How do you pass an MOT?

What exactly is an MOT?

A MOT (Ministry of Transport test) is an annual safety test to ensure that your vehicle meets the safety standards for road traffic and exhaust emissions levels set in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA or, more commonly, VOSA).

During this test, the most important parts of the vehicle are inspected to make sure they are in compliance with the legal requirements and it is safe for driving. In May 2018, the new MOT regulations mean that any defect are classified as serious, significant or minor.

If your vehicle has passed its MOT, it could be able to fix minor problems (which must be addressed immediately to stop it from becoming worse). It may also pass with advisories, meaning you need to be aware of the problem and fix it when it becomes more serious.

Do I need to renew my car’s MOT?

If your vehicle is older than 3 years old it is legally required to pass a Cheltenham MOT. If you find it difficult to remember when the MOT is due you can sign up to receive government-issued reminders via SMS or via email.

Without a valid MOT your vehicle isn’t roadworthy. You will not be allowed to renew your vehicle insurance or tax, and ultimately you’ll not be able to drive your vehicle.

What are the tasks performed by an MOT?

Although the MOT doesn’t check the condition of your engine or the gearbox, it will take a look at the other major elements of your vehicle and you must be on top of your vehicle’s maintenance in order to get it passed.

The MOT tester will examine parts of the vehicle along with the structure of the vehicle as well as the overall condition of the vehicle making sure it’s safe of excessive damage in any specific areas. They’ll also examine tow bars, exhaust systems for fuel and seats, seatbelts doors, mirrors brakes, load security as well as tyres/wheels and lights. the bonnet, windscreen, washers/wipers, the horn suspension/steering and electrical components.

It’s 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 in a position to inspect yourself. However, there are components you can check and ensure that they’re in good shape and in functioning before you go to your MOT or else you might be unable to pass on a minor issue that is quite simple to resolve.

How do you pass an MOT?

The solution is simply maintaining your car and making sure that all the essential items are in good condition prior to going into the garage.

Here’s 10 easy tasks to complete before scheduling your car to have an MOT.

1. Check Brake Fluid

The MOT checklist begins by checking the brake fluid. Unlock your car’s bonnet ensure that the car is shut down and running cool sitting on a flat surface. Then, look for the master piston.

There will be markings that state “min” and “max” The fluid inside the container should be within these two directions. If it’s below, ensure you replenish it. You can purchase brake fluid at the local auto shop however, make sure that it’s the right fluid for the model and make of your car You are likely to discover this information within the owner’s manual for your vehicle.

Before closing the cap, make sure you check what the state of your brake liquid is. It is expected to be clear or have an amber hue, although it could turn brown with age. If that’s the case then you’ll have to replace your brake fluid. It is possible to conduct an even more extensive test by purchasing chemical strips and placing them into brake fluid.

After you’ve completed all your tests, remember to close the bonnet completely.

2. Check the Mirrors

To get your MOT passed You must be able to pass the test with your mandatory mirrors. This is a requirement for one interior as well as one side mirror.

As per the instruction manual of the MOT there are three rear-view mirror angles:

A mirror on the outside or other device that gives an image of the outside or rear of the car.
An exterior mirror or other device that allows a view of the side of the car.
A mirror inside or device that gives an image of back of the car.

If you are checking the mirrors of your car make sure that none of them are damaged and severely hindering the view of your car or exposing damaged edges.

3. Be sure to check for all Warning Lights

We’d like to imagine that, if a warning indicator was visible in your car’s dashboard you’d look through your manual for your car to determine what the issue was and then get it scheduled for repair as quickly as possible.

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 and it’s best to take it care of before 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 update in the European testing directive. It’s a straightforward test. If the tester switches on the ignition and the warning light comes on, you’ll not pass the MOT test, and likely being charged an additional fee for the garage to look into and determine what the light is indicating.

4. Check that your tires have enough tread

The MOT isn’t the only reason to keep an eye on the tread of your tyres. It’s essential that your vehicle has the right tread depths as, if they’ve damaged, it can 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 may be subject to an amount of fine up to 3 penalty points and PS2500 for each tyre.

UK driving laws demand that your vehicle is equipped with the correct size tyre and type, and the tyres fit to be used.

The minimum legal tread of tyres for tyres in the UK is 1.6mm and is 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 place it inside the grooves in the tyre. You shouldn’t be able discern the exterior edge of the coin, if your tires are in the limit of legal. If you are able to see the outer band that is visible on the coins, your tyres may be unsafe, which is why it’s recommended that you have them checked and replaced by a professional prior to the MOT.

5. Check to see if your lights are Running

Similar to your mirrors, there are lamps that must be functioning on your vehicle to be able to pass your MOT. These are the rear- and front-position lamps. The precise position of these lamps will not constitute part of the inspection, however it is recommended to verify the lamps are of the same height and they’re functioning, unobstructed and in good shape.

6. Test Your Horn

It’s probably the easiest and fastest test you can do It’s likely that should this fail it would be obvious of the issue and been able to fix the issue. As you’re conducting your complete pre-MOT check ensure that you test the Horn.

7. Make Sure Your Car Has Enough oil

The oil test is an essential element of an MOT since without it, garages cannot examine the emission levels.

It is possible to check this by taking a quick glance underneath the bonnet. Similar to when you test for brake fluid perform this test with the engine off , cool, and the vehicle is parked on an smooth, flat surface.

Locate the dipstick and take it out. Wipe off any oil that has accumulated to ensure you start with a clean piece of equipment. After that put the dipstick back into the oil and then remove it again. The oil should be lying between the’min” and’max’ marks in the dipstick. If not you need to fill up your oil.

Being on top of this is essential for the safety of your car to ensure that the oil doesn’t get ruined and cause clogging of your vehicle’s filters. The good news is that replacing your engine oil can be affordable and easy to perform and if you discover the oil needs to be changed prior to the MOT, it will be done in a matter of minutes.

8. Give Your Windscreen a second chance

Windscreens are a difficult area to judge because certain marks can pass an MOTtest, whereas others will not.

Theoretically speaking, so the mark isn’t larger than 10 millimeters in size and does not block the view of the driver or either side, on which the driver is or in the event that the mark is not greater than 40mm across the remainder of the windscreen, you’re safe. This includes chips or cracks, as well as serious scratches. If you’re not sure, get it checked by a certified professional.

While you’re checking your windshield be sure to make sure that your wash reservoir contains enough liquid inside in addition to ensuring that the wipers in good condition.

9. Clean Your Car

It might seem like an unnecessary step however it’s a great idea to make it an element of final inspection. You won’t fail your MOT if the vehicle is dirtier than normal. However, you should ensure that the number plates are free of dirt so they’re easy 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

An MOT may be the sole reminder to inspect specific parts of your vehicle. We recommend to be on top of your vehicle’s maintenance throughout the year to ensure your vehicle’s performance and keep your vehicle as safe as it can be. If you don’t take care of your car maintenance, it can be a risky accident that is waiting to occur.

What happens if your vehicle is not able to pass its MOT?

The car you drive may fail the MOT if there are serious or dangerous defects. Your car cannot be driven until unsafe defects have been fixed. The major faults should be repaired in the shortest time possible.

Your car is not able to pass its new MOT in the existing timeframe

If you’re getting a new MOT prior to when the expiry date of the old one You are able to drive away in your vehicle to repair major problems but not if the vehicle was faulty with dangers.

Your car has failed its current MOT, and the previous one is expired.

The latest time you can take your MOT test off is the day that the previous one expires. This is because driving without an MOT is against the law and can make your insurance invalid. If your vehicle fails its MOT test on the day that it is due to expire, it is possible to take it off on the day you want it repaired , provided that it’s not failing due to dangersome faults.

Do electric cars require an MOT?

Yes. As with all other vehicles when it’s 3 years of age, electrical vehicles have to undergo an annual MOT. The only distinction is that the emissions test isn’t included in the MOT for electric vehicles.