subject: Taking Your Car For An Mot [print this page] When taking your car for its MOT make sure it is very clean, it isnt compulsory to present your vehicle cleaned and polished for an MOT, but if the underside, or items requiring inspection in the engine compartment is really dirty and covered in oil, then the Tester can refuse to inspect it and you will could have to come back another day.
Also, if you are taking a small van or for MOT, and there is load on board that too may have to be removed for the MOT. The same applies to items in the boot; do not take your car for the test with the boot full of junk. The Tester will have to look into the boot to examine the rear suspension mounting and will need to be able to see them to complete the MOT.
Have a look at the seat belts. Do they properly work? Is the belt frayed or cut? That too could result in instant failure.
Damage to the bodywork can also cause an MOT failure if it is likely to result in damage or injury to other road users, so make sure that there are no nasty jagged exposed edges.
Is there a smell of petrol or diesel? Do not take your car for an MOT Test with a fuel leak. Any fuel leak at all will result in an immediate failure with no other items being examined because of the serious potential hazard during the MOT Test.
You may need the vehicle registration documents as some MOT Tested items are checked in a way which could depend on when the vehicle was first registered. If your vehicle falls across one of these date breaks, and the Tester doesnt have the documentation to check, you may find you will be turned away until you have the correct paper work which can be checked.
Checking the tyres is very important. Although most garages will be happy to supply new or part worn depending on your budget.
Make sure the washers have water in them and that they work. Check your wiper blades to see if the surface which wipes the screen is not cracked, broken or damaged in any way. Has the windscreen got any large cracks in it? If it has then that could be a failure depending on how extensive they are and where they appear on the screen. Most Insurance policies allow windscreen replacement without affecting your claims.
