Keep your car in tip-top condition
WHETHER it’s a reasonably new model or middle-aged, if you haven’t already done so, give your car a "medical" right away. It could mean the difference between happiness and tragedy.
If your car is more than three years old then you must have a current MoT certificate showing that a qualified garage has certified that your car’s structure, brakes, steering, lights, indicators, exhaust system, tyres, windscreen washers, wipers, seatbelt and horn are all in tip-top working order.
You won’t be issued with a certificate if one of these items fails to meet the legal requirements.
Without a valid certificate (and a certificate of insurance), you can’t
renew your road tax.
The MoT certificate doesn’t have to cover the same period as the road tax – it simply has to be valid on the first day from which the new road tax is to run.
The tester’s job is to assess whether your car is safe for use on the road. He arrives at a decision either by testing the component or by examination, or a combination of the two.
The test does rely a great deal on his judgement and interpretation.
Also remember that a successful MoT test is not a guarantee that a car is in good condition, or likely to remain so. It’s a test of particular components of the car to make sure that it is safe to drive on that day. The test does not cover the engine, gearbox, paintwork or the trim.
Unless you’re a qualified motor mechanic or a very experienced driver, you can’t hope to check your car for all aspects of the MoT test before you get it checked at a garage. But there are things you can do which can make all the difference between passing and failing.
Simple things to start off with – try the horn; check the washers and wipers (are there any worn blades?); check lights (see if any lenses are missing, broken, discoloured, or badly aligned); turn the steering wheel all the way from lock to lock (listen out for squeaks or clonks that may be a sign of wear and tear); check for leaks in the exhaust system; check all the tyres (including the spare) have plenty of tread on them – and look for cuts, slits or "balloon-like" bumps appearing on the side walls; on a clear, straight road, give the brakes a firm push (the car should pull up promptly and in a straight line); and test the handbrake too.
The brakes are most important, and during the official test the examiner may use a decelerometer which has a moving scale marked off in percentages.
If your car fails its MoT, you are only allowed to drive it home or to a garage for repairs and adjustments as outlined by the tester.