MOT Test Explained

It is legal for cars older than three years to undergo an annual MOT Inverness that confirms their roadworthiness. The following are some of the most popular reasons why cars fail the test, as well as everything else you need to know about it.

How long does an MOT take?

Normally, an MOT test lasts about 45 to 60 minutes. Along with this, you should consider certain things. For starters, when your car fails and you need to get some repairs done afterwards, expect it to take more time.

A test centre has no authority to allow you to drive away a car that has had an MOT test failure until the problems are fixed, except, of course, when your current MOT certificate is still valid or when you are driving home to get the faults fixed.

The test may take an hour or less, but even in the absence of any repairs, it doesn't mean your car will be in the garage for the whole 60 minutes. Test centres may need you to drop off your care in the morning and collect it when ready. This means you will be without your car for the rest of the day.

Make sure your car passes its MOT

Check that you're not out of order because of any of the five simple reasons for a fail shown above, then check your car against our 10-point checklist below. If you find any issues in the following regions, you can resolve some yourself to keep garage costs down.

• Headlights and indicators

Front, rear, headlights/main beam, dipped headlight, hazard lights and main beam telltale. If any of them are not working, check for blown bulbs and replace them first.

• Brake lights

Try getting someone else to check whether your brake lights illuminate when you press down the brake pedal at the back end of the car.

• Tyres

The tyres should possess at least 1.6 mm of tread depth to avoid being classified as an MOT failure. Utilising a 20p coin is the simplest way to check on these standards.

Additionally, check for damages such as cracks, bulges and cuts that may have occurred on these side walls. Furthermore, ensure that the appropriate level of air is maintained within each of them.

The appropriate pressure specifications can be found in the car handbook, while some may also be displayed on the sidewalls of tyres. When this becomes an issue, you should make sure you inflate them when you find a sanitising place.

• The handbrake

Check the tension in your handbrake. If you can slide it up and down easily and you can't pull it up to a set level, you probably have a problem that should be fixed by a professional mechanic.

• Seats and seatbelts

Check the driver's seat for adjustments forward and backward, and inspect the full length of the seatbelt for damage. Check that all the seatbelts latch, fasten securely and lock when you give them a sharp tug.

• Windscreen

Damage over 10mm in the driver's central view will fail, as will damage more than 40mm in the whole of the swept area.

• Windscreen wipers

Check that all your wipers clear your windscreen effectively, along with the washers. Be aware that any tears or holes in the wiper rubber can result in an MOT failure.

• Suspension check

Just check the shock absorbers by jumping up and down every corner of your machine; after which, let it go. Such a corner must return to its original position. If it goes on bouncing more than two times, the possibility of bad shock absorbers should be considered and inspected as needed.

• Horn

Blow the horn quickly. If it doesn't help or is so soft that pedestrians and drivers can't pay attention to it, get it fixed.

• Exhaust

Start the engine and listen from the rear of the car at normal temperature for unusual noise or abnormal smoke from a well-ventilated area.

Ensure your car has a high level of gasoline and sufficient engine oil. You may be denied an MOT if the weight is insufficient for the accurate evaluation of emissions from your car.

How much does an MOT cost?

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency sets the maximum cost official test centres can charge for an MOT. For cars and motorhomes, the current price is £54.85, while for motorbikes it is £29.65; however, many garages ask less than this amount, sometimes by as much as 50%.

To know how you can save some money on your next car MOT, simply type “cheap MOT” or “MOT discount” in an internet search engine. An MOT may even be part of a full car service.

Although regular Car Service Inverness is highly advisable, a service will still probably be more costly than an MOT on its own, even if it includes an MOT.