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An MOT is a mandatory annual car inspection (for vehicles which are three years old or more). It consists of dozens of individual tests, the net result of which will determine your vehicle’s roadworthiness. Here at Brayley Mazda, our technicians are authorised to carry out MOT examinations.
Every year, about 1.5 million vehicles fail their MOTs, often for very simple reasons. There’s a lot you can do to make sure this doesn’t happen – here are 10 examples.
1. Headlights and indicators
Test each exterior light individually: headlamps, indicators, sidelights, taillight and hazard lights.
2. Brake lights
To check that your brake lights are working properly, you can either ask a friend to look while you press the brake pedal, or position your vehicle close to a reflective surface and do it yourself.
3. License plates
Front and rear number plates should be clean and legible – and check that the font and letter/number spaces adhere to legal requirements.
4. Wheels and tyres
Check for any damage, and ensure that each tyre has a minimum 1.6mm tread depth – although most dealers recommend a tread depth of no less than 3mm.
5. Seats and seatbelts
The driver’s seat should move forwards and backwards without any issues. Check each seatbelt by extending fully – and tug on each to see if it’s likely to respond sufficiently in severe-braking conditions.
6. Windscreen
Clean the windscreen and look for imperfections. Defects directly in front of the driver that measure more than 10mm will cause an MOT fail. Elsewhere, any impediments to visibility larger than 40mm will also result in failure.
7. Windscreen wipers
Test both to see that they operate properly, and check for any damage to the wiper blades.
8. Screen wash
If you don’t have sufficient screen wash, your car could fail its MOT.
9. Horn
If the horn’s not working, you’ll need to have it repaired or replaced.
10. Fuel and engine oil
If you drive a petrol/diesel car, ensure that it has enough fuel in the tank for the emissions-test part of the MOT. Also, make sure that brake fluid and engine oil levels are topped up.
Please note: before carrying out any checks, ensure that your vehicle has cooled down sufficiently in order to avoid injury due to hot surfaces.
If it’s three years old or more, almost certainly. If you’re unsure, please check here: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status.
Roughly, 45 minutes to one hour.
If there are no serious issues and your previous MOT certificate is still valid, you’ll be able to drive your car away. However, any faults will need to be fixed before the MOT re-test.
If your vehicle has serious faults, you won’t be able to drive it away. We’ll happily provide you with a quote for repairs and we’ll seek your permission before carrying out any work.
Is it time for your car’s MOT? If the answer’s yes, please complete our online contact form and we’ll respond quickly to confirm details of your appointment.
