Essex MOT Questions
Many of our Essex customers have MOT questions, so we have put together this article to answer the most common ones.
MOT questions about when and why
- If you have a car that is three years old or more, then it is a legal requirement in the UK that you take your car for an MOT.
- This is a Ministry of Transport test that is designed to establish whether your vehicle is safe and roadworthy.
- Under the terms of the test there are certain minimum environmental and safety tests that your vehicle must meet before you receive an MOT certificate.
- It is an offence to drive older vehicles that have not been put through an MOT test and have a valid MOT certificate to indicate their road-worthiness.
MOT question: How long does an MOT take?
One of the most common MOT questions we are asked is how long it will take. An MOT may not take too long however, there are a lot of things that are tested so you should allow around half a day. If a problem is found then it may take longer. If your vehicle fails any part of the MOT test then you are obliged to have the work carried out before you can be issued with a test certificate. Our Essex garage will not undertake the work until they have checked whether the vehicle owner wants it completed at that time.
MOT question: What if my car fails?
If your car fails its MOT test it will probably need some work to put things right. Whoever does your MOT will explain what work needs doing but they won’t undertake it until they have been told to do so by you. There is no time limit on getting the work done and having your vehicle put through the MOT test again, but you are not allowed to drive the car until it has a valid MOT certificate as it is not regarded as road worthy.
Another related MOT question is whether it’s OK to book your car’s MOT in earlier than when it’s due in case it fails. It is perfectly alright to put your car in for its MOT test before its actual due date but you do need to bear in mind that your certificate will only last twelve months from that date rather than the later date that it was due to be done. Your car is eligible of its first MOT test once it is three years old. If you buy a car that is older than three years then you will need to get an MOT as soon as any existing certificate runs out.
MOT question: How can I avoid failure of an MOT test?
Failure items on MOT tests will vary from vehicle to vehicle so it is difficult to be precise, nevertheless there are a number of checks that you can do yourself prior to the MOT to ensure that it is not failed on these simple things.
Vehicles can fail if the tyre pressure is too low and if there is less than 1.6mm treads over three quarters of the tyre surface. Check all lights and light bulbs are working correctly, the indicators should be flashing, even if the ignition is switched off, when the hazard switch is on. Check your horn; you could fail if it doesn’t sound properly. You should also check the registration plates are not damaged and can be read and check the mirrors. Inside the car check that the seats are safely positioned and seat belts working properly before you take it in for its MOT.
Get your MOT questions answered with regard to the actual test procedure.
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