UK MOT - Insurance issue
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:37 pm
Sorry the title does not quite cover what I wanted to comment on.
The UK has recently changed the MOT test rules to allow for pre-1960 vehicles to be exempted from a yearly MOT. There are some requirements to have an MOT if you are selling the vehicle or you wish to get one anyway.
The issue is this:- How are insurance companies going to decide that your vehicle is roadworthy and therefore be prepared to insure it? If for instance, you have a crash in your pre-1960 vehicle and the insurance assessor says " I don't think the vehicle was road worthy before the crash" - The insurance company can invalidate your insurance, then you are looking at no only the cost of the crash to your own vehicle, but also any third party claims are now your direct responsibility. The police at this point would also be interested in you as you were technically driving with out insurance - a criminal offence!
A related scenario could affect people with more modern cars. If your car has plastic panels which cover parts of the car e.g. plastic under trays. The MOT man is not allowed to take them off to check on the condition of things under there. So they make a statement on the MOT certificate which says in effect "not checked under panels". So now covered up by the under tray, your vehicle has scummed to the dreaded tin worm. Not pointed out to you, so you have no knowledge there is something to fix. In a crash, rust in you chassis is deemed to have contributed to the crash: - invalid insurance etc, etc.
Any thoughts people?
John
The UK has recently changed the MOT test rules to allow for pre-1960 vehicles to be exempted from a yearly MOT. There are some requirements to have an MOT if you are selling the vehicle or you wish to get one anyway.
The issue is this:- How are insurance companies going to decide that your vehicle is roadworthy and therefore be prepared to insure it? If for instance, you have a crash in your pre-1960 vehicle and the insurance assessor says " I don't think the vehicle was road worthy before the crash" - The insurance company can invalidate your insurance, then you are looking at no only the cost of the crash to your own vehicle, but also any third party claims are now your direct responsibility. The police at this point would also be interested in you as you were technically driving with out insurance - a criminal offence!
A related scenario could affect people with more modern cars. If your car has plastic panels which cover parts of the car e.g. plastic under trays. The MOT man is not allowed to take them off to check on the condition of things under there. So they make a statement on the MOT certificate which says in effect "not checked under panels". So now covered up by the under tray, your vehicle has scummed to the dreaded tin worm. Not pointed out to you, so you have no knowledge there is something to fix. In a crash, rust in you chassis is deemed to have contributed to the crash: - invalid insurance etc, etc.
Any thoughts people?
John