What is the MOT test and what do you need to know?

As the owner of any vehicle, you must know why the vehicle is required to be taken for the MOT test. Vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, good vehicles and other categories of vehicles, are applicable for this particular test. MOT, also known as the Ministry of Transportation, is a test that makes sure of the vehicle’s safety and whether it is roadworthy to drive. All those vehicles that are over three years of age are required to take the test. In this blog, we guide you through the necessary MOT test. 

We know, MOT is performed when the vehicle completes three years at the date of registration. Always take your vehicle to a reputed garage or DVSA-authorised garage because they will have a team of professionals who have years of experience in this specific field. Significantly in this test, the parts that are majorly examined, such as windscreen wipers, suspension, steering, fuel system, exhaust, horns, brakes, tyres, etc. Once the vehicle passes all the safety and environmental standards, you will get issued with the pass MOT certification. Where there is damage to any part, whether it is major or minor, the inspector will immediately give you a fail certification. 

During a MOT, what is tested?

As mentioned above, numerous components in the vehicle are of utmost importance. Moreover, the primary role of designing these tests is to check all the critical parts of the vehicle. Both minor and major parts make the vehicle perform energetically on distinct surfaces and even in different weather conditions. A test is carried out for you to drive on the road with the fulfilment of legal and safety necessities. Despite being the most essential test where the vehicle is thoroughly examined, three such parts are not included in the check. These are the clutch, gearbox and engine. 

A few of the most commonly checked parts are as follows:

• Tyres and wheels
• Steering and suspension
• Lights
• Horn
• Bonnet
• Windscreen wipers
• Exhaust system
• Fuel system
• Seats
• Doors
• Mirrors
• Vehicle registration number 
• Other electronic components, and more. 

With this, we have understood that the MOT test in London is the most comprehensive of all tests, in which various faults and defects are detected during the process. Also, you can easily avoid such damage to the vehicle by simply taking it for regular maintenance at an earlier stage whenever you experience something wrong. With the help of servicing, it becomes beneficial for your vehicle to be able to stay in good condition so that it will smoothly pass the test. Keep servicing a part of your schedule if you want your vehicle to drive on the road without compromising safety. 

Some minor parts you must check

Some parts don't require any proper servicing assistance; they are easily checked by yourself. Some of them include:

• Look at the rubber of your windscreen wipers, as they are in good condition to function properly. 
• Regularly clean your vehicle from inside and out. Having a clean vehicle has a positive impact on the inspector who is examining the vehicle. If the vehicle is seen as dirty and cluttered, there might be a higher chance that your vehicle is rejected only by being seen physically by the mechanics. 
• Before taking it for a test, keep a check on the horns to see if they are working well or not. If not, get it fixed as soon as possible. 
• At different positions, the mirrors are intact on the vehicle; each of these is distinctive use. Check the mirror conditions because they must be secured properly so that they can be used as per their requirements. 
• Before the test, wipe off the dirt from the number plate because it must be visible enough that it can be read. This careful check will help in passing the test. 
• Look at the lights of the vehicles to see that they are performing in optimum condition. You can get help from other individuals to check if the light is on or not. 

Understanding the outcomes of the MOT

Upon completion of the vehicle, you will receive a passing MOT test. Particularly when it is approved by the authority team that the vehicle can be driven on the road. They have a certificate, which is comprised of the date of expiry and inspection date. Wherein a failed certification shows the list of damage, which is more often categorised as minor, major or dangerous. 

When it denotes a dangerous or major fault, it basically means that the damages your vehicle has are generally unsafe to drive on the road. Until this harmful damage is not fixed, it is not recommended to drive on the road, as this will result in a risk of accidents. However, these minor faults that the vehicles contain result in failure, as this significantly doesn’t cause immediate damage. But this needs to be resolved as a foremost priority so as to keep the vehicle running in good condition. Overall, to reduce the significant issues in the future, it is advised to rectify the problems before they become dangerous for drivers and even passengers.