What is an MOT Test?
Being a car owner isn’t easy. You need to be careful about your life as well as your fellow drivers and pedestrians. Maintaining a vehicle helps in this process. A vehicle breaking down in the middle of the road can cause trouble to you and others as well. That is why we recommend maintaining your vehicle because it rectifies any possible issues with your vehicle beforehand.
But do not confuse maintenance service with MOT test. MOT test is an annual test that is merely a thorough inspection of your vehicle for possible issues. A new car comes with an MOT certificate which is valid for 3 years. After that, you have to go to an auto shop that provides MOT Redditch services.
MOT test is a test that does not include the repair of the vehicle. The testers put your vehicle under various conditions to check its functioning. If the vehicle has any minor issue they will rectify it. If there are more issues with your vehicle you have to take the test again. Regular maintenance resolves all the problems with your vehicle that might occur in near future. This helps a lot in passing your MOT test.
Is MOT Compulsory?
Is it mandatory? Well, yes, the MOT test is mandatory in the UK. The owner has to renew their MOT certificate after every year. We recommend you book an appointment for MOT before it expires. The only case when it is fine to drive a car without an MOT is when you are going for an MOT test, otherwise, you will have to pay a heavy fine.
Some of the vehicles are exempt to have an MOT certificate. Such as old classic models that are older than 40 years and haven’t got any major replacement like an engine in the past 30 years. Other than that tractors and electric vehicle that has registration before march 2015 are exempt from an MOT test. And of course cars younger than 3 years.
What is Included in the MOT Test?
The operators take a full look at your vehicle and ensure that it is road-worthy. This is mostly because people sometimes neglect their vehicle even if it’s functioning poorly. It not only puts you in danger but others as well. Putting off the repair can also hinder the performance of the vehicle. Sometimes the damage can spread to the other parts of the vehicle just like a malicious disease.
Taking your vehicle for maintenance service right before your MOT test will help you in many ways. They can prepare your car better for the test. In addition to that, regular maintenance service is a record of proof which also come in handy when finding the root cause of a problem. You are most welcome to get MOT Redditch. To make sure you are ready for your test take a look at the following list.
Bodywork:
Your vehicle must not have any poking or sharp edges that might hurt pedestrians. This open area can also catch moisture leading to corrosion and spreading to different parts.
Windows and Mirrors:
They must be clean so they do not hinder your view. Any crack more than 10mm on the windscreen wiper will fail your MOT test. The rest areas must not have cracked more than 40mm.
Wheels and Tyres Redditch:
They must be rust-free, damage free, and have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm.
Exhaust and Emissions:
There must not be any visible smoke coming out of your exhaust emission. Operators use special equipment to check it.
Brakes:
The entire brake system must be working completely without any interruption. In addition to that, each component of the brake system must be rust-free to pass the MOT test.
Lights:
All the lights such as tail light, brake light, rear red fog light, indicators, etc must be functioning and the headlights must be in proper alignment. These lights warm you in emergency situations that is why it is important for the lights to be working.
Tow Bar:
If you have any, it must be damage-free and rust-free. It is usually used to pill heavy cars or load.
Doors and Openings:
The doors, tailgate, and bonnet must open short properly from inside and outside. In addition to that, the locks of the doors must lock and unlock from the inside and outside.
Horn:
The horn must not play multiple notes. It also should be audible to drivers sitting in the other cars.
Seats and Seatbelt:
the seats must be comfortable so that driver is not distracted. The seatbelts must lock and clip and rotate properly.
Steering:
The steering allows your vehicle to move in desirable directions. There must be excessive free play in your system. Besides that universal joints, all the bolts gaiter, power steering, and clamps must be in proper conditions.
