How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Its MOT?

After your vehicle completes its 3 years from the date of registration, the time comes when you must get your vehicle tested for MOT. Being a mandatory test for vehicles older than 3 years, the United Kingdom government takes this very seriously, and so should the citizens of the UK. But one big stress on the minds of people who are taking their vehicle for its test is what would happen if they failed the test. Well, one really good way for you to get rid of this tension of your vehicle failing its MOT is for you to do a few pre-MOT checks on your vehicle. But people get confused about the type of checks that they should make to increase the chances of their vehicle passing its MOT. Well, if you are one such person, then this blog is for you. In this blog, we will be providing you with a detailed breakdown of checks that you should make. But let’s start this blog by understanding why it is so important to pass this test. 

Why is Passing the MOT Important? 

MOT or the Ministry of Transport test is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom, and if you are a vehicle owner in the UK, then you should not dodge giving the test. The main purpose of this test is to ensure that you have a well-maintained vehicle which is safe for driving and also ensures that it does not harm the environment. Passing this test will ensure that you have been able to keep your vehicle maintained, and it is safe for the environment and will not harm yourself or other road users. But if there is any kind of issue with the components of your vehicle, which are checked in the MOT test Darlington, then you will get a failing certificate. 

Pre-MOT Checks For Your Vehicle 

Here is a list of some important pre-MOT checks that you should do on your vehicle to ensure that it will pass its MOT: 

• Checking Registration Plate 

Let's start this list with the first thing that will help in the identification of your vehicle. The first thing that the MOT tester will do once you reach the test centre is enter your vehicle’s registration number in the government-approved software. Therefore, ensuring that it is in good condition is very important. The registration plate should not be chipped, and the font of the registration plate should also be the correct one. If there are any kind of issues like we have mentioned above, then your vehicle will fail its MOT. 

• Checking Windscreen Condition 

Now, let’s take a look right above the registration plate and see how the windscreen can lead to your vehicle’s failure in the MOT. Windscreen has become a big reason for your vehicle failing its test. The most common issue with the windscreen is that it is damaged. Here we are talking about damages like having cracks on the windscreen. If we talk about the government regulations, then there is no need to worry if the crack on the windscreen is measured to be around 10mm. This is for the case of the windscreen that comes under the windscreen wipers. Apart from this, if the crack is around 40 mm, then your vehicle will fail its MOT. 

• Checking Tyres 

The condition of the tyres of your vehicle is another factor which helps in making the decision of whether your vehicle will pass its MOT. But if there are issues like improper tyre pressure, tread depth, and various other reasons, your vehicle will fail its MOT. It has also been noted that some of the most common reasons for the vehicles to fail its MOT test is it having issues related to the tyres not being maintained. So, to ensure that they don’t become the reason for your vehicle’s test failure, you should ensure that the tyre tread depth is under the legal limit set by the UK government, which is 1.6mm. You should also make sure that there is no physical damage to the tyres of your vehicle.  

• Checking The Lights  

Lights can be another big reason for the vehicle's failing its MOT. But checking it before you go to the test centre can be quite helpful. Here we are talking about simple checks on the lights of your vehicle, like headlights, indicators, fog lights, and back lights. You can turn on all the lights and ensure that they are positioned and are working properly. 

Conclusion 

Preparing a little before a test can always be helpful and can make the difference between passing and failing the test. The same goes for MOT, as making a few necessary pre-MOT checks can ensure that the parts of your vehicle which will be checked in the test are in good condition, which will allow your vehicle to pass its test. We hope that you can use this blog as a guide to understand the few important pre-MOT checks for you to make and ensure that you pass the test.