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Maintaining your car is one of the most important things you can do as a car owner. Of course, this is less of an issue when it comes to new or almost new vehicles. Many low mileage vehicles will still come with a manufacturer’s warranty. But when that expires and you’re on your own, it’s essential to keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance, including booking your car in for its yearly MOT.
Do I actually need a MOT?
Simply put, yes. It’s the law. All vehicles travelling on UK roads must be roadworthy. This is for the benefit of the vehicle’s owner and other road users. It’s important to note that getting an MOT isn’t the same as having your vehicle serviced. Whilst servicing is concerned with the overall mechanical health of your car, an MOT is designed to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive.
How often my car requires the MOT test?
Whether you’ll need an MOT depends on your vehicle’s age. Vehicles under three years old don’t need an MOT. However, once a vehicle reaches three years of registration, an MOT is compulsory. If your vehicle passes the test, you’ll be issued with a certificate, which will last one year. Each owner must renew their vehicle’s MOT certificate before its expiry date, but you can only do this one month in advance. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some vehicles require an MOT 12 months after their first registration, including: ambulances private passenger vehicles with over 16 seats, taxis.
What does an MOT look at?
When you arrive at your local garage for your MOT, you’ll be subjected to a variety of inspections to check whether your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. It’s important to note that the MOT is a minimum standard that all vehicles must meet at all times – it’s not a requirement to meet once a year. A range of specialist testing equipment will be used to examine everything from the vehicle’s bodywork to make sure there’s no excessive corrosion, exhaust emissions levels, safety of your seat belt, windscreen chips, and whether your horn works correctly.
What’s an approved test center?
Every garage that provides MOT Testing Station must have been approved by the DVSSA. Be sure to look out for the blue sign with 3 white triangles at your garage. Of course, it’s important that you can take your car to a service you can trust, and that’s where the good garage scheme comes in. Good Garage Scheme members must adhere to a stringent code of conduct. This gives you complete peace of mind.
What if my car fails MOT?
If your car doesn’t meet the minimum government safety and environmental standards then you won’t be able to drive it on the roads. It’s that simple. You can appeal a test result if you don’t like it, but most drivers will simply have their car serviced. Of course, it’s important to get your car serviced by a good garage.
