Going Backwards or is It Forwards?
Vehicle Test
We got a new (new to us) car earlier this year and I only noticed a few days ago that it is due its annual vehicle test later this month. When we went to book the test, all the available dates were for August, which is well past the date the vehicle must be tested by. (Note: for anyone in the UK, we live in Northern Ireland, and vehicle tests are still done by the government here, not by local garages, which I am glad of, so we can't just pick another garage.)
Prosecuted
If you drive the vehicle on the road without a valid vehicle test certificate, you can be prosecuted, (and quite right too, the vehicle might not be roadworthy) which would mean that we couldn't use the car until we had the test done (once the vehicle test certificate for last year has expired, you can only drive the car to and from a test appointment). So we booked the first available test at our preferred centre, even though it is for August.
Automated
The vehicle test appointment system is automated, so once you have a test date booked, you can change it online if you want. I have been online every couple of hours and have now changed the test date to 28th of July and then 24th July. That date is still 3 days outside the expiry date for the current certificate but a lot better than over a week. I will check again soon and see if I can improve on that! 
BINGO!!!! I have now managed to get a date on the evening BEFORE the current vehicle test certificate expires
Backwards or Forwards?
Seeing as the date for the test has changed from early August to late July to earlier in July, it seems that Iam going backwards, but actually I am going forwards, because the test dates are earlier!
Hated Phrase
I could say I am "moving forwards" but that is such an overused phrase here at present (like the "Grass Roots" phrase from a few years ago) that I cannot bring myself to say it!
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/arrows-arrow-road-destination-167536/ by LincolnGroup
Comments
bestwriter wrote on July 8, 2015, 8:09 AM
Slowly slowly catchy monkey is a pharase that was coined in the UK. I am making use of it now. Backwards or forwards do it slowly (lol)
jiangliu1949 wrote on July 8, 2015, 8:21 AM
No matter whether it goes forwards or backwards,You can heave a sigh of relief .What surprises me is that you can change the test date online after booking it .
msiduri wrote on July 8, 2015, 8:29 AM
Isn't bureaucracy a wonderful impediment to daily life?
CoralLevang wrote on July 8, 2015, 8:53 AM
Ugh. Sounds like what I have to do soon. My tabs (for the car) and my drivers' license need to be renewed in a few weeks.
DWDavisRSL wrote on July 8, 2015, 11:42 AM
Perhaps by the end of the day you will have a test date inside your expiration window.
Kasman wrote on July 8, 2015, 5:13 PM
As you will know in the rest of the UK we are free to choose any garage which is qualified to do MOTs so your problem doesn't arise. My 5-year-old Kia sailed through its MOT just last week!
MegL wrote on July 8, 2015, 5:29 PM
That's good to know, I am sure you are glad about that. I am actually glad it is still a public service here in Northern Ireland. The vehicle testers have no incentive to fail your car just to make money!
Shellyann36 wrote on July 9, 2015, 11:52 PM
It is good that you thought to try and get dates closer. I might not would have thought about that.
AliCanary wrote on July 12, 2015, 10:26 PM
Whew! Good thing date, although really it wasn't your fault. My inspection date is coming up next month.