Efficient and Accurate Testing: MOT for your vehicle

Being a vehicle owner in the UK, you must always keep every document related to your vehicle up to date. Expired documents are a nuisance to your driving experience; hence, it is advised that such significant documents must be checked regularly to avoid getting fined or punished. Among such documents is your vehicle’s MOT certificate. One of the most important certificates and tests for your vehicle, the MOT test is a thorough examination of your vehicle’s safety standards, environmental standards, and overall roadworthiness. So, the MOT certificate is proof that your vehicle is suitable for driving in the UK, and it is either up to or has exceeded the safety and environmental standards. At our Car Garage Clevedon, our testers are trained and approved to provide the most accurate MOT test results, with an efficiency that saves your time and hassles. 

What is an MOT? 

One of the most asked questions by, usually new, vehicle owners is: What is the MOT test? To answer your questions, we have included information that could help you understand the test and the importance of MOT. 

The MOT is an annual, government-specified test that includes an extensive inspection of your vehicle’s overall roadworthiness. After your vehicle completes its 3 years, the test has to be completed annually, with compulsion. The initial test introduced in 1960 was a basic one with a few checks of your car’s parts. But, in recent times, the MOT is a comprehensive test that covers up to 20 different parts and components of your vehicle. We have listed below the parts or components of your vehicle that are usually checked during an MOT. 

• Bonnet
• Body, vehicle structure, and general items.
• Exhaust emissions and exhaust system
• Brakes System
• Fuel system
• Towbars
• Seats and seatbelts
• Doors and mirrors
• Tyres and wheels
• Lights and horns
• Windscreen, including wipers and washers
• Steering and suspension
• Registration plates
• Vehicle Identification Number
• Electrical wiring and battery. 

The clutch, gearbox, and engine, however, are excluded from the MOT test. 

Did you know? The term MOT is derived from the Ministry of Transport, which was the department responsible for introducing the MOT in the UK. Although the Ministry is now called the Department of Transport, the MOT still remains unchanged. The Department of Transport is responsible for managing the transport network of the state, along with controlling vehicle emissions, setting the safety and emission standards, overseeing the future of transport, and solving any transport-related security and civil issues. 

The MOT certificate for your vehicle is typically of two types. The VT 20 and the VT 30 certificates. If your vehicle passes the safety and emission standards and excels in the various checks conducted during the MOT test, you are issued the VT 20 certificate. This claims that your vehicle is roadworthy and can be driven in any part of the UK. The VT 30 certificate will be provided to you if your vehicle fails the MOT test. Along with the certificate, we also offer a detailed report of the reasons behind your vehicle’s failure, the potential safety hazards in your vehicle, and how you can fix them. These certificates for your vehicle are usually issued by the DVSA, which stands for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. 

For smoother and more efficient testing of vehicles, the UK transport department has classified the MOT testing based on the vehicle types and models: 

Class 1 and class 2: These classes include motorcycles. 

Class 3: This class comprises three-wheelers weighing less than 450 kg, excluding any load. 

Class 4: It is designated for vehicles with 9 to 12 passenger seats, including caravans, passenger cars, dual-purpose vehicles, and ambulances. It also includes goods vehicles with less than 3000 kg design. 

Class 5: Class 5 includes any vehicle with 13 or more passenger seats, including dual-purpose vehicles, ambulances, motor caravans, and private passenger cars. 

Class 6: Public Service Vehicles come under this class. 

Class 7: Any goods vehicle carrying goods weighing in the range of 3000 to 3500 kg.

How do we conduct the MOT test? 

At our car garage, we believe in maintaining clarity with our customers. So, there is nothing “hush-hush” about our services and MOT testing. This is why we are listing below the steps we follow during your vehicle’s MOT testing: 

Step 1: The first and foremost step in an MOT is document verification. Since all of your vehicle’s test results are sent to the DVSA for authorisation and signing, this preliminary document verification is highly significant. Any discrepancies in this could lead to cancellation or failure of the MOT. Hence, we recommend that you prepare all of your vehicle-related documents before coming for the MOT. 

Step 2: A visual inspection of your vehicle is carried out after document verification. During this, we inspect some of the interior and exterior components of your vehicle, such as its lights, seatbelts, tyres, and other parts. 

Step 3: Followed by the preliminary visual inspection, our expert team conducts a thorough examination of your class 4 vehicle. Using only the DVSA-authorised equipment, our trained and experienced testers inspect your vehicle’s major systems, such as steering and suspension, exhaust systems, brakes and windscreen, wipers and horns, and even your registration plate. 

Step 4: After your vehicle’s inspection, depending on its performance, the result and status are reported to the DVSA for authorisation. In case your vehicle failed the MOT, an extensive report of the reasons for failure and its recommended solutions is provided by our expert technicians. 

Step 5: As the final step, your vehicle’s MOT certificate is issued. A VT 20 certificate is issued if your vehicle passes the MOT, which is valid for the next 12 months. If failed, your vehicle gets a VT 30 certificate, and you are asked to book another appointment for the next MOT test. 

The MOT test might seem daunting due to its rigorous standards and procedures, but with our help, you can get accurate tests for MOT Clevedon with efficiency and at affordable prices.