What is checked in an MOT?

• Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment. Lights. ...
• Steering and suspension. Steering. ...
• Brakes. 9.6% of MOT fails are due to brake issues. ...
• Tyres and road wheels. ...
• Seat belts. ...
• Body, structure and general items. ...
• Exhaust, fuel and emissions. ...
• Driver's view of the road.

What does an MOT not check?

Some of the most significant areas of a vehicle that are not assessed in an MOT include the condition of the clutch, gearbox and engine (apart from the engine mountings). ... The condition of the tyres fitted to your vehicle, together with the size, type and tread depth, are checked in an MOT, but any spare tyres are not.

What can a car fail its MOT on?

Common MOT fails

• lightbulbs are working - 30% of all faults related to lighting and signalling.
• tyre condition and pressure - 10% of all faults related to tyres.
• mirrors, wipers and washers - 8.5% of all faults related to 'Driver's view of the road'

What are the most common MOT failures?

The 10 Most Common MOT Fails - and How To Avoid Them

• Lights and signaling. Blown bulbs are the single biggest cause of failures, and are one of the simplest and cheapest to fix. ...
• Suspension. ...
• Brakes. ...
• Tyres. ...
• Driver's view of the road. ...
• Fuel and exhaust. ...
• Steering. ...
• Seat belts and airbags.

Are brake pads checked on MOT?

Brakes are one of the most used part of any vehicle so it is no surprise they are on of the main reasons so many vehicles fail their MOT. ... This is why during any MOT, the brake pads, discs and in some cases shoes, will be checked.

What Do MOT's Check? | Guide To MOT Tests

45 related questions found

What happens if you fail MOT?

MOT failure

If your car fails its MOT: You will be given a refusal of MOT certificate (VT30) Your vehicle must be repaired and retested to comply with MOT standards. You may not be covered by your insurance, so you are advised not to drive it, except to an approved test centre or a garage for repairs.

What gets checked on a car service?

Checks during a car service can include the engine oil, oil filter, lights, tyres, bodywork, exhausts, brakes, steering, fluid and coolant levels, suspension and 12V battery.

Do they check TYRE pressure on MOT?

Although tyre pressure itself isn't checked in an MOT, legislation introduced in 2015 means that every car with a faulty or failed tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) will fail its MOT.

Is oil level checked in MOT?

The oil check is an important part of an MOT because without it, the garage will not be able to test emission levels. You can check this by taking a quick look under the bonnet. As you would when checking the brake fluid, do this test with the engine off and cool and the car parked on a flat, even surface.

Will TPMS fail MOT?

A faulty Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is now an automatic MOT fail on cars registered after 1 January 2012. A car displaying a TPMS fault when submitted for its MOT will result in a test failure from the 1st January 2015.

Does MOT check battery?

A thorough check of the electrics will be undertaken. This will include any visible electrical wiring, connectors and battery.

What does full service include?

Recap. A full service includes 40 checks and helps to keep your car in top condition, preventing breakdowns and saving you money on fuel costs. It also increases the resale value of your vehicle as well as its performance.

What is the difference between a service and an MOT?

An MOT is a mandatory test to ensure that your car is roadworthy; a service follows detailed guidelines, set out by the vehicle manufacturer and is designed to keep your car in peak condition. ... So a car that passes its MOT is roadworthy, but it's not necessarily running at optimum fitness.

How often should you get a full service on your car?

It can be difficult to know when to service a car; a good rule of thumb for a car over three years old would be to have a full service every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. A full service would include a number of checks on the vehicle as well as oil change and oil filter change.

How long before MOT is due Can it be done?

An MOT can be carried out up one month, minus a day, prior to the expiry date of your existing MOT certificate, whilst still preserving the anniversary of the expiry date. If you have your test carried out a month before the due date, your MOT is effectively valid for 13 months.

How long I can drive without MOT?

Is there ever a time I can drive without an MOT? The simple answer is, no, it's illegal to drive without an MOT. If your vehicle is more than three years old, you can't drive without an MOT unless you are driving to a pre-booked test at an authorised test centre.

How long before MOT expires Can you renew?

An MOT can be carried out up to one calendar month prior to the expiry date of the existing MOT certificate, while still preserving the anniversary of the expiry date. If a test is carried out a month before the due date, the MOT is effectively valid for 13 months.

What happens if I don't service my car?

By not servicing your car you are likely to find that its performance may deteriorate. This may mean that you start to hear strange noises, have little problems with general running and lights start to pop up all over the dashboard.

Should I do MOT and service together?

When booking a service and an MOT for your car, it's best to complete the MOT first. This is because some of the faults identified during a service will also be flagged during an MOT, so getting the MOT done first will save you time and money. However, this doesn't mean you should forego the service altogether.

Does full service include MOT?

Your vehicle may require additional work in order to pass your MOT but the test itself does not include any repairs or replacement parts. ... So while things like brakes, lights, tyres, and seatbelts are covered in the MOT test, things such as your engine are not. That's where a service will help.

Is timing belt checked on service?

The condition of service parts such as air and oil filters or drive and timing belts are not checked in the MOT. ... Incidentally, if you're wondering what MOT stands for, its name is an acronym for Ministry of Transport, the grandfather of the Department for Transport.

How often should spark plugs be changed?

And as a general rule, we recommend replacing spark plugs every 30,000 miles, which falls in line with most manufacturers' recommendations. You can check your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website for information specific to your make and model vehicle.

How long does a full service and MOT take?

With MOT tests generally lasting between 45 minutes to 1 hour, and full services usually taking no longer than 3 hours to complete, an estimation for an MOT and service would be between 2 hours minimum - 4 hours maximum.

Do I need to empty boot for MOT?

Empty your boot of any unnecessary items and make sure your glove box is mainly being used to store important documents (OK, your trusty car sweets can probably stick around, too). This step might seem a bit basic, but examiners can actually refuse to carry out an MOT test if the car is too cluttered or dirty.

Do they check clutch on service?

All of the engine components will be given vigorous tests and checks. This includes checking the transmission and rear axle, the radiator, coolant hoses, clutch, air and fuel filters, auxiliary drive belt, fuel pipes, spark plugs and the exhaust system.