MOT Test FAQs - Everything UK Drivers Need to Know

With countless questions flooding the minds of UK drivers concerning the MOT test, it is quite obvious as to why. The yearly MOT Birmingham is a legal requirement that may seem perplexing to a new driver or someone who has never really been involved in maintenance.

From what is responsible for the largest number of failures to how long your certificate lasts, having the right information will prepare you and keep you away from costly mistakes. Here is a rundown of MOT's frequently asked questions that will put you through the MOT processes confidently.

What Can Affect Your MOT Result?

Numerous faults can be considered for refusing to issue an MOT certificate for your car. Knowing the usual suspects helps you better prepare, so you are not left disappointed.

Defective Lighting or Signalling

It is perhaps the most common refusal reason we have already talked about. Any lights that do not work properly can create problems. Indicators, brake lights, headlights, and some would even say interior lights, can cause a failure. 

Worn-Out Tyres

Another big thing that causes MOT failures - tyres. These include tyres with insufficient tread depth, visible damage such as cuts or bulges, and tyres that are inappropriate for the car, i.e., the wrong size.

Until the very minimum tread depth of 1.6mm is considered legal in the UK, many experts advise servicing tires way before they reach 3mm for safety reasons. You can check your tyre tread depth with a 20p coin: If you can see the outer band while putting the coin into the tread, that tyre must be replaced.

Brake Issues

MOT tests treat problems with your braking system with utmost gravity, including things like worn brake pads, worn brake discs, or an unworking handbrake. A drop in brake fluid level or even a contamination of brake fluid integrity can also constitute grounds for failure.

Obstructed Driver's View

Your windscreen and windows need to provide a clear view of the road. Cracks or chips could cause you to fail if they are right in front of your line of sight. This is especially true of damage in the area directly in front of the steering wheel.

Suspension Problems

During the MOT, great emphasis is placed on checking the car's suspension system. Worn shock absorbers, broken springs, or problems with other members of the suspension family can cause failures. These things often affect handling and can be dangerous.

Understanding MOT Failure Rules

The system used in the MOT vehicle examination classifies downed faults found during the vehicle tests into different categories. This classification allows us to effectively understand the severity of any issue identified.

Minor faults (Advisories)  

Minor faults are defects other than those that need to be dealt with immediately because they do not pose an immediate danger, although they may provide a cause of concern or be corrected in a fair time so that they do not worsen with time. Although the occurrence of minor faults cannot be deemed as a test failure, it is stated as an advisory on the MOT certificate. 

common examples are tyres whose tread wear is closing in on the legal minimum, small oil leaks and parts which are technically acceptable but at the end of their life. Though, these shortcomings will not cause the immediate failure condition; these should be addressed before the next test.

Major Faults 

Primary faults are greater sensations that will infringe either road safety or environment. In case a vehicle holds significant faults, then it is unfit and will not pass the MOT examination.

Examples of such major faults are brake pads that are excessively worn out, tyres having less than the stipulated depth of the tread and faulty exterior or interior lights. Such errors should be corrected and resubmitted to be tested.

Dangerous Faults 

The most dangerous ones are dangerous faults. They refer to the conditions posing a threat to safety urgently and grant a fail status that also results in an immediate ban on the usage of the road until corrective measures are exhausted. 

Such can be heavily worn out brakes, suspensions that are sabotaged to the extent that they influence the accuracy of steering or labels with serious body damage. The test centre can decline to allow the vehicle to leave the premises in cases of the dangerous faults.

What Happens After a Failed MOT?

If your car fails an MOT, don't worry. The test centre will explain the issues it has failed on in writing. You can then obtain quotes for the work required to repair the issues. 

After a failed MOT, there are several options available. If you go back to the same garage to have minor repairs done within 10 working days, you might possibly qualify for a partial retest for free or at reduced cost.

If your car has failed due to major repairs, you will have to pay the test fee again from scratch. This is why it's very important to prepare for your MOT thoroughly. 

Conclusion

After reading this section, being aware of the common reasons for MOT failures and categories of failure means that you can prepare for your annual MOT. The majority of MOT failures are easy to avoid with careful maintenance and simple checks. If you prepare properly and get into a Car Servicing Birmingham routine, passing your MOT should be simple and stress-free.