When a vehicle is at least three years old, they has to undergo an MOT test every year to ensure it is in compliance with the standards of safety on the road and environmental protection. In this article we’ll look at what exactly an MOT test is and what’s included in every test.
What exactly is an MOT?
The MOT test can be described as a thorough examination of a vehicle to ensure safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions to make sure that the vehicle is compliant with the legal requirements. MOT tests are conducted according in accordance with DVSA guidelines and are conducted by certified, nominated testers at an DVSA certified MOT test centre.
What is an MOT check? What Does an MOT Check Include?
Lamps, Reflectors , and Electrical Equipment
Lights
The front and rear lights of your vehicle’s brake, fog indicators, rear reflectors, and registration plate light must:
Place yourself correctly and securely
Do not be obscured
Be in good shape e.g. not damaged or cracked
Make sure it is a color that is acceptable (a slightly blue tint to front headlights can be accepted provided that the dominant color is white)
Be not adversely affected from the action of any other light source
It is possible to illuminate the room with just one operation of the switch.
Make sure that the main beam and dip beam are directed towards the left of the horizontal in order not to frighten other drivers.
Horn
The horn should be able of emitting an unison note continuously and be sufficiently loud that it can be heard by any other road user.
Battery
The battery needs to be secured and should not show any indications of leakage electrolytes.
Electrical Wiring
The wiring in the electrical circuit must be protected and should not be damaged in a way that there’s a chance for a circuit short being disconnected.
Vehicles equipped with towbars
If your car has an towbar, the electrical socket is examined to make sure it’s in good working order and that it is operating the trailer’s lighting, parking light indicators, and rear fog lights in a proper manner.
Suspension and Steering
Steering
Your steering wheel needs to be secure and in satisfactory state. It is tested by turning the wheel in various directions, then checking each part for damage or wear. If the wheel is equipped with locks it will be checked to ensure that it only locks when the engine isn’t in use.
If your car has powered steering it needs to contain at minimum the amount of fluid for power steering inside the reservoir.
Suspension
The tester will test the suspension components as well as shock absorbers to determine if there is excess corrosion, distortion or fractures.
Brakes
The brakes, pedals and levers will be examined to make sure they’re in good condition and that any warning light must function correctly. A test of brake performance will also be conducted to determine the effectiveness of your brakes.
Tyres as well as Road Wheels
For your car to pass the MOT test, your tyres have to be at a suitable rate and weight for the vehicle you are driving. The tread depth must be at minimum 1.6 and should not have any cuts greater than 25mm, bulges, lumps or tears, as well as contact with the cord, and tread separation. Road wheel must be in good order and all wheel nuts securely secured.
If your car has run-flat tires the warning light will be examined to make sure it is working properly.
Seatbelts
All seatbelts have to be of the right length and functioning in a correct manner.
Parts of the Body and Structure as well as General Equipment
Body
The tester will perform an overall examination of the body chassis engines, seat mountings in the bonnet, boot, and doors to ensure that they are free of excessive corrosion and don’t have sharp edges that could cause injury.
Registration Plates
The registration plates you choose to use must be placed in the rear and front of the vehicle . They should be visible and secure to anyone standing at a distance of 20 meters. They must have properly formed and spaced characters.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Every vehicle has to have their VIN number permanently visible, whether on an VIN plate or etched onto the chassis or body.
Speedometer
You should have a speedometer that is properly lit. Glass that is cracked shouldn’t be an issue if you are able to be able to read the speed clearly.
Emissions, Exhaust, and Fuel
Exhaust System
The exhaust system of your vehicle is inspected to ensure that it’s secure and isn’t leaking. Additionally, they will look whether your catalytic converter remains in place when your car was initially equipped with one.
Emissions
The tester will confirm that your vehicle’s CO and Hydrocarbon emission are within the limits of legality by employing an analyser probe for gas while the engine is operating. The test will look at the amount of smoke released from the exhaust. They’ll also look for any smoke that is of any color, which could result in an MOT-related failure.
Driver’s Perspectives of the Road
Mirrors and Wipers
The rear view mirrors and the wing mirrors need to be secure and offer a clear view to the rear as well as side of the driver. Washers and wipers should also cover a sufficient space to provide the driver an unobstructed perspective of traffic.
Windscreen
There shouldn’t be any obstruction or damage to the driver’s vision within the region which is the front of the windscreen which is greater than 10mm. Outside of this zone there should not be any damages that are more than 40mm.
What is the length of time an MOT will take?
The typical Ford MOT test takes between 45 minutes to an hour.
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