It is your duty as a driver to ensure the safety of your car on the roads. Your car, motorcycle, goods vehicle, or van needs to undergo a MOT test each year, regardless of the type of vehicle you own.
An MOT test which also known as the Ministry of Transport test, checks that your car or vehicle is safe to be on the road by ensuring it meets road safety and environmental standards.
The MOT test was first introduced in the 1960s, but since then it has undergone numerous expansions, improvements, and extensions to make sure it is the most thorough vehicle test possible and to avoid any accidents or mechanical failures while driving.
What is an MOT?
A car or vehicle needs to pass a MOT test every year when it turns three years old to make sure it complies with road safety and environmental criteria.
There are about 21,000 authorised test centres spread out across the nation that can perform a MOT test on your vehicle for you (look for the official blue sign with three white triangles).
Your car will go through a variety of inspections during a MOT test to ensure that it is safe to drive. To make sure everything is in working order so you can keep driving on the roads, these inspections range from checking your brakes to looking at the exhaust system. You must leave your car at the test location, then pick it up after it is finished, as the test typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The V5C Vehicle Registration Document and your most recent MOT certificate should be brought with you.
MOT Centre Checks
It’s important to note that an MOT test doesn’t cover or test the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. But it covers these car parts being tested:
The vehicle’s body, structural components, and general things will be examined to make sure there are no sharp edges or signs of severe corrosion or damage that could injure someone.
Towbars will be examined to make sure they are reliable and secure.
The exhaust system will be examined to make sure it is safe, complete, and in good shape; this includes making sure there are no leaks and that it is 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 car will be inspected to make sure it complies with exhaust emission regulations.
The condition, functionality, and suitability of the seatbelts will be examined to make sure they are appropriate for the vehicle.
The seatbelt pretensioners, seatbelt load limiters, and air bags will also be examined for any fault indicator lamps or dashboard warning lights.
To evaluate how well the brakes work and function, they will go through an efficiency test. The condition of the brakes, including any erroneous repairs or changes, will also be evaluated.
Wheels and tyres will be examined to determine their size, type, tread depth, security, and condition.
During a MOT test, the seats, doors, mirrors, load security, licence plates, lights, bonnet, wipers and washers, windscreen, horn, steering, and suspension are also thoroughly checked and inspected.
If your vehicle passes its MOT, a new, one-year MOT certificate will be given to you.
What are the Most Frequent Causes of MOT Test Failures for Vehicles Which can be Easily Avoided?
The majority of the time, minor issues or faults that the car owner might have easily fixed beforehand cause a vehicle to fail its MOT. Some of the most frequent causes for vehicles to fail a MOT include:
- Screen wash not kept topped up
It just takes a few minutes to top up your car’s screen wash, but failing to do so could affect the outcome of your MOT test. Before your next MOT test, top up your screen wash to avoid being found short.
- Registration plate problems
Your MOT may be affected by a variety of registration plate concerns, such as a dirty registration plate or one with the wrong typography or spacing. Many people enjoy having personalised licence plates, but it’s crucial to ensure sure your personalised plate complies with the DVLA’s standards and abides by the guidelines.
- Dashboard warning lights
One method to fail a MOT test is to show up with a lit-up warning indicator on your dashboard. Make sure you understand what each warning light on your car signifies before the MOT, and if any of them are on, be sure to fix the problem before the test!
- Stickers obstructing the driver’s view
Make sure anything you need to attach to the windscreen, like a parking permit, is entirely outside the wiper’s sweep area. Also, any stickers should be placed such that they don’t obstruct the driver’s field of vision in any way.
Be sure to fix all of the aforementioned problems before your MOT test because, believe it or not, they are some of the most basic yet frequent causes of MOT failures.
- What happens if my car fails its MOT?
If your vehicle fails its MOT, the test centre will issue you a VT30 Certificate, which will list the reasons why it failed. The defects will be categorised in the certificate as dangerous, major, or minor.
You won’t be able to drive your car that day. Instead, you’ll need to choose a reputable garage to handle the required repairs. The garage where you had your MOT test will, more often than not, be able to handle the repairs for you, but if you want to make sure you’re getting the greatest value for your money, it can be worthwhile to compare prices for MOT repairs in your area.
If your car has a significant defect and is still considered to be roadworthy and your prior MOT has not yet expired, you might be able to drive it away. You can drive your car to get the problems fixed and to a scheduled MOT even if your MOT has expired and it is still safe to drive. Under any other circumstances, driving without a MOT can result in a £2,500 fine, a driving prohibition, and three points on your licence.