The emissions and safety standards check conducted by the Ministry of Transport is known as the MOT test. This test determines the vehicle’s eligibility for UK roads. You must have the MOT pass certificate to drive legally in the UK. If your vehicle is older than three years, this test is mandatory for you. The pass certificate awarded is valid for one year, making this an annual test. If you fail to produce a pass certificate, you will earn negative points on your license, which can hamper your renewal process in the future and attract fines.
Also, the car insurance will be invalid without an MOT test. The MOT test takes only one hour to complete in the ordinary course of business. Although, if your vehicle has some grave issues, it can take longer than that because the vehicle will go through the repair process, and then a retest will be done. 25-30% of the people fail in their MOT each year because of minor maintenance issues. Therefore, if you are updated with your car’s servicing and repairs, this test won’t give you a hard time. On top of that, here are six simple things to check before appearing for the MOT test.
Brake Fluid
Pop your car’s hood and locate the master cylinder. Close to or within the master cylinder, you will find the brake fluid chamber. Look for the minimum and maximum marking. Ensure that the brake fluid is maintained between those two markings. If you are short on fluid, go to any car spare part store, pick up a can of brake fluid, and recharge the chamber before appearing for the MOT Redditch test.
Although, refer to the owner’s manual first to find out the brake oil’s specifications suitable for your car. If the chamber has sufficient fluid, notice the colour. The colour must be somewhere between amber and brown. Older fluid turns brown over time, so it is not an issue.
Mirrors
There are three standard mirrors that every vehicle must be equipped with. The rear-view mirror within the vehicle and two off-side mirrors for the rear side view on each side. All the mirrors must be crystal clear and free of cracks. Also, they must be responsive to the adjustment controls.
Warning Lights
The warning lights denote major issues with the vehicle so that the tester will pay close attention to them. If the tester turns on the engine and sees any warning lights blinking, you will automatically fail the test. Therefore, if you have seen those lights, get them fixed as soon as possible.
Tyre Treads
Treads are the grooves and ridges carved on the tyre’s outer wall in the form of some unique pattern. Treads are responsible for traction and wet-grip handling, which makes them a major safety component. The European Safety Standards dictate that the minimum tread depth safe for the roads is 1.6 mm. If your tyre’s fail to pass the tread test, you can be fined. For this reason, take a penny and put it in one of the grooves; if more than half of the penny is visible, the tread depth is critical, and you need replacement.
Lights
The lamps and other indicator lights must be in proper working condition. They must be flicker-free and calibrated according to the vehicle’s height. Also, they must be responsive to cabin controls, and if any of them seems fused, replace them immediately. Additionally, take note of the bulb over the license plate and ensure that it is bright enough.
Windscreen
The windscreen must be spotless and crystal clear. If you see any permanent spots in the driver’s visibility spectrum, get them fixed immediately. Also, see that the screen is free of any cracks. The cracks which are wider than 1 cm call for windscreen replacement. Also, the washer must be fully recharged, and the wipers must be clean and properly calibrated.
