8 Common Ways Your Vehicle Can Fail Its MOT Test
Renewing your car's MOT gives you peace of mind that you will not end up paying heavy fines to the police. MOT Coventry is an annual vehicle test that determines if your vehicle is roadworthy and meets road safety standards. Most hybrid and electric vehicles go through the MOT test to be used in the UK.
By performing an MOT test, the MOT tester wants to know if your vehicle meets the minimum road safety and environmental standards. Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT on the UK roads is an offence, and the vehicle owner will face serious fines and penalties.
There are more than 23,500 local garages across the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, and Wales. Our MOT testers in Birmingham are among the more than 65,000 MOT testers who are currently authorised to conduct MOT tests and grant certificates.
8 Common Ways Your Vehicle Can Fail Its MOT Test
Here are the nine most common ways your car can fail its MOT test:
Suspension System
If you usually drive your car in urban areas but still face suspension issues, it may be because of Britain’s potholed roads. You can check your car yourself before taking the MOT test.
Tyres
Tyres are important components that contact the road surface, just like your feet contact the land. So you must check your tyres regularly to keep them in good condition.
You can use a 20p coin to check if your tyres have optimal tread depth across the full width of the tyre. If your tyre's tread depth is less than the minimum tread depth limit of 1.6mm, you need to replace your tyres to pass your car MOT test.
Brakes
Check if you notice a lag in brake response or an increase in braking distance. If you feel any lag in brake response when applying the brakes, your brake pads are worn out, and you need to replace them as soon as possible.
Ideally, you should change your brake pads every 50,000 miles, but sometimes, depending on the roads you are driving on or the way you are driving your car, you need to change them early on.
If you drive your car at high speed and apply sudden and hard brakes, then you need to replace your brake pads more frequently.
Lights and Indicators
If your car has cracked or damaged bulbs, it may catch the eyes of the MOT tester, and they may give your car negative points on the test. Damaged lights can be the most common reason for failure, but they are also the simplest and easiest ways to fix them. With just a few pounds, you can fix this problem. If you drive your car at high speed and apply sudden and hard brakes, then you need to replace your brake pads more frequently.
Before you reach the MOT test centre, ask your family or a friend to check whether your car lights, such as the rear, front, fog, and brake lights, are working. Also, check if all the indicator lights are blinking properly.
Driver’s View of the Road
Check your windshield and mirrors for any noticeable cracks or scratches. The outside of the car must be clearly visible to the driver. Check if the windshield washers are working properly and have enough fluid for the pump to work normally when the MOT tester tests them. With just a few pounds, you can fix this problem. If you drive your car at high speed and apply sudden and hard brakes, then you need to replace your brake pads more frequently.
Seat Belts and Airbags
Before going to the MOT centre take your time to figure out all the possible ways your car can fail its MOT test. Check the safety parts such as airbags and seat belts. Retract all the seat belts and if there are twisted or knotted belts then fix them.
Check your car’s dashboard screen and indicators. If it shows any warning or error signals, it may catch the tester's attention, and they may fail your car in the test. These minor errors can create a major impact on the test scores.
Fuel and Exhaust
One of the major reasons for MOT failures is emissions. If you own a diesel-powered vehicle, you need to be careful when having it tested. Nowadays, pre-MOT inspections are available.
If you are unsure about your car's health, you can visit a garage that offers pre-MOT inspections. You can also do a simple pre-inspection of your vehicle by giving two or three high revs to warm the engine and blowing out all cobwebs to clean the engine properly.
Conclusion
If you pre-checked your car and repaired or replaced all the damaged parts, it is now ready for MOT testing. Look for an MOT test centre or an independent garage with certified MOT testers. There are also mobile MOT services available but the catch is the mechanic will take your vehicle from your home to the garage to do its MOT test Coventry. This is convenient for those who have a hectic schedule and this service is a little expensive compared to driving your vehicle to the MOT centre by yourself.