Prang - No Mot

[dorismorris]

Hi any advice appreciated.
Parked car on a private car park, came back to find driver door caved in and wing mirror broken. A witness had kindly left their phone number and details of the culprit ( who drove away )
Have only third party insurance but company will assist in chasing other drivers etc, Police said to bring in my documents and make a statement re the hit and run, but on digging out my documents found that the MOT ran out last week(thought it was end of dec)
What's the best way to deal with this or am I completely stuffed?
Have tax and insurance but no MOT AND COULD KICK MYSELF!!!!!!

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>What's the best way to deal with this

Get a new MOT ASAP.

 

[bigbobs cl]

No need to contact the Police, just speak to your Insurance Company. Last time someone drove into me i wasn`t asked to provide documents, although they may have access to them through DVLA.

Bob

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>i wasn`t asked to provide documents,

Just a couple of months ago, we had exactly the opposite experience when someone drove into SWMBO's Astra while it was parked in the Co Op car park. Upon reporting the accident to the police - to allow them to trace the miscreant via the registration number supplied to us by a witness - the first thing we were asked for was all of our documents for the Astra.

 

[oldcro]

Be honest and admit your oversight of the MOT being out of date if asked, it always pays in the long run assuming they pick-up on it.

 

[bolide]

"Private Car Park" might be the key factor here. It's not a Police matter. You need your insurance company to contact the other driver to make a claim. You will need details of the witness

You don't need an MOT to park on private land as far as I know

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[JasM]

You'll be fine, just be honest with them as it's only regarded as a minor offence. The maximum penalty for this offence is £1000, although i don't expect it to be anywhere near that figure.

I was involved in a similar incident, where my car was hit in a private car park while parked, and my case was referred to the procurator fiscal (Scotland) / CPS (England & Wales) as it was regarded as an accident. 2 months later the outcome was a fine of £30.

 

[Wezzel]

Get the car MOT'd today and take the documents into the police station. Don't mention the old MOT unless they do and then be honest.

 

[nick mercedes]

Hi any advice appreciated.
Parked car on a private car park, came back to find driver door caved in and wing mirror broken. A witness had kindly left their phone number and details of the culprit ( who drove away )
Have only third party insurance but company will assist in chasing other drivers etc, Police said to bring in my documents and make a statement re the hit and run, but on digging out my documents found that the MOT ran out last week(thought it was end of dec)
What's the best way to deal with this or am I completely stuffed?
Have tax and insurance but no MOT AND COULD KICK MYSELF!!!!!!

If it's parked on private land you don't need an MOT.

I'd just let the insurance co sort it all out.

 

[prprandall51]

However you proceed, don't turn up at the Police Station with a new MoT dated after the date of the incident. Call it Copper's instinct, or an uncanny ability to see through even the most sophisticated of deceptions, bit I have this funny feeling that the Police will suspect something is amiss .....

IMO: Go in and own up to it - it's no big deal. If you don't go in, they may just follow up and look into it further, if you go in with a new MoT and any porkies concerning the previous one they will be airing the bed on the cell for you before you can blink.

 

[Topsy]

With respect to the previous members' opinions, I'd suggest seeking legal advice on it as a matter of urgency, it may help you sleep more soundly at night - and no, I'm not a lawyer with a vested interest!

 

[nickcc101]

If you report to the Police and state that the accident occured on a private car park they may ask you how you got to and from the private car park. If you don't have a current test cert then it leaves you open to prosecution.

 

[flango]

Think the key here in the OP is "Private car park" if the definition of this is a car park owned by a third party company for public or employees use then legally you do need an MOT to park in it. On "Private land" you don't.

Seeking legal advice at this stage is a bit OTT, When you reported it have they verbally asked you to bring the documents in? or did they give you a producer? If they have just asked verbally, as suggested earlier I would not even get the police involved for a car park incident, just let the insurance companies sort it out, although I am sure they will try and wriggle out of paying if they realise the car does not have an MOT

Not an easy one this but hope you get it sorted

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>don't turn up at the Police Station with a new MoT dated after the date of the incident.

I disagree - of course the police will see the dates, but then they will also see that as soon as you realised there was a problem that you've done something about it, and obtained a new MOT.

Of course, if asked, don't lie about the MOT being out of date when the accident happened.

 

[HowardD]

Was your car on its way to a garage for a prebooked MOT test?

I wonder what proof would be required by the police of this!

Seriously, though - I agree with anyone who recommended you check your position legally - so you dont stitch yourself up unnecessarily.

Most insurance policies come with free 24/7 legal advice help lines. You could always call this on behalf of a friend.

A lot of employers also provide employees with Employee Assistance Programms (alongside stress helplines!) that often provide free telephone legal information.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i agree, parked on private land = no need for an MOT

BUT

just MOT it anyway; they are very unlikely to say "this is a new MOT".... they will probably just assume that its just had an MOT. Will they really be so curious to check whether it had an MOT at the time of the incident? If they do ask for the old MOT just say you dont know where it is, but be honest about it may not having one at the time. I doubt that they will bother asking though or dig any deeper.

 

[maddog]

You need to mot it as if its a total loss you will get back a lot less if its not roadworthy

 

[blondebier]

Sorry to hear this DorisMorris.

How bad is the damage to the door? If it is severe it may not pass an MOT...

What's car was it and what do you think it's worth?

 

[andy_k]

I think the definition of "private car park" here may be important.

If it was a car park around your house or office where the car was parked waiting for you to MoT it because you had been too busy is one thing but if it was a shopping centre car park you had driven to forgetting the dates on the test it is entirely different.

I'd go along with my docs, tell them you'd forgotten and get the car MoT'd as fast as possible. If the car park is 100% private then the police probably won't want to get involved.

Good luck

 

[Spinal]

Sorry to hear this.

A few years ago, I was in a similar situation, where I was involved in an accident, and my MOT expired a few days before.

I was given a paper at the scene, asking to bring my MOT to a police station. I brought my old expired one and a new one I did the day after the accident; but didn't show them the expired one, I just showed them the new one.

They caught on immediately, and treated me like a criminal, until I explained the situation as clearly as I could. I walked out with a £30 fine for the forgetting the MOT.

So I'll echo what was said above - don't just bring them a new MOT - they will think something is dodgy and catch on immediately.

M.