12 Things To Look For Passing Your Vehicle MOT Test
Give your car a better chance to pass its MOT test for the first time, with our simple and easy tips for getting your car in shape. An MOT check seems like just another bill, but it can save you from potential problems that could affect the safety of your car in the long term.
In general, around 30% of cars submitted for MOT check Leicester will end up failing as per government statistics. We will help you to make sure your car isn’t one of them. In this blog post, we tell you the quick checks you can do to ensure you are not caught out by a minor fault.
Lights
All of your car lights such as headlamps, daytime running lights, parking lights, reversing lights and registration plate bulbs need to be the correct colour and in good working order to pass the MOT test.
Clean your car lights and get help from your friend to start the car and you walk around the car to check if all the lights are working. If the lights flicker when tapped lightly with your hand, they probably need tightening into position or replacement. If you find a bulb that is blown, change it with the new one before the MOT test.
Vehicle Structure
Walk around your car and take a good look at it. The body should be free from any excessive corrosion and anything that can affect the braking or steering system. Look for any sharp edges that are exposed that could be dangerous to other drivers on the roads.
Wipers and Windscreen
The wipers and washers need to work well enough to allow you a clear view of the road. Wipers that smear could be worn out and need replacement before the MOT, and check your headlight washers if your car is equipped with them. Ensure to fill up the washer bottle and use a pin to unblock the jets if necessary.
Your car windscreen must be in good condition before the MOT test, specifically the area that is swept by the wipers. Remove any stickers which can block the view and look for any cracks and scratches longer than 1 cm.
Tyres and Wheels
Your car must be fitted with the right type and size of tyres. If you have fitted a space-saver spare tyre onto one of your wheels then change it with the standard wheel before the test.
Check all the tyres have a tread depth of a minimum of 1.6mm right the way around and across the central three-quarters of the pattern. A quick way to check the tread grooves is to insert a 20p coin into the tread grooves. If you can’t see the outer edge of the coin, the tread depth is sufficient.
Also, look for any lumps and cuts in the sidewall of the tyres that could render it unfit for purpose. During this checkup the tyres not be underinflated. Spare tyres aren’t checked in the MOT test but should be stored properly and fastened securely.
Registration Plates
Make sure your car registration plates are tightly fastened to the car and maintained in good condition. All the numbers and letters should be easily visible from a distance of 20 metres. Keep in mind that the police may look for unusual fonts in an attempt to obstruct the law.
If you are not sure whether your registration plate meets the legal requirements, visit the DVLA website before the MOT test.
Doors
All doors must properly open and close for your car to pass the MOT test. Once you shut the door, they should remain firmly closed. The front doors of your car should be opened from outside and inside the car.
Under the Bonnet
Lift your car bonnet and check the brake fluid reservoir and oil are filled up. Maintaining sufficient levels of both fuel and engine oil is required for the garage to conduct an emissions test. Your car may fail the test if you don’t topped up or the brake fluid is contaminated. They also check for any fluid leaks which can pose an environmental risk.
Mirrors
Check your car mirrors if they have any wear and tear. To pass the MOT test your car needs to have an internal rear-view mirror and at least one driver’s side mirror. The mirrors are positioned to be visible from the driver’s seat.
Warning lights
The tester looks for if your car dashboard warning lights are illuminated or inoperative. Some of these include the brak-fluid warning lamps and power-steering indicator, so check the lights all come on and then go off when you turn the ignition of the car.
Seats
Check all the seats including back and front to make sure they are securely anchored and don’t loose when they’re not supposed to. All the seats should be able to lock into the upright position.
Horn
Check your horn to see if they are working properly and audibly. Don’t use loud horns and stay with the stock one to pass the test. During car servicing in Leicester you can ask the mechanic to test the horn if its under the legal decibel.
Seatbelts
Damaged seatbelts are a negative sign and your MOT tester can easily fail your car for this issue. So check that they are working properly and ensure they are firmly fixed to the seats of the car itself and they click and release into place securely.