Do you dread your MOT coming up? Many people worry about their MOT. Because although you know how much the actual MOT will cost, you can’t always prepare for what will need fixing. Well, if you become familiar with what an MOT tests for you can do some of the checks in advance. This will give you more confidence in your car passing and hopefully help you avoid some surprise faults.
Looking at statistics of initial failures reported during January to March 2022. 29% of major defects were due to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment. 21% of defects were due to suspension and 10% were because of poor visibility.
There are so many reasons a car can fail an MOT. This means it is a good idea to check your car for issues you can get fixed in advance. This may help you reduce costs and reduce the number of advisories or faults your car gets.
What is included in an MOT?
An MOT checks the following areas:
- Body, vehicle structure, general items, and towbars
- Fuel system, exhaust emissions and exhaust system
- Seatbelts, seats, doors, and mirrors
- Load security, brakes, tyres, and wheels
- Lights and electrical
- Bonnet and horn
- Wipers, washers, and windscreen
- Steering and suspension
- Vehicle identification number and registration plates
It is unlikely you will be able to check your emissions levels yourself. However there are a few areas you can investigate.
Body, vehicle structure and towbars
Make sure all of this looks in good condition. It should all be clean and any damage isn’t protruding or sharp in a way that could cause harm.
Fuel system, exhaust emissions and exhaust system
Check your fuel cap can be opened and closed properly. Check no fuel is leaking, and the seals are in good condition.
Seatbelts, seats, doors, and mirrors
Make sure seats stay in the right position and don’t slide around. Seatbelts are secure and go back into place when released. Door seals are intact, and the doors can be opened, closed, and locked properly. Mirrors shouldn’t be cracked, damaged or missing.
Load security, brakes, tyres and wheels
Check your tyres have the right tread depth and are the right kind for your car. Brakes should work perfectly so if you are concerned about them, take them to a garage to get looked at.
Lights and electrical
All your lights should be working including the dashboard display. Ask someone to walk around your car with the lights on, to check if any bulbs have gone out. Replace those before the MOT. If you have any warning lights on your dashboard, get that problem seen to before the MOT.
Bonnet and horn
The bonnet must be secure, and the horn must be appropriate for the car and loud enough to attract attention.
Wipers, washers, and windscreen – your windscreen and wipers shouldn’t be damaged. Make sure your washer fluid is topped up. Ensure there is nothing obstructing the view of the road before the MOT, such as fluffy dice. Replace worn out wipers if they aren’t doing a good job anymore.
Steering and suspension
This is difficult to test yourself properly but there are a couple of ways to check. To check the shock absorbers and suspension, put some pressure on the corners of your car. If the car bounces back up quickly that is a good sign. If it doesn’t bounce or bounces more than once, you should consider taking it to a garage. Take note of your steering when you next drive and pay attention to how responsive it is. Unresponsive or sticky steering means there could be a problem.
Vehicle identification number and registration plates
Make sure these are clean, appropriate, and correct.
Doing these checks regularly is good car care all year round, not just when you have an MOT coming up. However, if you take the time a month or so before your MOT, you will have enough time to get any problems sorted out before the MOT picks them out.
At Bodymek we offer three different service options that cover up to sixty points in checks. We also offer very competitive prices for our MOT’s. If you’re not confident to perform the checks yourself, bring your car to us for a service before your MOT so we can help get you passed with less surprises.
