Hybrid Mot's

[MEP's Yaris GS]

Silly question time, are garages other than main dealers able to MOT Toyota hybrids?

Are they able to do the emissions and brake tests on a Toyota Hybrid just like they would any other car, or does it need to be done at a main dealer due to the regenerative breaking system and the fact that when warm the engine does run at idle to enable emissions testing?

[IanIanIanIan]

Any MOT station will do it.

Don't forget to ask for a discount as many things like emission tests are excluded as unnecessary, so the test takes less time. My last one on a NHW20 was £28 from a specialist MOT only centre.

[MEP's Yaris GS]

Oh interesting, so they don't actually test the emissions on a Hybrid then?

Only reason for asking is I normally use a local place that are £35 and very good, just got a ate for fixed price servicing from main dealer and they want just under £55 for each MOT and have included 3 within the quote. So think I'll be having those removed from the price quoted as I've no issue having MOTs done elsewhere.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Doubt whether DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) would accept restrictions on where particular vehicles can have their MOT's done.

[PeteB]

Hybrids were exempted when the first Prius was launched as DoT didn't know a Hybrid petrol engine could be forced to run, and would therefore able to be tested with an exhaust gas analyzer!

If you press the accelerator while in P (in Ready Mode, of course), the engine will start running (if it isn't already). If you select N whilst it is running, it will stay running until either you switch off, shift out of N, or run out of petrol!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

But you can't adjust the revs correctly.

I had my mot done last month and it was £35 and obviously passed no worries. The brake test is the same as any car and there is no emissions test for the reasons already given.

The Prius can be serviced and mot'd as normal, though considering the number of numpties I've come across who can't disengage the handbrake, or actually start the car is mind blowing. When I take the car in for tyres I'll ask if they want me to explain the handbrake etc and I get a knowing tut and raising of eyebrows. Five minutes later they sheepishly come back to the waiting room as ask how they start the car, only to be told it's already running!?! If they're that stupid, you really don't want them doing an oil change! Tyre fitment is one thing, anything else is for a TRUSTED garage and their best mechanic OR your friendly main dealer.

[johalareewi]

though considering the number of numpties I've come across who can't disengage the handbrake, or actually start the car is mind blowing

I leave the 'how to start and stop your prius' card in the car for them to read.

I also leave the foot operated handbrake off so they just have to start it, move it, turn it off, change the tyres, start it, move it, turn it off.

They seem to be getting the hang of it but the card acts as a reminder because they don't get many hybrids at the local tyre shop.

[Sagitar]

But you can't adjust the revs correctly.

I had my mot done last month and it was £35 and obviously passed no worries. The brake test is the same as any car and there is no emissions test for the reasons already given.

The Prius can be serviced and mot'd as normal, though considering the number of numpties I've come across who can't disengage the handbrake, or actually start the car is mind blowing. When I take the car in for tyres I'll ask if they want me to explain the handbrake etc and I get a knowing tut and raising of eyebrows. Five minutes later they sheepishly come back to the waiting room as ask how they start the car, only to be told it's already running!?! If they're that stupid, you really don't want them doing an oil change! Tyre fitment is one thing, anything else is for a TRUSTED garage and their best mechanic OR your friendly main dealer.

You are braver than I am. If I take mine into a tyre shop, I insist on staying with the car. Twice I have had to stop staff from using a floor jack at a point that would have damaged the car. When I take the car in and offer to point out the front and rear jacking points, I get the same "eye-rolling" response that you have described.

[Chris Dance]

On my first Gen 2 Prius I took it to a non Toyota garage for a minor repair quote. They needed to assess it in their workshop. None of their staff had a clue on how to start the car or its basic operation. I will only let a Toyota dealer service our Prius. If push came to shove and I had to use a non Toyota dealer I would stay with car as previously suggested. Some Toyota Dealers do have the MOT test done at other MOT Centres if anything goes wrong then the Toyota dealer is responsible.

On my previous Prius car service the underside of the car was slightly damaged by a jack. I complained and it was sorted by the dealer.

[MEP's Yaris GS]

On my previous Prius car service the underside of the car was slightly damaged by a jack. I complained and it was sorted by the dealer.

Out of interest did you notice this when collected with the car still on site, or at a later date and then return the car to mention it?

[Grumpy Cabbie]

though considering the number of numpties I've come across who can't disengage the handbrake, or actually start the car is mind blowing

I leave the 'how to start and stop your prius' card in the car for them to read.

I also leave the foot operated handbrake off so they just have to start it, move it, turn it off, change the tyres, start it, move it, turn it off.

They seem to be getting the hang of it but the card acts as a reminder because they don't get many hybrids at the local tyre shop.

lol, I do that. I leave that little card pride of place on the front seat next to the locking wheel nuts and leave the handbrake off. You can guarantee some ****wit will press the handbrake pedal and spend minutes looking for the hand lever to disengage it.

You have to spoon feed them and then some.

And that's before the horror stories of garages leaving the car on a ramp in Drive with the handbrake on, the car in Ready when the oil was drained because "the engine is off so it'll be fine right?". Agghhh it's a minefield.

That's why I generally use my main dealers, though even they messed up fitting new tyres by sticking steel wheel weights on!?!?! WTF? A genuine mistake by a new person apparently -

[MEP's Yaris GS]

And that's before the horror stories of garages leaving the car on a ramp in Drive with the handbrake on, the car in Ready when the oil was drained because "the engine is off so it'll be fine right?". Agghhh it's a minefield.

Actually quite worrying now you've said that!!

[Chris Dance]

Reference my previous comment:

I noticed the damage caused by a jack to the underside of our Prius 3-4 days after the service whilst i was cleaning the car. It was hard to spot unless you got low down. It was the passenger side lower sill that got damaged. The service manager inspected the car when I complained. He stated " that these things can happen but we will put it right!!" I was not pleased but got it put right without any hassle.

[Duffryn]

Flew off on holiday from Gatwick recently, leaving my car in the custody of Maple Manor Parking there. I said to the guy on the desk that I hoped their drivers were familiar with Prius controls, his response being a nonchalant sigh, even so I was very relieved to get back 10 days later and find my car in sound order. Plenty of Prii around in that area though, so I suppose his response was fair enough.

Even so I think I spent more time on holiday fretting about my damn car than I did enjoying the sunshine. Sad or what?

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Reference my previous comment:

I noticed the damage caused by a jack to the underside of our Prius 3-4 days after the service whilst i was cleaning the car. It was hard to spot unless you got low down. It was the passenger side lower sill that got damaged. The service manager inspected the car when I complained. He stated " that these things can happen but we will put it right!!" I was not pleased but got it put right without any hassle.

It's not always the problem but how they correct it that matters. Same with my issue with the wrong weights. The immediately corrected the issue and thankfully the alloys weren't damaged. No problems.

[PeteB]

Absolutely - sometimes a firm can be so brilliant putting right a problem it's more impressive than if they'd simply got it right in the first place!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Absolutely - sometimes a firm can be so brilliant putting right a problem it's more impressive than if they'd simply got it right in the first place!

lol, no. But mistakes happen so it's how they correct them that matters, but tis much better that a mistake wasn't made in the first place.

[PeteB]

Absolutely - sometimes a firm can be so brilliant putting right a problem it's more impressive than if they'd simply got it right in the first place!

lol, no. But mistakes happen so it's how they correct them that matters, but tis much better that a mistake wasn't made in the first place.

I know where you're coming from, but I'm thinking of a few specific examples, one of which was a car my father bought from a small family garage in the 1980s. I'd bought the same model a year earlier, and was very impressed with the car and the dealer. They never put a foot wrong.

My Dad's car, however, was delivered with three glaring faults - bolt missing that held the bottom of a front wing in place, the cowling on the steering column not screwed down, and I forget what the other thing was.

I rang them and said how disappointed and let down I felt after having persuaded my Dad he would be well looked after by them. They rang him, asked him to bring the car in whatever day he liked, lent him a car (not so common then), gave his car a very thorough going over to make sure nothing else had been missed. Cleaned it inside and out, waxed it. When he returned, their MD took took him around the car, pointed out everything they'd rechecked, took him for a drive round the block to make sure he was completely happy. Gave him his personal phone number and said Dad was free to call him directly in the unlikely event of any other problems (there never were any for the next 9 years).

Yes, they should have got it right first time, but if they had, we'd have just been completely satisfied instead of supremely impressed!