local MrClutch but on second thoughts I don’t think they’re aware of Q plates. I have therefore decided to triple my journey (only half an hour but in winter it’s a consideration) to go to my trusted garage in dorking. 

I’m based in New Malden, Surrey. Will update details now I’ve signed up. 

That's easy to resolve,  change your MOT date to the warmer months, mine is in late April.