This has never happened to me before.
We tried to renew the tax on the van yesterday, you can do it online now, the sharp reply was that the MOT ran out in June! I couldn't believe I had overlooked it for so long! Dug out all paperwork, checked accounts records, checked cheque stubs....Yep, no MOT since June. Had to take most of today off just to try and get an MOT test. Ended up costing me £45 and they failed it!!! Scumbags.
It failed on the passenger seatbelt not holding fast under pressure!
Wanted £150 to replace the seatbelt stork and clip, couldn't do it till friday, hence keep the van till then! No thanks mate. I took it to a guy down the road, he cleaned out the clip holder with his airline and tweezers. It was full of dust and paper.
Charged me £15

Still better than £150. Free retest tomorrow, more time off.
Save money! Get things done when they need doing.
Pj