An MOT is the Ministry of Transport annual safety test, designed to check a vehicle for safety, roadworthiness and emission levels. Fail an MOT and your car will be temporarily deemed illegal to drive. To get it road legal again you will need to get your car fixed and have another MOT. Multiple MOTs can be expensive, and not being able to use your car for a period of time can be hugely inconvenient. Luckily, there are many things you can do yourself to ensure your car has the best chance of passing its MOT.
During the MOT, a mechanic will typically work through a checklist. This checklist consists of testing the following:
- Vehicle identification number
- Registration plate
- Lights
- Steering and suspension
- Wipers and washers
- Windscreen
- Horn
- Seat belts
- Doors
- Mirrors
- Wheels and tyres
- Brakes
- Fuel system
- Exhaust system
- Vehicle emissions
With this knowledge, you can check many of these components yourself and replace anything you may need to before the MOT.
Clean your registration plate
It’s a legal requirement to ensure your registration plate is clean and visible. Before going to an MOT, a simple wipe down of your number plate can make a big difference to the outcome.
Check lights
Lights are implemented all over your car to ensure visibility in the dark. Even just one of these bulbs going out can affect your MOT result. Check your headlights, rear lights, side lights, hazard light, indicators and number plate. If you notice that any of these aren’t lighting up when they should, the bulb will likely have blown. Luckily, car lights are fairly easy to replace, and can even be done yourself. You will first need to obtain the correct bulb; this is probably best achieved by going down to your local garage or contacting your car’s manufacturer. Once you’ve received the bulb, replace the old one with the new and ensure all your car lights are lighting sufficiently.
Check wipers and washers
First check that you have a sufficient amount of wiper fluid in your car. If not, top it up. Once this is done you can check that your car washes its windows well by spraying some fluid and wiping it off with the wipers.
Check windscreen
Check your windscreen for any cracks or damage. Any damage larger than 40mm or wider than 10mm on the driver’s side of the windscreen can cause you to fail your MOT. Make sure you get your windscreen fixed if this is the case.
Press horn
Press your horn. Hopefully it goes BEEP.
Check seat belts
Seat belts are a lifesaver, and it’s absolutely imperative they work correctly. We recommend performing a comprehensive check of all the seat belts in the car prior to an MOT. This entails checking the seatbelts for any signs of physical wear and tear, pulling them to ensure they can be adjusted comfortably, and yanking them hard to ensure they tighten suddenly as they should do during a sharp halt.
Check mirrors
You need to make sure all your mirrors are damage free and fully secure. You will need to get them fixed and replaced if not.
Check tyres
Check the pressure of your tyres. You may need to get them inflated. You also need to check that your tyre tread depth is at least 1.6mm.
Check fuel and engine oil
Much like windscreen washer, you need to ensure that your car is stocked with a sufficient amount of oil. Use the dipstick to check you have the correct amount. You also need to make sure that your car has sufficient fuel, be it petrol or diesel, as the mechanic will need to run your car during the MOT in order to measure the emissions that your car releases.
Oaks Services are Surrey’s leading provider of MOTs and car repairs. We care about your safety, and that’s why we’ll provide you with all the information and services you’ll need to ensure your car is safe for the road. To enquire further, call our friendly team today.
