MOT tests can be carried out up to 28 days prior to the expiry date of your existing certificate.
Tests are carried out at one of our partner garages who are DVSA approved, providing comprehensive MOT test checks for cars and vehicles.
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MOT Guide
The MOT test can be carried out up to 28 days prior to the expiry date of existing certificate, providing that the current certificate is presented at the time of the test. The vehicle will receive an MOT certificate valid for 12 months from the date of expiry of your existing certificate
Checks Undertaken
Registration Plates & Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Registration plates must be: - Present - Secure - Not faded, dirty or obscured - Composed with correctly formed letters and spacing VIN must be: - Permanently displayed - Consistent - Legible
Lights
All Lights are checked for: - Operation - Condition - Security In addition to the above: 1. Sidelights/Headlamps - Correct type & colour - Dip & Aim 2. Stop lights, indicators & Hazards* - Correct type & colour - Do not interfere with each other - Driver's telltale works *Fitted on/after 1st April 1986 3. Rear Fog Lamps** - Fitted to centre or offside - Telltale must work - Not affected by other lamps or obscured - Must be red ** Must be fitted to all cars on or after 1st April 1986. 4. Number Plate - All lamps fitted must be working 5. Rear reflectors - There must be two red reflectors fitted symetrically
Bonnet Catch
Reasons for failure: - Cannot be safely secured while closed - Excessively deteriorated, ineffective or insecure retaining device
Horn
Horn must be: - In operation - Control can be easily reached by the driver - Loud enough - Not a sequential multi-tone
Doors
Both front doors must open from the inside and outside of the car and all doors must latch securely.
Tailgates, Boot Lids etc.
All these items, including tailboards, drop sides (trucks) must be securable whilst closed.
Washers & Wipers
- Operational - Extent of area swept by the wipers - Condition on wiper blades
Suspensions
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 - No split pins or nuts missing, no components broken or excessively damaged - Road springs are checked for condition - All suspension joints are checked for condition - Shock absorbers must not leak and must be secure (the vehicle will be ‘bounced’ by the Tester to check that they damp the springs adequately). - The suspension is checked for wear by the assistant applying loads in various ways with the wheels jacked up whilst the Tester observes the result from beneath the vehicle. 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.
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.
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.
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: - The Tester inspects all the steering joints 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.
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 etc. - 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
- Driver's & front passenger's seats secure - Seats in the back mst be securable and upright
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 caliper securing 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.
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.
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: - Security of seat belt mountings and locking stalks - Security and operation of the locking/release mechanism - Condition of webbing - Retraction of the belt (it is allowed to manually feed it in). Notes: 1. For technical reasons the inertia locking mechanism is not checked. 2. On some vehicles the belt is attached to the seat, in which case the security of the seat to the vehicle would also constitute part of the seat belt check.
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. Using a smoke meter checks Diesel smoke emissions.
Tyres & 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 - Tyres on the same axle must be of the same structure and size. NB. Type or structure but not both. 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 - Damage - Distortion - Cracks - Distorted bead rim - Securely attached to the vehicle - No wheel nuts or studs missing. An externally fitted spare wheel or spare wheel carrier must not be so insecure that it is likely to fall off.