OV9

Not fully rolled out yet.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/3701 ... -every-car

As long as it’s not during the emissions test….

If you fail only due to a blown bulb, then go for a retest the next day. Does it have to go on the ramp for a piccy?

ChatGPT...

"Please insert a functioning exhaust into this picture, replace the rust with clear metal and remove any traces of duct tape and bailing twine"

Most major GenAI image tools digitally watermark their pictures already.

I'm struggling to find a downside to this, honestly. Garages say it barely adds any time to the test, so it seems like a pretty straightforward way to clamp down on fake MOTs and keeping utter shitboxes off the road - and making people think twice about asking for them or suggesting them.

Actual crims don't give a shit about MOTs anyway, obviously, but it's more about Dodgy Derek not getting a £200 MOT pass from a backstreet garage and then having his wheel fall off on the motorway.

30+ years ago, when I had my Superstrada, a friend of mine called rik who also had a Superstrada became aware of a bloke offering a £100 MOT service from a local hotel he worked in.

It was back in the days of paper MOT's. rik arranged to meet the bloke and collect said document - bloke said on the phone "no problem so long as your car doesn't look like it would never pass an MOT". He (apparently) came out to the car park to take a look, saw that (much like my own Superstrada) rik's car consisted of many differently coloured doors, tailgate, bonnet and panels.... and declined to offer his services.

As all the houses on the street we've moved to have drives (and there is no CPZ) so there is an issue with people dumping cars without MOTs on the street whilst they're repaired and/or commercial vans and food trucks.

On knackered transit hasn't moved seemingly in a year from the looks of streetview - I was counting down the days until its MOT and tax expired to be able to report it and then low and f-ing behold it obtained a new ticket on it. I'm sceptical whether or not it moved but in any event the wingmirrors are held together using tape and unclear if they will fold out, which I thought was a fail. Very suspicious that it has a fraudulent MOT on it, however, it does look potentially like it has new plates which I expect would only have been done if they themselves would otherwise be a fail...

Anyway - I'm all in favour of this as I think there is a huge industry at work behind the scenes re backhanders for MOT passes. Also apparent from the cars and vans driving around emitting visible smoke which I'm pretty certain hasn't "just happened" since the last MOT...

According to to AI…

Not automatic abandonment: A car is only legally abandoned if it shows signs of neglect, such as being untaxed, having flat tyres, broken windows, missing number plates, or sitting unmoved in the same spot for a very long time.

So try to get the mobile of an “Irishman of no fixed abode” who’ll make the necessary arrangements and it’ll be gone within a week

This'll catch a few bikers out who have friendly arrangements to "fit the legal exhaust for the MOT then remove it when they get home".

I don't care, all mine are legal/OEM spec anyway.

I've only got one more MOT left on the 928 which is next month, after that it's exempt.

dinny_g wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:35 pm According to to AI…

Not automatic abandonment: A car is only legally abandoned if it shows signs of neglect, such as being untaxed, having flat tyres, broken windows, missing number plates, or sitting unmoved in the same spot for a very long time.

So try to get the mobile of an “Irishman of no fixed abode” who’ll make the necessary arrangements and it’ll be gone within a week

Well - maybe I don't need to do this...

There is a sign on the street as per the below (with different timings) and the van I mentioned has a "Revenue Weight" on the DVLA of 5tonnes. On that basis I don't think it should be parked there overnight if Revenue Weight is the same as the Gross Vehicle Weight.



Turns out you can also report ghost MOTs to the DVSA so that could be another route.

dinny_g wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:35 pm According to to AI…

Not automatic abandonment: A car is only legally abandoned if it shows signs of neglect, such as being untaxed, having flat tyres, broken windows, missing number plates, or sitting unmoved in the same spot for a very long time.

So try to get the mobile of an “Irishman of no fixed abode” who’ll make the necessary arrangements and it’ll be gone within a week

Funny you should say that

There’s currently a massive motorhome, a transit pickup, a Land Rover and a couple of trailers on my street. They all have smashed windows and no registration plates, and they’re owned by the “Irish” family over the road who regularly have fights in the street, police attendances and boarded up windows. I got the council to come down, who began looking at the vehicles, at which point the father came out and claimed he’s sleeping in the vehicles. This seems to suddenly make it very difficult for the council to remove said vehicles if they are under the impression they’re also being inhabited.

So it turns out if you want free parking in London, just take your number plates off and leave a sign saying “I live in here” and everyone from councils to parking wardens will leave you alone. Win

Or just say you’re a Traveller… (*)

Then EVERYBODY will leave you alone - councils, courts, planning offices, police et al

(*) - I’m allowed