Is it better to travel an hour back to regular MOT tester?

[Transit-man-van]

It is coming up again. Is it worth going back to the regular family MOT garage in the village rather than getting a random new garage to do it where I am at the moment?

I am reading that some are more lenient than others. Is it worth the drive back just for that? Well I will visit the mother for a day or two but that will be the primary reason.

[dumper]

If your vehicle is up to standard it should pass anywhere but I’m sure your mother would like a visit.

[Transit-man-van]

If your vehicle is up to standard it should pass anywhere but I’m sure your mother would like a visit.

Actually it is probably counter intuitive and possibly dangerous to pick one too lenient. Wouldn't want one to pass a road dangerous vehicle!

Perhaps other considerations though like having a pleasant mechanic and sticking with what you know.

[metalworker0]

Yes use the same one if you trust and respect them.

There are some deceitful garages about who want your money or are lazy.

These are fails that are not safety or emissions violations ..that can happen

money ..saying something is worn out when its got a lot more miles left on it, like brake pads that are half worn lying about them .

lazy --- cant be bothered doing some helpful things that will get it to pass the emissions test

like making sure its fully warmed up ...this is not the coolant temperature but the whole exhaust temperature ..may require fast tick over for a while, if the day is one of the coldest in the year .

an infrequently used van ..like a camper will have rust in the exhaust ..which will come out as rust dust ..which will make it fail the particulates test, an mot guy who is clued up about this and not lazy will realise this and try and clear the exhaust before the test ,.,revving etc .

oh and that hours travel will get it hot enough to help it pass.
all the best.mark

[dumper]

I always turn up 10 minutes before the test booked time after giving it a run to warm everything up usually it’s straight on to emission test .
If your local council has a test centre at its depo they are usually fair and only fail when they have to as they don’t do repairs and there are also some garages that don’t do repairs just mots,s

[Transit-man-van]

Yes use the same one if you trust and respect them.

There are some deceitful garages about who want your money or are lazy.

...

oh and that hours travel will get it hot enough to help it pass.
all the best.mark

Thanks, that sways me to go back then.

Someone suggested elsewhere I should on the contrary find a garage here to do it, if planning to stay in the area, to find a reliable one in case of sudden vehicle failure for any other issue which may want fixing.

I think MOT and general repairs are a bit of a different case though, aren't they?

Before I bought the van I used clickmechanic, living in a different area again at the time, to find someone to give it an inspection and was able to look at reviews before to find what seemed like a good one from what I recall. Found that a very straightforward process and would likely use that again if I wanted one for anything else.

I managed to swap out my alternator on my own and have the Haynes manual now so would avoid using one if I could.