As a driver,
it’s your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is safe on the roads. No
matter what type of vehicle you have, whether it’s a car, motorcycle, goods
vehicle or van, your vehicle is required to go through an MOT test every year.
An MOT test, also known as the Ministry of Transport test, checks that your
vehicle is safe and roadworthy and ensures it meets road safety and
environmental standards.
The MOT test
was first introduced in the 1960s, however, since then, it has been expanded,
improved and extended many times to ensure it is the most comprehensive vehicle
test possible and to prevent any accidents and breakdowns on the road.
Whether you’ve just passed your test and you’re wondering about the importance
of an MOT or you’ve bought a new car and you’re wondering whether you need it
checked over, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we take a look
at exactly what an MOT is and why it’s so important.
What is an MOT?
Once a car
is three years old, it must undergo an MOT test
every year to ensure it meets
road safety and environmental standards. There are around 21,000 authorised
test centres dotted across the country (look out for the official blue sign
featuring three white triangles) who can carry out an MOT test on your vehicle
for you.
An MOT test
consists of lots of different checks on your car to make sure it’s roadworthy.
These tests range from testing your brakes to examining the exhaust system,
ensuring it’s all up to scratch so you can continue driving on the roads. On
average, the test takes around 45-60 minutes and you’ll need to drop your
vehicle off at the test centre and then collect it again when it’s ready. You
should make sure you have your current MOT certificate and V5C Vehicle
Registration Document to bring with you.
MOT centre checklist
It’s
important to note that an MOT test
doesn’t cover or test the condition of the
engine, clutch or gearbox. However, the following car parts are tested:
● Body, vehicle structure and general items
will be inspected to check they’re
free from excessive corrosion and damage and there are no sharp edges to cause
injury.
● Towbars
will
be inspected to ensure they are secure and in good condition.
● The exhaust system
will be inspected to check it’s secure, complete and in good condition -
this means no leaks and it’s not too noisy.
● The fuel system
will be inspected to check there are no leaks, the fuel cap fastens and
seals securely and the pipes are secure and in good condition.
●The vehicle will be inspected to
check it meets the rules for exhaust
emissions
.
● Seatbelts
will
be checked to ensure they are suitable for the vehicle, in good condition and
working properly. Any malfunction
indicator lamps
or dashboard warning lights will also be checked for the
seatbelt pretensioners, seatbelt load limiters and air bags.
● The brakes
will
undergo an efficiency test to assess their operation and performance. The
brakes will also be tested for their condition, including any inappropriate
repairs or modifications.
● Tyres and wheels
will be inspected to assess their condition, security, size and type and
tread depth.
Other car
parts that are thoroughly tested and inspected during an MOT test include the
seats, doors, mirrors, load security, registration plates, lights, bonnet,
wipers and washers, windscreen, horn and the steering and suspension. If your car
passes its MOT, you’ll be issued with a new MOT certificate which is valid for
a year.
What are the most common reasons for vehicles
failing an MOT test that could be easily avoided?
More often
than not, a vehicle fails its MOT because of small problems or faults that
could have easily been rectified by the car owner beforehand. Some of the most
common reasons for cars failing an MOT include:
Screen wash not topped up
Topping up
your vehicle’s screen wash literally takes minutes to do - but failing to do so
can impact the results of your MOT test. Make sure your screen wash is topped
up before your next MOT test
to avoid getting caught out.
Issues with the registration plate
There are
lots of registration plate problems that can cause issues with your MOT, from
your registration plate being dirty to the incorrect typeface or spacing. Lots
of people like to have personalised plates, however, it’s important you make
sure your personalised plate meets the requirements of the DVLA and follows the
rules.
Lit-up warning dashboard light
Turning up
to an MOT test with a lit-up warning sign on your dashboard is one way to fail
it. Before your vehicle’s MOT, make sure you’re clued up on what each warning
light means - and if any of your lights are showing, make sure you get the
issue sorted before the MOT!
Stickers obstructing the driver’s view
If you need
to stick anything on the windscreen, such as a parking permit, make sure it’s
completely outside of the wiper’s sweep area. Any stickers should also be
placed so that they are not blocking the driver’s view in any way.
Make sure
all the above issues are rectified before your MOT test - believe or not,
they’re some of the most simple yet common reasons for MOT fails.
What happens if my car fails its MOT?
If your
vehicle fails its MOT, you’ll be given a VT30 Certificate by the test centre
, which will state the reasons why
your vehicle has failed. The certificate will categorise the faults as either
dangerous, major or minor.
If your car
has a dangerous fault, you won’t be able to drive it away that day. Instead,
you’ll need to find a professional garage to complete the necessary repairs for
you. More often than not, the garage that performed your MOT test will be able
to complete the repairs for you - but if you want to ensure you’re getting the
best value for money, it may be worth shopping around for a few quotes for MOT
repairs near you.
If your car
has a major fault, you may be able to drive it away if it’s still classed as
roadworthy and your previous MOT has not yet expired. If your MOT has run out,
yet your car is still roadworthy, you can drive it to have the faults repaired
and to a pre-booked MOT. If you drive your car without an MOT under any other
circumstances, you can be fined up £2,500, be banned from driving and get three
points on your driving licence.
Acorn Tyres: Cost-Effective MOT Test and
Service Centre
At Acorn
Tyres and Servicing, we’re here to help keep your vehicle roadworthy and legal
with our MOT testing services in Aylesbury. Our experienced and skilled
mechanics will carefully inspect every component of your vehicle to ensure your
car is as safe as possible when you leave. We provide a broad range of
automobile servicing options and you can rest assured we never cut corners in
terms of quality when it comes to vehicle safety.
For trustworthy MOT testing near you, don’t
hesitate to visit us today.
Visit our website
to learn more about our other services.
