It is very important to note that, with all other car checks one of the most important checks that will make your car safety proof is MOT check. It is authorized for all vehicles in the UK to have a proper MOT certificate. Wherever in the UK you are driving, be it Yorkshire, London or even Scotland, driving without an updated MOT certificate will put you up with hefty fines! Hence it is important to have your MOT done before due its expiration date.
If your MOT is coming up and you are not sure what to expect, here are some items to keep in mind before and as you book your test.
Note the Exact Anniversary Date
Make sure you know the exact anniversary date. It is usually the anniversary of your vehicle’s first registration, but this may have changed if previous owners had their MOT done sooner. You can book your MOT up to thirty days before the anniversary date without losing it, but there is no grace period after that time. There is an urban legend that you can go up to two weeks after your MOT date but this is not true at all. If in doubt, book your test for sooner rather than later.
Note the Checklist’s New Updates
Before you book your latest MOT, make sure you have a look at the most recent publication of the MOT checklist to make sure that all aspects of your vehicle are legally compliant. For example, tyre inflation was added to the checklist in 2018 and people who were unaware of this may have been caught out by having tyres that were slightly under- or over inflated. If you aren’t sure, you can get your tyres checked before you submit the car for its MOT – and this will help you to be compliant with the law: your MOT is merely a temperature check that your car is in the condition it should be in anyway! You can also book MOT in London at DAT Tyres and enjoy peace of mind for another year.
Note What You Can Do
As well as looking for new items on the checklist, make sure you tick off as many small unspecialised tasks as possible. For example, your car should be clean and clear of debris, mirrors should be properly fitted and positioned in a way that is easy to use, and your numberplate and bumpers should be firmly affixed. By checking off as many of these small tasks as you can, you are giving your car the best possible chance of sailing through its MOT without any problems.
Note to Book a Service
For those items that you can’t take care of yourself, combining your MOT with an annual or major service is a useful solution. This means that a qualified mechanic will find and fix any issues that could cause a failed MOT before the MOT inspector even sees your car. Bear in mind though, you will have to pay the service fee, plus any spares and labour used in making the repairs, as well as the fixed MOT price, which is currently £54.85 – it may be lower, depending on your garage but should not be any higher.
Note to Use an Approved Testing Centre
Finally, make sure you use an approved MOT testing centre for your MOT. The MOT symbol is clearly recognisable and offers you the assurance that the garage in question has been inspected and passed by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) as being likely to thoroughly inspect your car, finding all faults and ensuring that you are safe to be on the road, for the sake of all road users, not just yourself. Likewise, they are unlikely to use unscrupulous practices like claiming that you need expensive and unnecessary repairs to be made. If in doubt, read the reviews on your chosen MOT testing centre: unhappy customers tend to be vocal about their unhappiness!
