How to prepare your vehicle for an M.O.T.

Every vehicle over three years old has to have a valid M.O.T. certificate. Without it you cannot legally drive the vehicle, or obtain insurance or a tax disc. The annual ritual of taking cars to a garage for their M.O.T test may be annoying but it is unavoidable and it does actually help to keep you safe on the road. Almost all of the checks done during the test are to ensure that that the vehicle is safe to drive.

Many cars and other vehicles fail their M.O.T tests because of small defects or problems that could easily be fixed beforehand. It’s a good idea to check a number of basic items yourself before the test. Fixing a defect before the test means that you can save yourself the bother and expense of having to get the garage to fix it and then retest the vehicle.

Of course, not all problems can be fixed at home, but here are a few basic things that can be checked and repaired before you take your vehicle for its M.O.T.

1. Check the tyre pressures and also the tread. There must be at least 1.6mm over three-quarters of the tyre.

2. Make sure that all lights are working, including the small light over the rear number plate.

3. The windscreens of all cars and other vehicles must be clear and free of cracks or chips larger than 1cm in front of the driver.

4. All seat belts must work properly. Excessive wear or cuts in the belts could result in failure.

5. It’s important to check that the brakes on the vehicle work correctly. This includes the handbrake.