Soviet Spain?

[XmisterIS]

I heard a word on the grapevine the other day about MOT testing in Spain, I wonder if it is true, perhaps someone who's been there can confirm/discount said word on said grapevine ...

Apparently, they have government-run MOT test centres which only do MOTs - ordinary mechanic-type places aren't allowed to do MOTs - which means that if your car fails, you have to take it away, get it fixed, re-book for another MOT, bring it back, pay all over again, etc ...

Is that true? If it is, it seems like a pointless waste of time! E.g. last year my car failed because of some oxygen-sensor-gizmo thing somewhere in the exhaust pipe, my local mechanic just popped a new one in during the MOT, job's a good'un, car then passed.

 

[Dan B]

I hear that in the UK they have special government-run driving test centres which only do driving tests - if you fail, you have to go away, learn to drive better, re-book, come back, pay all over again, etc ...

Seems like a pointless waste of time! If you fail a test with your driving instructor he should be able to teach you there and then how to rectify the fault and just carry on with the test afterwards

 

[threebikesmcginty]

They do that here. Paying your mate a few quid to wave your car though in the dodgy MOT place round the corner isn't an option. And they're really strict!

There used to be one round our way years ago, Herman the German, that they reckon would do MOTs through the post.

 

[tyred]

I heard a word on the grapevine the other day about MOT testing in Spain, I wonder if it is true, perhaps someone who's been there can confirm/discount said word on said grapevine ...

Apparently, they have government-run MOT test centres which only do MOTs - ordinary mechanic-type places aren't allowed to do MOTs - which means that if your car fails, you have to take it away, get it fixed, re-book for another MOT, bring it back, pay all over again, etc ...

Is that true? If it is, it seems like a pointless waste of time! E.g. last year my car failed because of some oxygen-sensor-gizmo thing somewhere in the exhaust pipe, my local mechanic just popped a new one in during the MOT, job's a good'un, car then passed.

It's the same in Ireland and it seems to be much, much stricter than the UK test. It's technically not state run as it farmed out to a company that do the tests and nothing else and the people that work there have to do sign some sort of declaration in their contract that they will not work on anyone else's car, even in their own time.

 

[XmisterIS]

I hear that in the UK they have special government-run driving test centres which only do driving tests - if you fail, you have to go away, learn to drive better, re-book, come back, pay all over again, etc ...

Seems like a pointless waste of time! If you fail a test with your driving instructor he should be able to teach you there and then how to rectify the fault and just carry on with the test afterwards

Well, not really. My car is in MOT at the moment. If it fails, I'll ask them what needs fixing, they'll fix it, do the test again, car is then road-worthy. I don't see a problem. Comparing that with the practical driving test is a bit like comparing apples and oranges ...

 

[tyred]

Well, not really. My car is in MOT at the moment. If it fails, I'll ask them what needs fixing, they'll fix it, do the test again, car is then road-worthy. I don't see a problem. Comparing that with the practical driving test is a bit like comparing apples and oranges ...

The problem with that system is that unknowledgeable types are open to being told x, y, and z need replaced even if it doesn't because the garage is trying to drum up some trade for themselves.

 

[XmisterIS]

The problem with that system is that unknowledgeable types are open to being told x, y, and z need replaced even if it doesn't because the garage is trying to drum up some trade for themselves.

Yes but no but yes but no but ... surely it's a case of "buyer beware"? When I lived in Essex, I once had some wide-boy east-end geezah with shades and a gold chain necklace tell me, "Yeah, well mate, it's yer engine block's cracked straight through the cylinder, innit, needs a noo engine, innit". Now I don't class myself as being a "knowledgeable type", but even I know that if one's engine block is cracked right through one's cylinder then one's car is not going to take one anywhere ... turns out it just needed a new gasket.

 

[numbnuts]

When I lived in Australia in late 70s it was the police that carried out all vehicle inspections including caravans and trailers, they looked at there using the road as well and they had to have a licence plate of there own.

 

[meenaghman]

It's the same in Ireland and it seems to be much, much stricter than the UK test. It's technically not state run as it farmed out to a company that do the tests and nothing else and the people that work there have to do sign some sort of declaration in their contract that they will not work on anyone else's car, even in their own time.

Except for Taxis :-) and bunging the boys a hundred Euros. Prime Time the other week.

Northern Ireland has a set of test centres also even though its part of the UK.. and vehicles here are supposed to display an MOT sticker like a tax disc with expiry date.

 

[XmisterIS]

Except for Taxis :-) and bunging the boys a hundred Euros. Prime Time the other week.

Northern Ireland has a set of test centres also even though its part of the UK.. and vehicles here are supposed to display an MOT sticker like a tax disc with expiry date.

That's a very good idea and I think there should be one for insurance as well. ANPR should work, but there's a world of difference between "should" and "does" ... I was stopped by the police a couple of years back because apparently the car was showing up as untaxed, uninsured and without an MOT. They were a little bemused to find a current, valid tax disc in my windscreen and they declined my offer to accompany me home so I could show them the insurance and MOT documents!

 

[tyred]

Except for Taxis :-) and bunging the boys a hundred Euros. Prime Time the other week.

Well, the Charles Haughey legacy in action, anything can be bought at a price...

 

[asterix]

[quote/]they have government-run MOT test centres which only do MOTs[/quote]

Same in France - they have the 'contrôle technique' for cars over 4 yrs old. Tests are done at control technical centres and on passing you get a 'stificate and windscreen sticker that expire after 2 years.  French drivers have to display insurance too.  From what I have heard the test centres are quite rigorous.A lot of Brits were using UK reg cars and never getting them tested or taxed but that loophole is now closed.  Round Limoges the Gendarmerie occasionally have roadside random checks.

 

[rualexander]

In New Zealand, its called a WOF, Warrant of Fitness, and for cars over six years old you need to get one every six months, under six years and its yearly.

 

[XmisterIS]

In New Zealand, its called a WOF, Warrant of Fitness, and for cars over six years old you need to get one every six months, under six years and its yearly.

They really missed a trick there, they should have called it a "Warrant of Operational Fitness".