Are all MOT Test results held nationally on a database?

Question

I had my car MOT'd last week at a garage & they failed the offside headlamp on the basis that the retaining clips had fallen off. I'm sure there are certain tolerance levels involved here with MOT testing.
They basically want £296 to buy me a new headlamp & fit it.
For that price you'd expect my car to be a Hummer but it's only a Rover.
I can find the headlamp units on eBay for £25ish.
My question is, if i took my car to a more reputable MOT testing centre & submitted it for a MOT would they know it had already been tested last week (i.e.- are the MOT testing details held on a national database that all garages have access to)?
Thanks.

Answer 1

As soon as they log n to their computer and enter your cars reg they will see a history of it and will know it has been tested.

Suggesting that the ogarage is not reputable due to them legitimately failing your car for an insecure part of a headlanp is plain wrong and 99.9% of MOT testers will fail it for that. They have to do it properly as they do not know if you are a real customer or one of many checkers that the VOSA use.

Why not buy the ebay lamp and fit it yourself?

Answer 2

The info is indeed on a database. However, there is nothing whatsoever preventing you from fixing the problem in whatever way is satisfactory, whether is be getting a cheaper garage to do it, buying the parts and getting someone else to fit them or simply doing it yourself, maybe with parts from a breakers.



They are, incidentally, right to fail it if the retaining clips are missing. The headlamp must be secure.

Answer 3

Failures and advisory notes are a living history on the MoT Database.



If you are given an advisory note, the MoT tester will look at that area when the next MoT is performed.

Changing MoT garages wont help.

Answer 4

Generally agree with the answers but not sure they look at the "advisory notices" next time around. I had an advisory for worn anti roll bar bushes 6 years ago, there is nothing wrong with them in fact they were new 2 years before the advisory. No one has mentioned them since!

Also had a brake flexible hose advisory 4 years ago, couldn`t see what he meant and again not mentioned since.

Answer 5

Yes they are, and all related comments in regards to possible future failures and comments made to the customer.



I just fitted my own front wheel bearings after an MOT failure. You have two weeks to address the issues before you are charged again for the MOT.



Just call round scrap yards and fit the lamp your self.

Answer 6

No....just tell them that you think the last place who tested it was trying to fleece you so you'd like them to give you a quote. Give them no other details. If after that they say about the headlamps, ask them for a quote for fitting ones you supply, and for fitting and getting the parts by themselves.

Answer 7

Yes all MOT records are on a central system.

Answer 8

Hello, shopping around is the answer their is always a better deal remember someone wants your cash and you can find a deal. Good Luck

Answer 9

They can't insist on you having brand new parts. As long as it's repaired to a usable standard, second-hand is fine.

Answer 10

just buy the headlight from ebay and take it back for a retest