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I passed my driving test 18 years ago now (well, that makes me feel old!) and have been driving for 13 years. I didn’t get a car straight away and when I finally did I was so excited to pick up my cheap little Vauxhall Corsa and get out on the road. Despite the fact that my little red go-kart was very temperamental and often wouldn’t even go into first gear and I would have to start off in second, it passed it’s MOT test every time.
Since then I’ve had a few cars and despite those being rather more expensive than my little £500 baby, they have all tended to not pass their MOT first time!
I think it’s really important as a car owner to know how to look after your car properly so that you and the car are both safe on the roads, so I’ve put together some information on what an MOT is, when you need to get it done, and anything you can learn to do yourself before taking it for its test.
An MOT – which stands for Ministry of Transport – is a yearly test for your vehicle to check for safety, roadworthiness aspects, and exhaust emissions and it is required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles that are over three years old.
During the test, all of the important parts of the car are checked thoroughly to ensure that they meet the legal standards for safety. If the car fails on any of the checks then that part needs to be fixed before the vehicle can be driven again.
Driving without a valid MOT certificate is illegal and can result in a hefty fine, so it’s really important that you set a reminder each year for when your MOT is due so that you don’t unintentionally drive around for a few weeks with no MOT. The only time you are allowed to drive without a valid MOT is when you are driving to the garage to get it done.
There are also some new rules that can mean that you end up with an even bigger fine if your car is unroadworthy even with a valid MOT certificate, so it’s important that you pay attention to how your car is working and any problems with it that you may need to get checked out.
Once a car is three years old it will need its first MOT test, and then annually after that. That means that if you always buy a second-hand car as I do that you need to know when it had its last MOT and arrange for it to be tested a year after that (or before).
It’s important that you book it in for its MOT test before the date it is due in case car garages near you are very busy and you struggle to get a booking in time.
If you have your vehicle’s MOT certificate from last time handy then you can check on there when it was last tested and therefore when it is due again. If not you can easily check on gov.uk and go to ‘Driving and Transport’, then ‘Vehicle Tax, MOT and Insurance’ and click ‘Check the MOT status of a vehicle’ and then follow the instructions. You’ll need your vehicle’s registration number.
It will then tell you when your tax and MOT are due as well as some information about your car. Make a note and set a reminder for when these are due now!
You can also check when your MOT is due on some local garage websites and from there book your car in for it’s MOT if required. It’s obviously important that you find a reputable garage near you so that you’re not ripped off or end up with an unsafe car. If you happen to be in the East Sussex area then you can get DVSA approved MOT Test Service in Brighton from KAP Motors, where you can book online at a date and time of your choosing.
During the MOT test, you can either wait at the garage for it to be completed, or leave your car with them and they will phone you once it is done, let you know whether it has passed or not, and what needs doing to your car, whether that is something that is required for the vehicle to pass or something else that could do with being sorted.
An MOT usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour and covers all of the electrical equipment, steering, fluids, suspension, brakes, tyres, seats and seatbelts, filters, exhausts and emissions, windscreen, lights, wipers, and mirrors’ checks.
An MOT does not check the condition of service parts, so it can also be a good idea to pay for a service of your car every so often too. What is offered in a service may vary, but will usually carry include changing the oil and the oil filter and other things that an MOT doesn’t include.
If your vehicle passes the MOT test checklist then you will be issued an MOT certificate and you are safe to get back on the road. If it fails (which is very common) then you need to get the repairs done before a certificate can be issued to you and you can use your car again.
No. Only an approved authority can only issue the MOT test certificate. However, there are some simple things that you can check or learn to check and fix at home yourself so that you know those specific parts are working correctly before taking your car to the garage.
These include:
I hope this helps you to remember to get your MOT done and to understand more about it if you were unsure, and don’t forget to check and set a reminder for yourself now so that you are driving safely and legally.
This is a paid partnership with KAP Motors. See my full disclosure policy here.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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