Can a Mechanic Collect a Car That’s Not Taxed?

Can a mechanic collect my car if it’s untaxed? Can my car be collected if it has no tax? Can I drive my car to the garage without tax?

🚗 A vehicle must be taxed to be legally driven on public roads, but there are a few exceptions.

🔹 Driving to a Pre-Booked MOT Test: If your vehicle does not have road tax, you can still drive it to a pre-booked MOT appointment, as a valid MOT is required before you can tax the vehicle.

🔹 Trade Plates Exception: Some mechanics or garages may use trade plates to collect vehicles, but only if:

✔ The vehicle is roadworthy (safe to drive)

✔ The vehicle is insured

✔ The vehicle has a valid MOT (or is exempt from needing one)

📌 If your vehicle is untaxed and does not meet these exceptions, you may need to arrange for transport on a recovery vehicle instead.