Page 1 of Legal Car Help - Presenting Documents

I was in a car accident recently and the police were called because the car was an obstruction, anyway gave statement, breathalysed (clean of course) and asked to present Drivers Licence, MOT and Insurance to my local station within 7 days (I only had licence on me at the scene)

The problem comes because having just checked my papers my MOT expired in July, I honestly made an mistake because my tax and insurance is valid till next month, I know its still my fault because its my responsibility to check but is there any way around this?

Extra bit of info, I had the car was serviced about 1 and a half months ago (I know its not an MOT but it was roadworthy and nothing wrong anyway except oil and water change), its not like I was trying to avoid paying for something I should have, it was just an honest mistake?

If anyone knows how lenient the police are willing to be or anyway to get around it? Failing that does anyone know what sort of punishment I`m looking at? Just to clarify, I have VALID; Insurance, Tax and Licence, the MOT expired 5th July 2005

Many thanks in advance

Where you stand is in the poop...

You car was illegal as it had no MOT, therefore technically your Insurance is also Invalid.

Unfortunately because you cannot produce these documents you will be `Reported` for the offence which means WHEN the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) decide to prosecute you, a summons will be issued by the court for the offences.

Sorry i cannot be of more assistance...



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

This item was edited on Wednesday, 7th September 2005, 06:57

I once did the same as you, I thought my MOT ran out at the end of February when it had actually ran out in the first week of Feb.
So I took my car in to my usual garage - explained how I thought it was this week it expired etc etc.
They then backdated my new Cert to say From Feb 7th instead of the later date (does that make sense?)
anyway - i dont know if you have a regular garage that may backdate the MOT cert to when you should have had it done?

Mark probably would say this was dodgy (it probably is) so I wont give the name of this garage!!




I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which i`m dying are the best i`ve ever had.

GET IT MOT`D NOW.

As mentioned above, without a valid MOT the insurance is likely to be void. The police want your current documentas to be produced. If you get the car MOT`d now and produce the new certificate tomorrow you should be OK. They don`t know when the MOT was due (it could have been today)

Back-dating MOT certificates is also a bit ?????

Miek J

Quote:
If you get the car MOT`d now and produce the new certificate tomorrow you should be OK.


They want too see documents that are valid for the day the Ticket was issued not days later


^Roll on saturday i get my new bike yipee^

This item was edited on Wednesday, 7th September 2005, 09:26

Unfortunately I think you just have to tell them it was an honest mistake - if you try to get the MOT done now and take it in they will eventually do you for producing false documents. A guy at my work just got done for exactly the same thing - again an honest mistake, but now he is being done for no MOT, no insurance (although he had it, the no MOT invalidated it) and perverting the course of justice.

Looks like the poor guy is going to have to do some community service, as well as losing his licence - so my advice is just to go in and admit it and hope they are lenient.

Good luck.

Quote:
although he had it, the no MOT invalidated it

Not true it is down to the insurance company to decide this,it`s not a point of law that NO M.O.T = NO INSURANCE just as no tax does not invalidate your insurance automatically ;) so unless you were involved in a accident the police would only report you to the CPS for what you did not have at the time I.E no M.O.T and even then you could still be insured depends on your insurance company (true most would invalidate just to get out of paying any claim but some do understand if it was a honest mistake)


^Roll on saturday i get my new bike yipee^

This item was edited on Wednesday, 7th September 2005, 09:48

Thanks for all the help everyone,

The car definitely cannot be MOT`d, it rolled and the rear is in a pretty bad state and is almost definitely a write-off.

I don`t really want to do anything like falsifying papers, like someone said it could end up a lot worse from a legal perspective.

Does anyone know (mark mainly) if I will just get a fine or whether I will get a criminal record, I`ve never had any experiences with the police so I`m really unaware of the process

Thanks in advance

Marks not TRAFFIC mate, but what you get will be up to the magistrate if the CPS decide to prosecute for now dont worry but remember to tell your INSURANCE company if you are found guilty of any offence all the best and dont panic for now kiddo :)


^Roll on saturday i get my new bike yipee^

Butters

On the insurance issue

You don`t say if you were at fault in the accident

If you were then I can 100% guarantee that your insurance company will invalidate your insurance on said basis that you did not have a current MOT at the time of the accident as they will do anything to get out of coughing up

If you weren`t then it should not be a problem.

I can remember driving my old mans Ford Capri many moons ago and was hit from behind. It turned out that I was not insured to drive and I received a caution from the police. The guys insurance company tried to argue the case against paying up on the basis that I was not insured but in the end they did he was at fault.