A History Of The MOT

Buckinghamshire may be a great place to drive , but nothing is more likely to elicit a groan from a car-owner, than when his or her annual MOT comes around. The MOT (Ministry Of Transport car test inspection) is often a stressful exercise that can put a severe dent in your finances but is nonetheless a necessary test to ensure that automobiles are safe for you and your fellow drivers.

The MOT test was introduced in 1960 and was originally just a simple test of a vehicle’s brakes, lights and steering and was only carried out once it was ten years old, and then and every year after. It soon became known as the ‘ten year test’ but its high rate of failures led to the vehicle testing age to be lowered to seven years the following year. By 1962 a commercial vehicle test was applied as well as a valid certificate requirement to receive a tax disk. In 1983 taxis, ambulances and large vehicles with at least eight passenger seats had their testable age changed to just one year.

Since 1960, the vehicle components in checks has dramatically risen.

1968 - Tyre tests

1977 - Tests of windscreen wipers and washers, brake lights, horns, direction indicators, exhaust systems and the condition of the body structure and the chassis

1991 – Tests of the emissions test for cars with a petrol engine, combined with tests on the anti-lock braking system, rear wheel bearings, rear wheel steering and rear seat belts

1992 – More stringent tyre tread depth requirement for the majority of vehicles

1994 – Emission tests for diesel engine vehicles

2005 – The introduction of a computerised administration system for issuing non-secure test certificates.

2012 – Tests of secondary restraint systems, ESC, battery and wiring, speedometers and steering locks.

Acorn Tyres

If you live in Aylesbury or the Stokes Mandeville region and want to get your automobile fixed, there is only one garage that you should pick - Acorn Tyres . Every one of our team is highly dedicated in their role and possess the expertise and experience to make sure that your automobile is back on the road before you know it. Acorn Tyres specialise at brakes & exhausts, tyre sales, MOT testing, fitting and vehicles services. We are honoured to have developed a superb reputation as a reliable garage that has served the local area faithfully for years and years. Our mission is to reach the lofty standards that our clients expect of us - and then go beyond it! We provide only the best first-rate garage services for all makes and models of vehicles whilst giving unbeatable customer service.

Contact us for a free quote today or give us a call on 01296 612 075 for a talk about what we can do for you.