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Strange MOT history

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Theo

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Nov 9, 2016, 10:35:51 PM11/9/16
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Can anyone suggest what might be going on with the MOT history of Toyota
T18YEL?
(look it up at https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ )

It's got passes and fails without mileage
It's got mileage that goes up and down apparently at random
It's had 34 MOTs since 2010, most of them passes
Some of the successive passes are within a few days of each other

I think it's a private plate on a taxi, which would cause more MOTs than
normal. But can you swap around private plates enough to bamboozle the MOT
history, or is there a rate limit?

Theo

MrCheerful

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Nov 10, 2016, 2:25:34 AM11/10/16
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Maybe it is a DVSA stooge car for testing MOT stations.

Peter Hill

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Nov 10, 2016, 4:26:52 AM11/10/16
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But wouldn't the test station be able to see the current MOT was just 3
days before? Or is that the first test the slack test station fails on?

MrCheerful

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Nov 10, 2016, 4:38:56 AM11/10/16
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I am not certain if the previous test shows up until the end of the test
procedure, I will ask. There is certainly no prohibition on getting
another test before the old one is due, car dealers do it all the time,
so that the car is offered with a fresh one year MoT

As an odometer reading is not an MoT requirement, maybe that is why some
of the tests have no mileage showing?

Robin

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Nov 10, 2016, 7:39:10 AM11/10/16
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On 10/11/2016 03:35, Theo wrote:
The Vehicle MOT History service is still in "Beta" so it'd be useful if
you reported that result using the "feedback" link at the top of the
page. It may eg be that they haven't yet sorted fully what happens when
plates are transferred from one vehicle to another.


--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Chris Whelan

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Nov 10, 2016, 8:05:16 AM11/10/16
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OOI, what prompted you to look for this?

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Scott M

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Nov 10, 2016, 9:03:18 AM11/10/16
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Theo wrote:

> Can anyone suggest what might be going on with the MOT history of Toyota
> T18YEL?
> (look it up at https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ )

I was going with Mr C's idea but the idea of being a private plate
sticks in the craw. I reckon it could be a reserved dummy registration
used by the programmers for testing purposes.

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

MrCheerful

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Nov 10, 2016, 9:20:17 AM11/10/16
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On 10/11/2016 14:03, Scott M wrote:
> Theo wrote:
>
>> Can anyone suggest what might be going on with the MOT history of Toyota
>> T18YEL?
>> (look it up at https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ )
>
> I was going with Mr C's idea but the idea of being a private plate
> sticks in the craw. I reckon it could be a reserved dummy registration
> used by the programmers for testing purposes.
>

well it shows as taxed and motd till sept 2017 and its insured, so it
seems likely it is a real vehicle.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Nov 10, 2016, 9:59:45 AM11/10/16
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In article <ed5bbfe1-b79f-5d43...@hotmail.com>,
Robin <rb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> The Vehicle MOT History service is still in "Beta" so it'd be useful if
> you reported that result using the "feedback" link at the top of the
> page. It may eg be that they haven't yet sorted fully what happens when
> plates are transferred from one vehicle to another.

I sold a car recently and transferred my private plate from it to the new
one. Saw the old car up for sale and checked the MOT history using its
'new' plate. And it was all there.
(I was interested to see if the new MOT has picked up on any of the
advisories of the last one I got when owning it)

--
*I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.*

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Theo

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Nov 10, 2016, 6:40:26 PM11/10/16
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Chris Whelan <cawh...@prejudicentlworld.com> wrote:
> Theo wrote:
>
> >
> > Can anyone suggest what might be going on with the MOT history of Toyota
> > T18YEL?
> > (look it up at https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ )
>
> OOI, what prompted you to look for this?

It showed up on Gumtree as LN54 XHB:
https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/toyota-prius-bargain-%C2%A31500-spotless-/1194336300

It appears to have a black roof and I thought 'hmm, that's unusual'. The
Gumtree listing also says it's yellow, which it isn't.

So I looked it up on one of those 'check a car' websites (can't remember
which, but it was free), which said it had been LN54XHB, then T18YEL, then
LN54XHB again. It also said it was yellow.

So I looked up the MOT history. LN54XHB is clean, T18 YEL's history is all
over the place.

And the seller says "OVER ALL A A1 CAR AND IM SAD TO SEE IT GO :( " which,
if you google it you find another Prius with exactly the same wording (VE04
XUH), and if you google the phone number you get a taxi firm in Leicester, a
'Yellow Taxis' in London, and some 'we buy any Prius' adverts.
(elsewhere on my travels I found a car that had once been T88 YEL, but I
don't think it was the same seller)

Don't worry, my telescopic bargepole is well and truly sharpened, but I'm
curious at understanding the limitations of the 'check MOT' service. I've
seen a few private plates on there before which are fairly easy to spot -
the mileage restarts at a lower value and the date of first registration
doesn't match the reg. Also taxis can be spotted due to the 6 monthly MOT.
But this one looks in a different league of fishy-ness.

Theo

Dave Plowman (News)

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Nov 10, 2016, 8:14:21 PM11/10/16
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In article <BKl*zf...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> Don't worry, my telescopic bargepole is well and truly sharpened, but
> I'm curious at understanding the limitations of the 'check MOT' service.
> I've seen a few private plates on there before which are fairly easy to
> spot - the mileage restarts at a lower value and the date of first
> registration doesn't match the reg. Also taxis can be spotted due to
> the 6 monthly MOT. But this one looks in a different league of
> fishy-ness.

If the car has had its reg number changed legally, there should be no
problem with the MOT history. As that goes with the car, so will be
updated at number change time. And if an attempt is made to MOT it with
false plates, the chassis number should show this up too.

Although it's probably very easy to get 'bent' MOTs.

--
*Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional *

MrCheerful

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Nov 11, 2016, 2:19:28 AM11/11/16
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On 11/11/2016 01:13, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <BKl*zf...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
> Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>> Don't worry, my telescopic bargepole is well and truly sharpened, but
>> I'm curious at understanding the limitations of the 'check MOT' service.
>> I've seen a few private plates on there before which are fairly easy to
>> spot - the mileage restarts at a lower value and the date of first
>> registration doesn't match the reg. Also taxis can be spotted due to
>> the 6 monthly MOT. But this one looks in a different league of
>> fishy-ness.
>
> If the car has had its reg number changed legally, there should be no
> problem with the MOT history. As that goes with the car, so will be
> updated at number change time. And if an attempt is made to MOT it with
> false plates, the chassis number should show this up too.
>
> Although it's probably very easy to get 'bent' MOTs.
>

Indeed it is, a place at Southend would do one without even seeing the
vehicle, a car one was 50 quid, a class 7 (big van) 70 quid.

Robin

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Nov 11, 2016, 3:39:31 AM11/11/16
to
On 10/11/2016 14:52, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <ed5bbfe1-b79f-5d43...@hotmail.com>,
> Robin <rb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> The Vehicle MOT History service is still in "Beta" so it'd be useful if
>> you reported that result using the "feedback" link at the top of the
>> page. It may eg be that they haven't yet sorted fully what happens when
>> plates are transferred from one vehicle to another.
>
> I sold a car recently and transferred my private plate from it to the new
> one. Saw the old car up for sale and checked the MOT history using its
> 'new' plate. And it was all there.
> (I was interested to see if the new MOT has picked up on any of the
> advisories of the last one I got when owning it)
>

OK, ta.

I wonder how the system works though if there are 2 cars with the same
plates and the same "chassis number".

Could be a nice saving on insurance costs too ;)

MrCheerful

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Nov 11, 2016, 4:49:47 AM11/11/16
to
I knew someone that had three Bedford minibuses (in the sixties), any
one could be ALU822B, they were all looked the same, if one broke down,
the plates went on to one of the others, only one set of plates, so
never two on the road at the same time.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Nov 11, 2016, 8:54:55 AM11/11/16
to
In article <ee4fdd9b-34a4-aa7b...@hotmail.com>,
Robin <rb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I wonder how the system works though if there are 2 cars with the same
> plates and the same "chassis number".

Lot more difficult to forge a chassis number than a number plate.

--
*Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

MrCheerful

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Nov 11, 2016, 10:16:39 AM11/11/16
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On 11/11/2016 13:54, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <ee4fdd9b-34a4-aa7b...@hotmail.com>,
> Robin <rb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> I wonder how the system works though if there are 2 cars with the same
>> plates and the same "chassis number".
>
> Lot more difficult to forge a chassis number than a number plate.
>

depends on whether you mean the vin plate or the actual stamped-on
the-chassis-number, you can buy a new vin plate online.

Lee

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Nov 11, 2016, 11:24:21 AM11/11/16
to
I know (anecdotally of course) of a couple locally as well, but they
don't provide said "service" to the public...Though one in South London
allegedly does, or did at least :)

What happened to the idea to video the tests to ensure the subject car
was actually being tested? (for how much that would help)
Or was that just another one of "those" rumours? ;)


Chris Whelan

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Nov 11, 2016, 11:37:43 AM11/11/16
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Lee wrote:

[...]

> What happened to the idea to video the tests to ensure the subject car
> was actually being tested? (for how much that would help)
> Or was that just another one of "those" rumours? ;)

If true, it would stop a *lot* of the fiddles that are currently possible.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Nov 11, 2016, 8:43:33 PM11/11/16
to
In article <ptmVz.79261$UM.1...@fx40.am4>,
Chris Whelan <cawh...@prejudicentlworld.com> wrote:
> > What happened to the idea to video the tests to ensure the subject car
> > was actually being tested? (for how much that would help) Or was that
> > just another one of "those" rumours? ;)

> If true, it would stop a *lot* of the fiddles that are currently
> possible.

One I've heard of does require to see the car and puts it in the MOT bay
for an appropriate length of time. I didn't ask if the tester went near it
though - which would be a giveaway if it were on video.

--
*Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker *

DJC

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Nov 12, 2016, 4:55:30 PM11/12/16
to
On 12/11/16 01:43, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <ptmVz.79261$UM.1...@fx40.am4>,
> Chris Whelan <cawh...@prejudicentlworld.com> wrote:
>>> What happened to the idea to video the tests to ensure the subject car
>>> was actually being tested? (for how much that would help) Or was that
>>> just another one of "those" rumours? ;)
>
>> If true, it would stop a *lot* of the fiddles that are currently
>> possible.
>
> One I've heard of does require to see the car and puts it in the MOT bay
> for an appropriate length of time. I didn't ask if the tester went near it
> though - which would be a giveaway if it were on video.

I have a dash cam in my car, it recorded the MOT, spent a lot of time in
a bay with the engine running and no sign of any activity.


>


--
djc

(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿)
No low-hanging fruit, just a lot of small berries up a tall tree.

Chris Whelan

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Nov 13, 2016, 3:19:50 AM11/13/16
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DJC wrote:

[...]

> I have a dash cam in my car, it recorded the MOT, spent a lot of time in
> a bay with the engine running and no sign of any activity.

It's usual to leave the engine running during an MOT to minimise the chance
of a false fail on emissions. There would be little to inspect at the front
of a vehicle.

Theo

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Nov 18, 2016, 1:57:47 PM11/18/16
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pamela <inv...@nospam.com> wrote:
> I don't imagine you're actually tempted to think of buting this
> car, so isn't there a "report it" phone line or site for
> suspicious-looking MOT histories?

I don't know about that, but I think I understand what's going on.
Because it's a private plate, the MOT history goes with the vehicle (ie its
natural registration) but is also attributed to the private plate.

In other words, that private plate shows the MOT history of at least 3
vehicles.

If you look at the dates, there's one with MOT due in roughly August, which
was first registered 2004. Next one has its MOT in March, first registered
2007. Last one is a taxi registered 2011, has MOTs in August and in
January.

That doesn't completely tie up (I would have expected a continuous run of
MOTs, while some of those are a month or so late) and I haven't looked at
the pass/fail status, but I think the moral is that private plates' MOT
histories are likely complicated. It also doesn't explain why it shows with
no history on its current plate, unless the current plate isn't the natural
registration, or something went wrong at DVLA.

Theo

Dave Plowman (News)

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Nov 19, 2016, 6:57:41 AM11/19/16
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In article <i8w*kp...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> I don't know about that, but I think I understand what's going on.
> Because it's a private plate, the MOT history goes with the vehicle (ie
> its natural registration) but is also attributed to the private plate.

> In other words, that private plate shows the MOT history of at least 3
> vehicles.

I've had the same plate on 3 vehicles, and it hasn't happened here.

Of course if you just swap plates without telling the DVLA, who knows what
could happen? ;-)

--
*By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.

seo.co...@gmail.com

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Jun 7, 2019, 10:20:38 AM6/7/19
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Yes, this site https://www.carveto.co.uk/car-history-check/mot-checks-dvla/ provides a detailed history of mot's with a different format to the open source data via DVSA. It shows you advisories etc also.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Jun 7, 2019, 12:00:37 PM6/7/19
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In article <6791196c-5493-4f4a...@googlegroups.com>,
Really? Shows a lot less than the DVLA site, unless you pay.

Waste of money.

--
*If at first you do succeed, try not to look too astonished.

Peter Hill

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Jun 7, 2019, 2:09:20 PM6/7/19
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On 07/06/2019 15:20, seo.co...@gmail.com wrote:
> Yes, this site https://www.carveto.co.uk/car-history-check/mot-checks-dvla/ provides a detailed history of mot's with a different format to the open source data via DVSA. It shows you advisories etc also.
>

Shows advisories for mine FOR FREE.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
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