The MOT test is an annual assessment that makes sure your car complies with all legal requirements for road safety and the environment.

Although there are few exceptions, every car and motorcycle registered in the UK above the age of three must pass an annual MOT test in order to legally operate on public roads.

Why is MOT needed?

Once your vehicle is three years old, you are legally required to have a MOT test performed to make sure it is roadworthy, which is essential for ensuring the safety of you and people around you. As long as your car satisfies the basic safety requirements and exhaust pollution standards, you can drive it.

Driving without a MOT is not allowed, unless you're doing it to get your car's MOT. If your car is in an accident, have your MOT certificate on hand in case the police request to examine it.

Even though there is an electronic copy of the MOT certificate that may be used for any driving infractions, it is advised that you preserve the original MOT certificate in a secure location. By inputting the registration number, you may check the MOT status of a car on the government website. You may get information about the MOT deadline and browse a history of prior MOT tests. Up to 28 days before the planned appointment, you may complete the MOT test for your car.

What is checked in MOT?

An MOT test entails a number of inspections of your vehicle, including everything from the seat belts and the braking system to the mirrors, wipers, and tyres. As part of the MOT, the majority of vehicles—aside from electric vehicles—will also have their pollution levels checked; if they are too high, your car will fail.

What Evaluations Are Conducted During a MOT?

An MOT test is intended to make sure that your car complies with environmental and road safety regulations. A vehicle health check or service, which finds and fixes any problems with your car, should not be confused with a MOT, which will thoroughly examine every aspect of your automobile to verify that it is safe to drive. Before your MOT, it is strongly advised that you get a comprehensive service to make sure that everything that can cause you to fail the test has been rectified.

The following components are examined during a MOT:

• Lighting devices,
• Reflectors,
• Electrical apparatus, such as horns, batteries, and wiring
• Rust, cracks, and shock absorbers in the steering and suspension
• Brakes
• Roads wheels and tyres
• Car seats
• Body composition
• Emissions, gasoline, and exhaust

How Can You Reduce the Risk of a MOT Failing?

It is beneficial to inspect parts like lights, wipers, and tyres before your vehicle is scheduled for a MOT in order to reduce the chance of failure because nearly half of all defects discovered during MOT tests might be prevented by doing simple maintenance checks.

Here are some quick tests you may perform for the problems that MOTs fail on the most frequently:

Lights: Turn on all of the lights from the driver's seat, and ask a friend or family member to go around your car to make sure everything is functioning as it should.

Suspension: Suspension problems can be pretty well concealed, but there are several checks you can do that should reveal whether an issue exists.

Tyres: To verify the tread depth, use a tyre depth gauge. If you don't have one of these, you may learn how to quickly check your tyre depth from the convenience of your home by reading our blog post on automobile safety checks you can perform at home.

Brakes: As you are driving, observe whether your car pulls to one side as you brake. This can imply that there is a problem. Parking your car on a slope and checking to see if the handbrake secures it will allow you to ascertain the handbrake's effectiveness.

View of the Driver on the road: Examine your mirrors for any noticeable cracks that might obstruct your visibility, and repair any that are broken.

Make sure your wiper blades are in good shape and don't exhibit any damage. Also make sure your screenwash is full and your windscreen has not sustained any severe damage, then make sure the feed for the screenwash is not obstructed.

The following automobiles do not require formal emissions testing:

• Two-wheeled and three-wheeled
• Vehicles with two-stroke engines
• Hybrid vehicles
• Quadricycles
• Vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells
• Electric vehicles

Conclusion

Regular maintenance is still required even if your vehicle passes its MOT because there is no guarantee that it will be secure to drive for the duration of the test certificate. You can visit MOT Luton for this.