Hi all!
That's right, it's me again – Steve the nephew, here for another round of courier-related shop talk.
Before we get down to business, though, I have to take a minute to thank all of you for the great reception my post from last week got. You lot really did make me feel special, and the more I guest-write here at Auntie Gertie's blog, the more I understand why she keeps going on and on about you guys being the best readership in the world.
Let's Talk About the MOT
Right – with that bit of mush out of the way, let's get down to the real topic of this week's post. This week my aunt has come up with a topic I know a lot about and, well, she doesn't - so it makes sense I write this one! The subject? MOT for you people who make a living doing owner driver jobs. Yes, I know it's a confusing issue, and yes, if you're a new driver you probably have a lot of questions. Which is exactly why I want to address it here.
Right, then – just in case you're a super-newbie, MOT stands for the Ministry of Transport test. Basically, it's a test you're obliged to take after three years or so of owning a vehicle, to see if it's up to standard, road safe and so on. If the vehicle passes, you get your tax disc and you're golden. If you don't…well, if you don't, and you still take your vehicle on the road then you're breaking the law. Which you don't want to do.
All pretty straightforward, right? Well, this is where it gets a little bit more complicated – because now, we're going to be getting into the specifics of taking out MOT for owner driver jobs. Don't worry, though - it's not rocket science but there are a few things you need to know so you don't get caught out.
Take Note of the Details
Basically, the main thing to know when taking out MOT for your van is that even if it passes, your vehicle may not remain roadworthy for the duration of the certificate. If you want to make sure your vehicle is up to standard at all times (which should be your aim, of course), you need to take care to run regular checks, just to make sure everything is all right mechanically. The gearbox, clutch and engine, in particular, are NOT tested when taking the MOT, so you should take extra-care to ensure everything is all right with them at all times.
What's more, failing to check your van could work against you if you need to claim on insurance or breakdown cover – and again, that's something you definitely don't want to happen! The MOT people will usually advise you about any repairs they feel need attending to, but it's best to just play it safe and stay on top of things. Take it from someone who knows!
Hopefully, by now, you can see just how important MOT is, both for vehicles in general and in the context of owner driver jobs in particular. Also hopefully, you're now looking for the nearest available inspection centre to take your van to. If that's the case, make sure you're looking for the three blue triangles – and make sure you have about £60 on you to pay for it.
Well – that's all I've got for now. I hope I've helped at least a little in clearing up the mysteries of taking out MOT when you do owner driver jobs.
- Steve
