Vehicles must pass a Ministry of Transport (MOT) inspection to ensure that they satisfy legal road safety and environmental requirements. An MOT testing service comprises a number of inspections on your vehicle, including brakes, fuel tank, lights, windows, seatbelts, windshield wipers, and exhaust system. Let’s have a look at everything you need to know about mot.
Is Servicing my Car Before Mot Important?
It’s possible for your car to pass its MOT without even being serviced. If you opt to skip maintaining your automobile completely, you will not be able to detect minor problems before they become significant problems that will cost you a lot of money to cure.
The basic, regular maintenance and repair routine of replacing lights, wipers, and tyres might help your vehicle pass its MOT test and by doing that almost half of all problems identified on MOT testing could be avoided. Cars that are low on screen wash might fail their MOT test, so don’t let little errors like this result in a failed MOT when you could easily fix the problem yourself.
When Do I Need To Get an MOT Test?
A vehicle will require its first MOT test when it is 3 years old from the date of issuance, and it will need to be recertified every year on the anniversary of its last MOT test. You’ll receive a MOT test certificate with the date of the test and the expiration date so you’ll know when the vehicle needs a new MOT.
Provided your automobile fails its MOT, you may only drive it away if your current MOT certification remains valid and the new report from the failed MOT shows no ‘hazardous’ issues. Otherwise, you’ll have to get it fixed before you can drive again.
How Long Does an MOT Test Take?
An MOT test takes 45 to 60 mins, but if your vehicle fails the test and needs maintenance, it will take more time to fix the problems. It’s worth mentioning that if your car fails its MOT and is deemed undriveable, it’s unsafe to drive and might result in points being added to your licence. As a result, it is best suggested that any issues be rectified before driving the car away. The MOT retest will be required after the vehicle’s problems have been resolved.
Aside from failing, a MOT test can also result in warning remarks. Advisory notes identify issues with the vehicle that need to be addressed but aren’t serious enough to result in a MOT failure.
How Can I Prepare for an MOT Test?
Many vehicles fail a MOT because of minor faults that might have been easily avoided before the test. You amaze what may cause an MOT to fail, some issues are trivial. It’s a good idea to compile a MOT checklist a few weeks before the check date to ensure that your car is in the best possible condition. It will allow you to address any concerns ahead of time and prevent any uncomfortable situations if the vehicle fails the test. But, it’s worth noting that if your car fails its MOT, you won’t be able to maintain your renewal date.
Is It Worth Getting a Service With an MOT?
It’s recommended to complete the MOT first when scheduling a service and a MOT for your automobile. Since some of the issues detected during a service will also be reported during a MOT, having the MOT completed first can save you time and effort.
Even when a car passes its MOT, a service can reveal other issues early on, allowing you to address them before they become a much more expensive problem later on. Not just that, but all of the essentials, such as oil changes, fluid top-ups, and brake inspections, are required parts of a service that are not covered by the MOT.
Conclusion:
MOT tests assist authorities in distinguishing between healthy and unfit cars, allowing for greater patrolling security and reduction in accidents. If a vehicle fails the MOT test, it must be tested again. It is not permitted to operate on public highways without a clearance certificate. So, having an MOT is a safety guard for others as well as for you.