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Your Car and the MOT
If you have a car that is more
than 3 years old it will need an MOT test each year to ensure that it
meets at least the minimum road safety and environmental standards.
The test relates only to the
condition of the testable items at the time of the test. It should not
be regarded as evidence of the condition of the items tested at any
other time nor should it be taken as evidence of the general mechanical
condition of the vehicle
MOT's are undertaken at garages
authorised by the Vehicle Inspectorate to carry out the tests. They are
easily identifiable by the blue, 3 triangle MOT Sign as seen above.
The
30 Day rule
You can have your car MOT
tested with a maximum of 30 days left to run on your current MOT
certificate. This will give you a 13 month MOT certificate. Any more
than 30 days and this concession does not
apply. You
will need to bring your current MOT certificate with you when you have
your car tested as we need the serial number off it to carry on to your
new certificate.
For more information about the MOT
test click here
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MOT - The Mo test is a yearly
inspection of every car that's
three years old or more. The system is run by the Vehicle and Operator
Services Agency.
Its purpose is to ensure that vehicles meet
legal standards of mechanical safety and also that they comply with
emissions regulations.
It is illegal to drive a vehicle over
three years old on public roads if it does not have a valid MOT
certificate. The document is also needed when renew your road tax.
It
is vital to understand that an MOT only says that your car passed road
worthiness trials on the day it was tested, so it does not guarantee
that your car will remain safe to drive for the rest of the year that
it is valid - so make sure you check your tyres, coolant, oil, screen
wash and brake fluid levels regularly.
Detailed description of the UK MOT
Test for Cars
Registration
plates and Vehicle Identification Number* (VIN)
For registered vehicles the
plate must be
- present
- secure
- not faded, dirty or obscured
- be composed with correctly
formed letters and spacing.
The VIN number must be
- permanently displayed
- consistent
- legible.
* Required on all vehicles
first used on or after 1st August 1980.
Steering
Inside the car checks
Steering wheel and steering
column:
- steering wheel is in
acceptable condition
- steering wheel is securely
attached to the steering shaft
- upper bearings of the
steering column are inspected for wear
- Steering shaft is checked
for excessive end float
- The clamping bolts are all
checked for security
- split pins and locking nuts
are also checked.
- 'free play' in the steering
is checked
- All flexible couplings and
universal joints are checked.
Under bonnet checks
This varies vehicle to
vehicle; some of these items cannot be observed from under the bonnet
on some makes and models.
- security of the steering
rack or steering box and its mountings
- play in steering joints
- Inspection of any other
swivel joints which form part of the vehicles' steering system which
can be readily inspected from under the bonnet.
Under vehicle checks:
- All the steering joints are
inspected by the Tester whilst the steering is loaded by turning the
steering wheel from side to side.
- Power steering systems are
checked with the engine running
- The security of attachment
of the steering rack or steering box is checked both with respect to
the tightness of nuts and bolts, and structural cracking or corrosion
of the vehicle chassis where it is attached
- Whilst the vehicle stands
on special swivel plates the wheels are turned from lock to lock and
checked to ensure that the wheels and tyres do not foul either the
structure of the vehicle or any brake pipes or hoses
- with the wheels jacked the
wheel bearings are checked
- steering rack gaiters and
front outer constant velocity joint boots are examined
- metal and/or rubber bushes
are checked as are split pins, locking nuts and other locking or
retaining devices which relate to steering components.
On some cars there will be
rear wheel steering which is checked from beneath the car.
Horn
- operation
- control can be easily
reached by the driver
- loud enough
- not a sequential multi-tone.
Lights
All required lights are
checked for:
- operation
- condition
- security
Side lights and headlamps
- are the correct type and
colour
- dip and aim.
Stop lights, indicators and
hazard lights*
- are the correct type and
colour
- do not interfere with each
other in operation
- driver's tell-tale works
with respect to indicators, or there is an audible warning system.
Rear Fog lamps**
- must be fitted to the
centre or offside of the vehicle
- tell-tale must
work
- must not be affected by
other lamps and not be obscured
- must be red.
Number plate lamps
- All lamps fitted must be
working.
Rear reflectors
- There must be two red
reflectors fitted reasonably symmetrically, securely attached and not
obscured.
* Must be fitted to all
vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1986, but if fitted, must be
tested.
** Must be fitted to all vehicles first used on or after 1st April
1980.
Bonnet
Catch
Reasons for
Failure
-
A bonnet that cannot be safely secured in the closed position
-
An excessively deteriorated, ineffective or insecure (bonnet) retaining
device
Doors
- Both front doors must be
openable from the inside and outside and all doors must latch securely.
Tailgates, boot lids etc..
- All these items, including
the tail boards and drop sides of trucks must be securable in the closed
position
Vehicle
structure
Body condition and security
- body must not be so
insecure or displaced so that it might lead to loss of control of the
vehicle when driven, or be a danger to other road users
- there must be no dangerous
sharp edges or projections caused by corrosion or damage which is
dangerous to other road users including pedestrians.
Corrosion
A vehicle can fail with
respect to corrosion for:
- excessive corrosion in a
'prescribed area' — within 30 cms of certain safety related
components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etch.
- excessive corrosion not in
a 'prescribed area', but which is likely to adversely affect the
vehicle's braking or steering. 'Excessive corrosion' can mean a hole or
a significantly weakened structure.
Seats
- the driver's and the front
passenger's seats must be secure
- all seat backs must be
securable in the upright position.
Brakes
Inside the car
Anti-lock braking system
(if fitted) warning lamp is checked for:
- function
- sequence of operation
Footbrake
- sufficient reserve travel
on the footbrake
- pedal rubber not worn to
excess
- correct operation of the
servo assistance system
Parking
brake
This
could be hand or foot operated. Checked for reserve travel so that it
doesn't reach the stops on application. The mountings will be checked
for security and/or corrosion.
Under
bonnet checks
- master
cylinder and servo unit are checked for leaks with the engine on and
the brakes applied
- servo
unit will be checked to ensure it is operating correctly
- visible
metal or flexible brake pipes will be checked for corrosion, condition,
fouling or leaks
Under
vehicle checks
- flexible
brake pipes and any other metal brake pipes visible beneath the car are
checked
- discs
and drums (external only) checked for condition and contamination
- brake
back plates and callipers ssecuring devices are checked for condition and
security
- condition
of the brake pads will be checked if visible
- The
assistant operates the handbrake and the condition of the linkages
and/or cables is checked.
- on
some vehicles there will be a brake compensating valve beneath the car
which will need to be inspected for fluid leaks
Brake
performance check
The
performance of the front and rear brakes and handbrake are checked for
efficiency and balance using specialised equipment.
Windscreen
Includes all items
affecting the driver's view of the road: the condition of the
windscreen, the wipers and washers.
Chips or cracks in the
windscreen directly in front of the driver, in the area swept by the
wiper blades, are acceptable if they are less than 10mm in diameter. In
the rest of the swept area, up to 40mm diameter damage is acceptable.
Official stickers (any used
in connection with road enforcement, security or crime prevention
matters) that are not readily removable are only a reason for rejection
if they restrict the driver's view.
Washers and wipers
- operation
- extent of area swept by the
wipers
- condition of the wiper
blades.
Mirrors
Not all mirrors on all
vehicles are subject to Test, depending on the age of the vehicle.
Those mirrors which must be checked must be
- secure
- visible from the driver's
seat
- not distorted or damaged so
as to seriously impair the driver's view to the rear.
Suspension
Under bonnet checks
- upper suspension joints
- any other suspension
components which can be inspected from beneath the bonnet
Under vehicle checks
Applies to the front and
rear suspension
Note: There are numerous
different suspension systems, and the specific nature of any
examination will depend to a large extent on the design of the
suspension system.
Seat belts
Most
vehicles after 1965 must have seat belts. Irrespective of that
requirement, all seat belts fitted to any vehicle must be inspected for:
Exhaust system
The
exhaust system will fail the MOT if:
- Part
of the system missing or excessively deteriorated
- A
mounting is missing or damaged so it does not support the system
- There
is a major leak
- The
system is excessively noisy.
Emissions
These are checked using specialised
equipment, the details of the check depending on the year that the
vehicle was first used on the road. Excessive smoking (checked
visually) is a reason for failure.
Diesel
smoke emissions are checked by using a smoke meter.
Fuel system
Any
fuel leak will result in a fail. Checked under the bonnet and
throughout the run of the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine.
- fuel
filler cap must fasten securely
- the
seal in the cap must not be torn, deteriorated or missing
- no
other defect which could cause fuel to leak out.
Tyres and road wheels
Tyre
condition
The
reason for failure with respect to tyre wear is:
"The
grooves of the tread pattern are not at least 1.6mm throughout a
continuous band comprising: the central three-quarters of the breadth
of tread around the entire outer circumference of the tyre".
Tyres
must be correctly matched with regard to:
- type
- size
- structure
NB. type or structure but not both.
- tyres
on the same axle must be of the same structure and size.
Also
examined:
- general
condition of tyre
- condition
of valve.
Tyres
fail if they have serious cuts, bulges or other damage.
The
wear on the tyre is checked with a tyre tread depth gauge to ensure
compliance.
The
tyres are examined to ensure that there is no fouling with any part of
the vehicle.
Notes:
Although under-inflation is not in itself a reason for failure, a brake
test may be inadvisable because of possible damage, and it may affect
headlamp alignment. The condition of the spare tyre is not part of the
MOT.
Wheel
condition
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