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Some common causes for MOT failure

by Campbells Tyres Exhaust Welcome to Campbells Tyres & Exhausts

Can you remember the last time your car had its MOT done? You probably cannot because this test is done annually, and all three-year or older cars must have an MOT VT20 certificate after passing an MOT test. Simply keeping track of when your MOT is due is insufficient. For your car to legally continue driving, it must also pass the test. Just imagine the difference it could have in your MOT test result if you knew what could fail an MOT. We will help you explore the common causes that can lead to an MOT failure and how you can avoid them. Now you must have this question in your mind “Is not getting an MOT that bad?” Indeed, driving your car without a valid MOT is illegal and can lead to a £1000 penalty.

What is the purpose of an MOT?

The main purpose of an MOT Redcar is to check if your car is in roadworthy condition according to UK guidelines. This test is required by your car to see if it meets the minimum environmental and safety standards. Your car will fail its MOT if any components of it do not meet these legal requirements.

Common causes of MOT failure

A pre-MOT checklist covering the most frequent reasons for MOT failure and suggestions for preventing them can be found below. Please note that these are the most common causes of MOT failure, but this is not an exhaustive list of everything that can fail an MOT.

Lights

The most common cause of MOT failure is lights, often just a blown bulb. Before your MOT, check that all your lights are working, including indicators, brake lights, and the light above your registration.

Car bulb replacement is very simple; all you need to do is find the right bulbs that fit your car. Replacement bulbs are usually cheap and can be found in your nearby local garage.

Tyres

Tyres are one of the most important car components for roadworthiness. This is why tyre tread depth is another common reason for MOT failure. You will fail your MOT if the tread depth on your tyres is not as deep as required by law, which is 1.6 mm.

Brakes

Brakes are the reason why 10% of cars fail their MOT. Brake faults are often easy to identify. Your brakes will likely make your car fail an MOT if:

  • You hear unusual noises when you apply the brakes.
  • As you press the brake pedal, your car pulls to one side of the road.
  • When stopping on hills, your handbrake is not functioning consistently.

Keeping your brakes in good working order is essential for everyone's safety on the road. If you’re worried about your brakes, you should get a brake service immediately.

Suspension

Another frequent reason for your car's MOT failure is suspension problems. Unfortunately, it may be harder to identify suspension systems that are excessively worn. Pay close attention to how your car feels and sounds while driving. You should check your car's suspension if:

  • It makes grinding or knocking noises when going over bumps.
  • You feel the car jerk in different ways when you drive.

Driver’s View of the Road

MOT failure can be caused by anything that blocks or dangerously interferes with the driver’s view of the road, such as windscreen wipers. An MOT failure due to your windscreen is usually caused by:

  • Chips or cracks within the driver’s eye-line.
  • Objects like navigation systems block the driver’s view
  • Faulty wipers

Emissions

After a recent strengthening of emission standards, more cars are seeing MOT failures due to emissions. To prevent a MOT emissions failure, make sure you:

  • You do not go over the allowed limits for emissions from petrol or diesel cars.
  • Your diesel particulate filter (DPF) hasn’t been altered.
  • Your exhaust is not emitting an excessive amount of smoke.

If your car fails its MOT, what will happen?

If your car does not pass the MOT, you will receive a VT30 certificate, including minor, major, and dangerous faults. You will need to schedule a retest after fixing the malfunctioning parts. If the same garage completes all of the work within ten days of your initial test, there is no charge for a MOT Redcar retest. By having your car inspected before the MOT due date, you can find any issues and have them fixed before the expiration of your MOT.

If you fail your MOT, you are only permitted to drive if:

  • There is still time left on your previous year's MOT.
  • You are on your way to a scheduled MOT test.
  • You are heading to a garage to have the remaining issues fixed.

If your car doesn’t have an MOT, can you drive?

It is against the law to drive without a MOT, and you risk a £1000 fine. As a result, it is critical to address any possible issues found during your MOT before it expires.

Conclusion

Now you have all the knowledge you need regarding the common causes of MOT failures. We have also provided you with a pre-MOT checklist, so you can prevent your car from failing the MOT. We have also mentioned under what circumstances you can drive an MOT-failed car and what will happen if your car fails its MOT


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About Campbells Tyres Exhaust Junior   Welcome to Campbells Tyres & Exhausts

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Joined APSense since, November 7th, 2023, From Redcar Road Marske by the sea Redcar TS11 6HU, United Kingdom.

Created on May 4th 2024 01:17. Viewed 69 times.

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