MOT Test: An Essential Part of Owning a Car

Drivers from all parts of the world are aware of the requirement to get an MOT test done once the car crosses the mark of three years. This is legal in many countries such as the United Kingdom. However, many people are unaware of the steps to be taken in order to be able to undertake the test and obtain a certificate for ensuring the roadworthiness of their car.

The MOT Boston test takes approximately somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour to be conducted by authorised repair facilities. In case your vehicle fails the MOT test, then it might take longer to fix and tackle the issues. A car is rendered to be dangerous if it fails the test, declaring it un-roadworthy to be driven on the road. This could have a direct impact on your driving license as well. Thus, it is always recommended to check for any faults in your car timely to avoid facing issues in the future. There are a few items that you could check yourself before taking your vehicle for a test.

The MOT test is recommended by the Ministry of Transport to ensure that the vehicles meet the legal standards of road safety and adhere to the environmental standards. It is illegal in a lot of countries to drive a car without having a valid MOT certificate. In case, you have an expired certificate then the insurance of your car also stands invalid. These certificates change the tax class of the vehicle and thus are needed to tax a vehicle.

This certificate is valid for a period of 1 year and requires to be renewed a month before it gets expired. You could book the date and time of the test as per your convenience at a garage near you. The main things checked during an MOT test are the essential parts of a car, like:

·         The body of the vehicle, its structure and other general items

·         The vehicle’s fuel system

·         The wheels and tyres of the vehicle

·         Tow bars of the vehicle

·         The exhaust emission of the vehicle

·         The seatbelts of the vehicle

·         The exhaust system of the vehicle

·         The vehicle seats

·         The mirrors in the vehicle

·         All the doors of the vehicle

·         The vehicle’s load security

·         The registration plates of the vehicle

·         The condition of the horn

·         The external and internal lights of the vehicle

·         The vehicle’s bonnet

·         The washers and wipers of the vehicle

·         The suspension and steering abilities of the vehicle

·         The vehicle’s windscreen

·         The vehicle identification number (VIN)

·         The other electrical parts of the vehicle

It is important to note that the test does not cover the engine, gearbox or clutch part of the vehicle. There are a few recommendations which would help your car to pass the MOT test at all costs. Hence, to prepare for the tests, you must take into consideration the mileage, age and condition of the car along with many other factors that may impact the result of the test. The following checks could be done prior to taking your car for the test:

·         All the external and internal lights, bulbs and indicators

·         The inflation levels of the tyres

·         The windscreen wiper condition and the fluid levels of the washer

·         The condition of the tyres for the tread depth or any damage

·         The windscreen for any cracks or chips

The experts carrying out the tests are professionals in this field and would thoroughly examine the car to the best of their abilities. You have an option of booking this test online on the government site as well. 

Checklist For an MOT Test

MOT test is the test conducted yearly after a car completes 3 years of its service. Before getting it done, you need to plan a few things and ensure proper functionality for your car's components, so your vehicle does not fail the MOT test. This will help you to repair the recurring issues, and prevent the hassle of any sort. Moreover, until you possess an MOT certificate, you cannot drive your automotive vehicle legally.

Below is the list of car components that are inspected during the MOT test:

Brakes:

Your car's brakes play an important role in your overall safety. You won't be able to slow down or stop your car if the brakes are not working properly. This situation is known as brake failure. It may be due to a leakage in the fluid of the brake or any breakage in the pads. 

One of the common symptoms to know if there is brake failure is the brownish liquid collecting beneath the surface of your car. Another symptom is if you notice an illuminating brake light.

Exhaust system:

Your car's exhaust system plays an important role in reducing the unpleasant sound created by the car engine. Moreover, it cools down the engine to prevent any kind of inconvenience. So, if you hear any noise that may be due to the result of any problem in the exhaust system. A leak in the exhaust pipes is a common symptom of exhaust damage. Moreover, an MOT expert will not issue a 'pass' certificate to your vehicle if he observes any corrosion on the surface of the exhaust, so be sure to get everything fixed before you go for a test.

Seat and seatbelts:

Your seat belts and seats must be in good shape. Your seat belt is a safety feature that protects you from any injury during the time of an accident. 

Horn and lights:

Lights and horn can be easily inspected. To check the horn, you just need to make sure that the horn is audible enough so that other travellers can hear it. 

Light includes all the lights, i.e. from the tail light to the headlight, inspect them if they are in a working state, not before going for an MOT test.

Tyres:

Tyres are one of the most crucial components of your car as they are the only point of contact with the road. The quality of your ride and the fuel economy, everything is defined by your tyres. To inspect your tyres, you need to inspect the tread depth to be above 1.6mm. Another way to inspect tyres is to find out any wear and tear.

Wheels:

Wheels provide structure to tyres of our car. To check your wheels, you must get the wheel alignment tested and also find out if there is any damage on the rim of the wheel. You can easily get them fixed with the help of wheel refurbishment processes.

Test all these components before going for an MOT Boston test to avoid any inconvenience!