Prepare for the MOT

Vehicles that are more than three years old are legally required to take an MOT (Ministry of Transport) test every year to make sure they are roadworthy. Most cars will fail their MOT due to small issues that could be easily avoided. By doing a few simple checks you could save yourself money and a potential penalty for driving an uncertified car.

In order to help you here we have the some of the most common MOT failures as well as a few of our top tips and products to help you through the MOT.

The 5 most Common Failures

1. Tyre tread depth below 1.6mm

2. Suspension damage or imbalance

3. Missing or broken lamps

4. Brake issues

5. Headlamp aim/alignment

Top Tips to Pass the MOT

1. Bring the correct Documentation

This may sound simple but it’s important. You will need to bring the following on the day to the MOT centre so make sure you have them handy:

• Drivers Licence or Passport

• Vehicle Registration Certificate

• Previous year MOT

2. Check your plates

Take a moment and check your number plates ahead of your MOT. If the registration is not clearly visible, the plate is falling off or missing all of these are reasons to fail an MOT. Check out our range of number plate holders and fixtures and get this problem fixed in a jiffy.

3. Clean out the car and check seat belts

This is only something that takes a few minutes and can really make a difference when going through the test. By ensuring that things like lights and mirrors are clean you remove the risk of dirt skewing test results that could end in failure. Also, it is good practise to empty the boot and remove child seats (if these are in the car the tester will check to make sure they are correctly installed and if not the car will fail). While cleaning the car have a look and make sure that all seatbelts are in good condition and visible. If these are damaged or frayed in any way the car can and will fail the exam. By taking the time to check these little things you can help make sure your car flies through an MOT.

4. Check those tyres

First and foremost, if there are hubcaps on the car, remove them before the test. The mechanics at the testing centre have to check wheel nuts and the surrounding area. Tyres are one of the biggest reason for failures when it comes to the MOT so making sure that your tyre depth is above the 1.6mm limit is extremely important. Other things to keep an eye out for include ensuring all tyres are the same size and type.

While this could mean changing the tyres in some cases - as long as they are inflated to manufacturer specification, above the minimum depth, not visibly damaged and are the same then you should be fine.

5. Bright Lights

Probably one of the quickest fixes so make sure that you check your lights before the MOT as a blown bulb is an automatic failure. Turn on the car and check all the lights around the car:

• Indicators

• Brake lights

• Dipped and dimmed headlights

• Parking lights

• Fog lights

We have a full range of light bulbs available on our Online Store so give the car a check and order what you need for delivery or collection. You should also check light covers for moisture inside or cracked lens’ as these might need to be changed to ensure you pass the MOT.

6. Oil and other fluids

Open the bonnet and follow the labels, most cars will have all the fluids the car requires clearly labelled so make sure the oil, coolant, brake fluid and windscreen wash are all fully topped up. Again by simply checking the levels, not only will you ensure a better chance of passing the MOT, your car will also run better.

We hope this short guide can help you be ready for your MOT. It is recommended that you also print off a check list directly from the MOT website in advance of your test. Don't forget whatever you need can be purchased at your local Wurth Trade Store or our Online Shop