Questions You May Have in Your Mind About the MOT Test

If you are a new car driver, it is possible you do not have enough about the MOT test. The MOT test is a mandatory test for car drivers in the UK. Therefore, you cannot avoid it in any conditions. Therefore, you should prepare yourself well for the test.

In this blog, we have a list of questions that are usually asked about the MOT Birmingham test.

The full form of the MOT test is the Ministry of Transport. Taking the test is a legal requirement for car drivers in the UK. A trained technician will carry out the test in an authorized centre when you submit your vehicle to the test centre. The test aims to ensure that your car remains safe on the roads. You will get a certificate if the tester does not find any faults in your car.

If you have bought a new car, you do not need to submit your car for the MOT test. You will need the MOT certificate after the third anniversary of the vehicle. You will get the certificate in only one year if your car clears the test. Next year, you have to submit your vehicle again.

Your MOT certificate is valid for only one year. It means you will need to submit your vehicle to the centre on the same day next year. However, you can contact the centre for the test at least one month before the expiry date as well. Generally, you do not get any reminders for the MOT test from DVSA. An MOT centre however may send reminders as a service.

You have to renew your certificate every year to prove that your car is safe for the roads. If you are driving with an expired certificate, you may face a fine as the legal punishment. If your certificate has expired and you are going to the test centre after booking the test, they will allow you to drive your car.

No, it is not similar to the car service. You will find recommendations for regular car service in your user manual. If you visit regularly for car service, your vehicle will work efficiently for a long time. Car service is not a legal requirement. Therefore you are not obliged to follow the instructions given in the user manual.

On the other hand, the MOT test is mandatory. You have to submit your vehicle to the MOT centre in any condition every year to get the certificate. You cannot drive your car without a valid MOT certificate.

During the car service, your mechanic will detect the problem and repair it as well. On the other hand, during MOT, the tester will only examine the mechanical condition of the vehicle. He will not repair any faulty component of your car.

MOT authorities have a preset list of components that the test will check during the test. These components include tyres, exhaust, seat and seatbelts, horn, lights, driver’s view, windscreen wipers, bodywork, number plate etc. The test will not cover the clutch, gearbox, and car engine.

If your vehicle cannot get the certificate, you have to repair mechanical faults to drive your vehicle again. If you choose the same garage for the repair work and repair the faults within 10 working days, the retest will be free. You have to submit your vehicle for a full test if you fail to repair the faults within 10 working days.

According to the rules and regulations of DVSA, there are three main categories of faults in the vehicle. These faults are minor, major, and dangerous.

The MOT centre will allow you to have the certificate if your car has some minor faults. They may provide an advisory as well to keep an eye on the faults.

If your vehicle has major faults, the centre will not issue the certificate. You have to repair the faults to submit your vehicle again for the test. If your vehicle has dangerous mechanical issues, the car will fail its MOT Birmingham. You can repair the faults in another garage if you hope to get a better price. You can drive your car to the garage if your vehicle has major faults. Only towing option is available if the tester has detected dangerous faults in the vehicle.