What’s an MOT ? What’s the difference between a service and an MOT ?
When should a car have an MOT ?
Cars and vans over 3 years old need to have an MOT to stay on the road legally. This is a standardised safety test which needs to be done every year but there is often confusion as to exactly what parts of the vehicle are checked in an MOT and what areas are not covered. You can book your MOT with us online, in person or by calling 0191 4698740
If you want to make sure that your car passes its MOT first time, it can be a good idea to run through a checklist beforehand to confirm that everything works properly. Things like lights and washers are easily checked at home and must be kept working. Nothing can be hanging in your view of the windscreen so moving freshners, clips for Sat Nav etc is a good idea. Tyre checks is another important one to do regularly.
The testing station is required to run through a series of standard checks to ensure that it meets with the safety and environmental legislative standards applicable in the UK. An MOT does not mean the car has no issues and is running the best it can be or even as economically as the MOT is a basic safety and environmental check.
So what’s not covered?
Quite a lot. The main causes of breakdown are starting systems including starter motor and alternator, engines, gearboxes and clutches are not checked thoroughly in an MOT. This is because they are not regarded as safety-critical the most significant areas of a vehicle, things like engine mounts and emissions are checked, but not the general running order. This can be checked during a service which can be done at any time of the year, usually recommended annually.
The condition of the tyres fitted to your vehicle, together with the size, type and tread depth, are checked in an MOT. Wheel alignment is not checked during an MOT which can cause your tyres to scrub off. This can be checked with 4 wheel alignment at any time of the year.
The MOT will also exclude any examination of the condition of aftermarket accessories unless they fall within the main test components. For example, an aftermarket exhaust will be checked for condition it’s affect on the emissions components of the test.
An MOT test does not provide you with a guarantee as to the mechanical condition of a car, carrying out regular servicing is not required by law, it could end up saving you a great deal of money in the long-run. Why not contact us today to find out more. It’s often not as expensive with us as people expect
So my MOT failed what next?
If a car fails on any element of the MOT, spare parts and repairs are not covered by the test and remedial work will need to be carried out before the vehicle can be re-tested. We can replace small items like bulbs on a PRS Pass with Rectification at Station. These can only be done within one hour of the test and give an immediate pass after they are rectified but these must be documented correctly for DVSA compliance.
When you have an MOT you still need to keep your vehicle safe to use on the road, all elements of the MOT are needed to be kept in good order. Poor tyre condition is one of the main causes of accidents in the UK meaning they are preventable.
The full MOT guidance we have attached if you would like to read through
