Is an MOT a valid requirement?
The MOT (Ministry of Transport test) is an annual safety inspection which ensures that your vehicle is in compliance with the minimum standards of road safety and exhaust emissions levels set in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA which is also known as VOSA).
During the test, crucial parts of your vehicle will be inspected to determine if they comply with the legal requirements and it is safe for driving. In May, 2018, new MOT regulations stipulate that any faults are classified as dangerous, serious or minor.
If your vehicle has passed its MOT, it could have minor issues (which need to be rectified promptly to stop it from becoming worse). The test may also come with advisories. This means you must be aware of the problem and fix it when it becomes more severe.
Does my car require an MOT?
If your vehicle is more than 3 years old it is legally required to pass an MOT. If you find it difficult to remember when your MOT expires you can sign up to receive government-issued reminders via SMS or via email.
Without a valid MOT your vehicle will not be considered roadworthy. You will not be eligible to renew your car tax or insurance. ultimately you’ll not be able to drive your vehicle.
What are the tasks performed by an MOT?
While the MOT doesn’t examine the condition of the engine or the gearbox, it will examine other essential elements of your vehicle and you must be on top of your vehicle’s maintenance in order to get it passed.
The MOT test will check parts of the vehicle along with the structure of the vehicle as well as the general state of repair of the vehicle and ensure that it’s not suffering of excessive damage in any specific areas. They’ll also check tow bars, exhaust systems for fuel and seats, seat belts doors, mirrors brakes, load security as well as tyres/wheels and lights. the bonnet, windscreen, washers and wipers, the horn, suspension/steering and electrical components.
It’s quite an awful lot of things, and could be difficult to manage What do you do to ensure that all these things are operating properly every day?
In reality, there are parts of your vehicle which you aren’t capable of checking yourself; However, there are components that you can examine and make sure that they’re in good working order and in perfect operational before you take them to the MOT station as you may be unable to pass on a minor issue that is quite simple to resolve.
How do you pass an MOT?
The solution is simply taking care of your vehicle and making sure that all the essential items are in good in good working order prior to going for a garage.
Here’s the list of 10 simple tasks to complete before taking your car to the garage to have an MOT.
1. Check Brake Fluid
The Cheltenham MOT checklist begins with brake fluid. Remove your car’s bonnet make sure that your vehicle is in a safe position in a cool, cool engine and on a level surface. Then, look for the master piston.
There will be markings that state “min” and “max” The fluid inside the container must be in between these two guidelines. If it’s below, you must fill it up. You can buy brake fluid at the nearest car shop and make sure it’s the right fluid for the model and make of your car and you will locate this information in the manual of your vehicle.
Before closing the cap, make sure you check what the state of your brake liquid is. It must be clear or have an amber color, but it could turn brown as it ages. If this happens then you’ll have to replace the fluid in your brakes. It is possible to conduct an additional extensive test by purchasing chemical strips and then dipping them into brake fluid.
After you’ve completed all your tests, make sure to completely shut off the bonnet.
2. Make sure you check the mirrors.
To successfully pass your MOT test it is necessary to possess your required mirrors. This includes one inside plus one outside mirror.
As per the instruction manual of the MOT there are three rear-view mirror angles:
A mirror on the outside or device that offers views of the side of your vehicle.
A mirror on the outside or device that allows a view of the rear or rear of the automobile.
A mirror inside or any other device that provides views to from the back side of the automobile.
When you check your car’s mirrors make sure that none of them have been damaged, thereby severely affecting the view of your car or exposing damaged edges.
3. Make sure you check all Warning Lights
We’d like to imagine that if a red light appeared in your car’s dashboard you’d look through your manual for your car to figure out what the issue was and then get it scheduled to have it fixed quickly.
But, if you’ve let this issue go, there’s not a better time for you to wait until the moment is right to fix it. The issue will be discovered during your MOT, and will result in a failure in the event that you don’t do it before you start and don’t let a risky issue continue to linger.
It’s known as the’malfunction indicator light test’. It was first came into force in 2012 following an amendment in the European testing directive. It’s a straightforward test. If you test the ignition and the warning lights turn up, you’ll not pass the MOT test, in addition to the possibility of having an additional cost for the garage to look into and figure out the reason for the lights.
4. Make sure that the tires have enough tread
The MOT isn’t the only reason to be on top of your tread on your tyres. It’s vital that your car has the right tread depths as, if they’ve removed, it could impact your stopping distance, especially when it’s raining.
If you’re on the road in a vehicle with tyres less than the minimum depth, you could be subject to the possibility of a fine of up PS2,500 , and 3 penalty points for each tyre.
UK driving laws demand that your car be equipped with the correct size tyre and type, as well as the tyres are suitable to be used.
The legal minimum tread for tyres within the UK is 1.6mm in a continuous band around the middle three-quarters on the side of the tyre.
You can quickly test the tread on your tyres using the aid of a coin worth 20p. Just take the coin and put it in the grooves in the tyre. You shouldn’t be able observe the outside part of the coin if the tires are in the limit of legal. If you are able to see the outer band on the side of your coin your tyres may be dangerous, and it’s recommended that you have them checked and replaced by a professional prior to your MOT.
5. Check to see if your lights are In Working Order
Similar to your mirrors, there are lamps that must be operating on your vehicle to be able to pass your MOT. These are the rear and front-position lamps. The precise location of these lamps do not count in the examination, but it is recommended to verify that both lamps are at the same height and they’re functional, unobstructed and in good shape.
6. Test Your Horn
Perhaps the most simple and quick test to perform it’s likely to be the most straightforward, and If this test didn’t go as planned then you’d be aware of it and been able to fix the issue. As you’re conducting your complete pre-MOT check make sure you check the Horn.
7. Make Sure Your Car Has Enough oil
The oil test is a crucial element of an MOT since without it, garages cannot examine the emission levels.
You can test this by having a look beneath the bonnet. Like you do when testing your brake fluid conduct this test with the engine off , cool, with the car is parked on an level, level surface.
Find the dipstick, then pull it out. Wipe off any oil that has accumulated to make sure you’re starting with a clean piece of equipment. Then put the dipstick back in , and remove it once more. The oil should be lying between the’min” and’max’ marks across the dipstick. If not then it’s time to refill your oil.
Being on top of this is essential for the safety of your car to ensure that the oil doesn’t degrade and block your car’s filters. It’s good to know that the process of changing oil affordable and simple to perform and if you discover the oil needs to be changed prior to the MOT, it will be dealt with in a short time.
8. Give Your Windscreen a second chance
Windscreens are a difficult area to determine because some marks pass an MOTtest, whereas other marks won’t.
Theoretically speaking, so it isn’t larger than 10 millimeters in size and isn’t blocking the driver’s view , or either side, on which the driver is or in the event that the mark is not more than 40mm in the other side of the windscreen it should be fine. This includes chips or cracks, as well as serious scratches. If you are unsure, have it checked by a certified professional.
When you’re checking your windscreen be sure to make sure whether your wash reservoir is filled with enough liquid as well as that the wipers you use are in good condition.
9. Make sure your vehicle is cleaned
It might seem like something that isn’t necessary however it’s a great idea to make it an element of final check. You won’t be able to pass your MOT test if your vehicle is dirty. However, you should make sure that your number plates are free of dirt so they’re clear to read, and the lights aren’t obscured due to smudges on the glass.
10. Maintain a Top-of-the-Line Maintenance All Year Long
The requirement to undergo an MOT can be the only way to remind you to test the condition of certain components of your car. However, we advise you to keep track of your vehicle’s maintenance all through the year, to maintain your car’s performance and also keep your vehicle as safe as you can. If you don’t take care of your car maintenance, it can be a risky accident just waiting to occur.
What happens if your vehicle is not able to pass its MOT?
Your car could fail its MOT if there are major or serious defects. The car isn’t allowed to be driven until unsafe defects have been fixed. The major faults should be repaired in the shortest time possible.
Your vehicle fails its current MOT during the current MOT timeframe
If you’re getting a brand new MOT after expiry of the previous one You can take your vehicle away to have major issues fixed however, not if it is faulty and has dangerous faults.
Your car is not passing its latest MOT test, but the previous one is expired.
The latest time you can take your MOT test off is when the old one expires. This is because driving without an MOT violates the law and could cause your insurance to be cancelled. If your vehicle fails to pass its MOT test on the day that it is due to expire, you are able to leave it the next day to have it repaired , provided that it doesn’t have unsafe faults.
Do electric vehicles require an MOT?
Yes. As with all other vehicles once it’s three years of age, electrical vehicles are required to be tested annually. The only difference is that the emission test isn’t included in the MOT for electric vehicles.
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