Annual ( Ministry of transport) ''MOT'' tests have been something we've had to have done for many many years in the UK. Anyone driving a car without a current MOT certificate is liable to a fine and points on their licence...12 points constitutes a ban!! Anyone without and MOT certificate cannot get road tax, that is also illegal, and is easily checked up on by computer by the police...and..anyone who is riding around without a valid MOT and or Road Tax, is automatically deemed to be uninsured..even if they have a valid insurance policy which they took out prior to letting the Tax and MOT lapse... and we all know what happens to people who are involved in an accident if they're not insured. I have to say it's a very long time since I saw any kinds of wreck type cars on the road..rusty, or bald tyres..like you describe @Terry Page , but it may be because I live in a bit of an upmarket area where something like that would stand out like a sore thumb..probably if I was in the city, I might see more..
Similar thing here Chrissy...we used to have a sticker to put inside the windscreen...now we don't need a sticker it's all just checked automatically by computer... The cost of the Road tax depends on the size of the engine of your car basically. The bigger the engine size the more you pay....and the smaller and or the 'greener' your car is..the less you pay... I currently pay around £140 per year for mine which is about average for a a mini SUV which is what I have....and my insurance is approx £200 ..
I guess it's the same thing it varies depending on the vehicle emissions, the new car that Caroline just bought is only about $40 mine being older is about $180
No, it doesn't vary. It depends on the year the car is and the make. You have to have a new license plate every year or just a sticker to put on it stating the current year. And California is pretty expensive on license plates, about 3 times other states. My old Altima was cheap, my daughters New Lexus is a lot more than my Cruze.
Yes you don't see them anywhere these days Holly, since the MOT was introduced, I was talking about the 1960/70s when they were everywhere.
Despite the required inspections, including emissions tests, there are plenty of stinky, smoking vehicles on the road. Those drivers just know who to see/pay to buy an inspection tag, unlike the rest of us. I had an issue one time when I was living up in Houston, and somehow stumbled into a place where I was able to get by with a manual inspection on some technicality, when the computer wouldn't pass me. I'm glad you were able to get a clerk who wasn't a problem. Most workers in places like that actually have pretty good pay and benefits, so they should suck it up and deal with the public in a professional manner, or seek another type of work.
When I lived in Washington, they had inspections, too; but only when you lived in the larger cities. If you lived out in the country, or even a small town, then the inspection was not required. People who lived someplace that had inspections and had relatives elsewhere would license their vehicles from the relatives address so they could bypass the inspections. Thankfully, I always lived out in the country and wasn't required to go through all of those emissions tests when I lived out there.
Thanks for all the feedback, and I will just have to get what I need to make sure the truck is good to go on the smog check etc. I think it is called a "vent" valve that I need. I wish I were a mechanic (takin that in school instead Home-ec). Anyway, if it isn't one thing in life, it's another