No MOT

[Plain Jane]

It's quite long winded but I am looking for some advice please.
I bought a used car (2021 plate) from Fords in April 2024. I was told that the MOT was done early and that I would just need to get an MOT in April 2025.
Roll on to today, when I went to book a service and MOT the lady I spoke to said that my MOT was actually due in June 2024. So I have been driving around for 9 months illegally unknowningly, which obviously invalidates my insurance and tax.
I then called the branch where I bought the vehicle and spoke with the manager. He told me that vehicles are not normally sold without an MOT if under 7 months to go and has requested that someone rings me to arrange it to be done for free and investigate what happened.
In the meantime, I now have the inconvenience of not having a car and i'm panicking that I could have received a fine but have recently moved so may not be aware.
Could I try and seek compensation?

[HandyAndy]

...which obviously invalidates my insurance and tax.

I don't know where you read that or who told you, but it does nothing of the sort.

[Plain Jane]

Oh ok. I thought I couldn't get tax without an mot. So everything is still in place just need the MOT done?

[des8]

Most UK car insurance policies require a valid MOT certificate as a condition of coverage (or they did when I was broking many years ago and I doubt things have changed!)
No certificate would allow the insurers to void cover.

So check your policy wording!

[Plain Jane]

Ok I will do that. Thank you

[HandyAndy]

Oh ok. I thought I couldn't get tax without an mot.

You can't get tax without a valid MoT, but your tax is not invalid if the MoT runs out.

Most UK car insurance policies require a valid MOT certificate as a condition of coverage.

They might do. But if they try to repudiate liability solely on that basis they are likely to be unsuccessful. Here's a relevant ruling from the Financial Ombudsman:

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org....RN-3123029.pdf

[Plain Jane]

Yes that makes sense. Hopefully I'll be sorted by the end of the month then

[Plain Jane]

The thing is can I not ask for a car in the meantime. I've got kids that need to get to school, clubs etc and without a car it will prove difficult. I could be waiting ages for them to fit me in

[Pezza54]

Get back on the phone to them and explain why you need the MOT urgently. Hopefully they will try to fit you in as an emergency. They have admitted that vehicles are not sold without MOT if there is less than 7 months before the test is due. The mot was due 2 months after they sold you the car and they also told you the mot had been carried out in April

[Plain Jane]

I've done that and he's supposed to call me back after his "meeting"

[Pezza54]

If he doesn't phone back chase him again. If this fails you should make a formal complaint to the dealer, following their complaints procedure

[Plain Jane]

Thank you. All sorted. They did my MOT for free.