The Ministry of Transport test, abbreviated MOT test, is a safety measure that the British government has undertaken to ensure that the vehicles are safe to ply on the road. Every vehicle in the UK which is more than 3 years old is required to take this test to ensure its safety.
The MOT test is conducted primarily to ensure two things:
- Driver safety
- Your vehicle is in proper condition to hit the road
Any vehicle out on the British roads without an updated MOT record can result in a fine which can go up to as much as £1000.
In this article, we will discuss all you need to know about the MOT test. Read on to find out more.
MOT Test Rules
The MOT test examines every component of your car for road-worthiness. Some of these include:
- Engine
- Fuel system
- Exhaust system and emissions
- Body of the car
In addition to all of the above, MOT test also checks the windscreens, steering, mirrors, brakes, seats, tyres, doors, bonnets, number plates, batteries and so on. If your car has private number plates, make sure you have the appropriate documents.
Basically, the test will cover everything there is to know about a car's safety. The test takes something between 45 to 60 minutes on an average.
When is it Time to Get Your Vehicle MOT Verified?
If you have recently bought a new car, then you are all set for 3 years. But once that period is over, you have to get your vehicle MOT tested.
An MOT certificate is valid for one year, post which you would have to take another MOT test. You can register for the next MOT test one calendar month prior to the expiry of the previous one. You would have to keep this up every year.
Here’s a quick and easy way for you to remember the date: you can schedule your car servicing around the same time of your vehicle's MOT test. This way, every time you take your car for servicing, you would be reminded of the next MOT test. If you get your car serviced at an MOT-authorized station, then you can also avail the service of receiving a reminder of the next MOT test once your vehicle's current certification expires. You might have to make prior arrangements for that.
Price of MOT
The MOT test fee varies on the basis of the type of vehicle. The MOT test charge for a car has been fixed by the Government at £54.85. However, if your car requires any repair or if any part need replacing, then that charge would definitely be extra.
MOT is Not the Same as Car Servicing
MOT is not essentially same as car servicing. They are completely different.
An MOT test determines whether your car is absolutely safe to move about in on the British roads and that is all that the test determines and nothing else. On the other hand, a car servicing procedure is much lengthier and detailed than that of an MOT test. It not only covers the process of identifying faults in your car, but also includes repairs and replacements.
A properly serviced vehicle would pass the MOT test without any hitch. You need to make sure that your car is up and running properly during the MOT test.
What Happens if Your Vehicle Fails the MOT Test?
Do not panic. First of all, check the reasons why your car failed the test. Usually, this happens due to a lack of appropriate servicing. Some MOT stations offer free retest for cars. You can check with your MOT station to find out if they provide this service.
If your vehicle fails the MOT test, then you can drive your vehicle for the following purposes only:
- You can drive your vehicle to the service centre to get it repaired after it has failed the MOT test.
- You can drive your car to the MOT test centre for a test that has been booked in advance.
Taking your vehicle without an MOT certification out on the road for any other purpose would be breaking the law.
Once you have your vehicle’s MOT certification in place, you can drive your car without any hassles on the road. Make sure you get it done before the previous one expires.
Contributed by Plates4Less
