Common MOT Errors

MOT Testing Guide: Common Errors

The MOT is a straightforward roadworthiness test. The assessment will decide whether your car is safe to drive on the road and disclose hidden health issues that could lead to a future breakdown. The majority of MOT failures are more straightforward than you may expect. We have used the mot testing guide to assist you in passing your MOT and make sure your car is still roadworthy.

What is the MOT failure?

MOT testing facilities no longer just pass or fail your vehicle as of May 2018. Instead, minor, significant, and dangerous flaws are separated into categories. Therefore, you can fail your MOT if there are severe and significant flaws.

What are the most typical MOT issues?

Except for an electric vehicle MOT, practically all MOTs will perform the same inspections with the mot test checklist. Given this information, it is pretty simple to determine what is examined during a MOT assessment and what the most typical MOT failures are.

We've compiled the most frequent causes of failure:

Vehicle signalling and lighting

A problem with the lighting accounts for over a fifth of all vehicles that fail their MOT. This is frequently as simple as a blown bulb. Walk around your car with all the lights on to ensure they are all functioning correctly. Are the indicators flashing properly? It's essential to examine the lights' condition as well. Plastic lenses frequently become misted with use; therefore, purchasing a kit to clean your lights before the MOT could be worthwhile. Additionally, inspect your lights for cracks, and have someone stand behind the car as you stop to be sure the brake lights are on.

Suspension

Regarding components that take the brunt of collisions, your car's suspension may also be blamed if your MOT test results are negative. Hidden potholes and uneven road surfaces are nothing new to drivers, yet they easily harm your car. For road safety, it is essential to get the suspension tested because a damaged suspension can also change wheel alignment and impact the tyres. Unfortunately, inspecting your suspension is more complex than examining your bulbs, and it might be challenging to find the problems without knowing what to look for. It's a good idea to have your automobile repaired annually so the mechanic can look for any suspension problems you may have developed over the previous 12 months.

Brakes-

Brake problems account for one in ten MOT failures, and some issues are more evident than others. Major flaws typically manifest as mushy pedals or the automobile pulling to the left or right when the brakes are used. In addition, your brake pads are worn out; therefore, you should get professional help as soon as possible.

Tyres-

Your only point of contact with the ground is through your tyres, which also carry the weight of the vehicle and its occupants. Poor tyre condition accounts for 12% of failures. The depth of tyre tread must be 1.6mm; however, the 20p coin test allows you to determine this rapidly. Simply lay a coin between the tread of the tyres, and if the coin's outer rim doesn't show, the tread should be okay. Your tyre should be inflated or deflated to the correct pressure level, and you should look for any physical defects or damage.

What to do if your car's MOT fails?

If your automobile fails its MOT, it's not the end of the world because you can still get it retested. The cost of an MOT test done for the second time is reduced by half if you have your car fixed and returned within ten days. You must avoid driving without an MOT certification unless you have a minor problem.

Being ready by following the mot testing guide before your planned test is the most excellent way to prevent these most typical MOT failures. This entails preparing everything to bring to the MOT tester, creating an MOT checklist, or performing a pre-MOT inspection. A pre-MOT check following the mot test checklist is one of the simplest ways for drivers to improve their car's chances of passing. It entails quickly inspecting all the places where your MOT will likely find problems. You can perform these yourself or have a professional who has completed the mot testing courses. Doing so should help you feel more at ease before your vehicle's MOT because you'll know what to expect. Also, you could enrol in a mot testing course from MOT Expert to learn more about fixing MOT errors and how to fix them.