That dreaded time of year has rolled around again – your vehicle is due for its MOT. A year has never gone so quickly… An MOT (Ministry of Transport test) is your annual check-up to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive according to the legal standards. In this test, the essential parts of your vehicle will be checked – if there are too many faults your vehicle will, regrettably, fail.
What does your MOT look at?
An MOT inspects the health of your car, i.e. the vehicle structure, lights, brakes, tyres, seat belts and more. There are some elements of an MOT that you won’t be able to check for without the correct equipment, like brake efficiency and exhaust emission levels. It also doesn’t check for engine, clutch or gearbox health so it may be worth getting these checked separately.
So, to avoid your vehicle failing its MOT, here are a few small steps you can carry out in order to get it ready for its time in the limelight.
How to pass your MOT: Check your…
- Lights. Driving in the dark can be dangerous, especially without proper visibility. Check that all your lights are working and bright. Don’t neglect the number plate lights!
- Tyres. Make sure your tyres are inflated properly and have at least 1.6mm of tread. To check this, place a 20p coin into the tread grooves. If you can’t see the raised edge around the coin your tread will likely be more than 1.6mm, which means it’s legal.
- Horn. Your horn is essential to make sure you can alert other drivers to a danger on the road, or to get their attention. Make sure yours is functional before your MOT.
- Washer fluid. Make sure that you have enough washer fluid in your washer tank to clear your windshield of any debris that could obscure your view while driving.
- Wipers. Your wipers and your washer fluid go hand in hand. Make sure your wipers are capable of clearing your windshield of the fluid you just topped up!
- Mirrors. Not only is a cracked mirror bad luck for seven years, but it also means you could miss hazards on the road. Make sure yours are intact before your vehicle’s check-up.
- Warning lights. If any of your warning lights are on, this means there could be a problem. Sorting this out before your MOT will mean you’re more likely to pass.
- Seat belts. As an incredibly important element of keeping your passengers safe, your seat belts must be effective to pass your MOT. Your protection relies on your seat belts!
- Brake fluid. Your brake fluid is designed to increase the pressure on your brakes, so is important in keeping your stopping distance to a minimum. Be sure to close your bonnet properly afterwards.
The best way to pass your MOT comfortably is to make sure you keep on top of these maintenance tasks all year round. That way, there won’t be a rush to make sure your car is safe the day before your MOT! If your vehicle has dangerous or major faults, your car will fail its MOT and you must get it fixed immediately. If the faults are minor, you’ve escaped for another year. To check when your car is due for its MOT, you can check your status on the government website.
For more information on how to prepare for your MOT or to books yours now with CVS Van Hire, contact us on 020 8003 1184 or email info@cvsvanhire.co.uk. We’ll be happy to walk you through the process to make sure your vehicle passes with flying colours.
