MOT: How to prevent the simplest failures

The Ministry of Transport test (MOT) is a legal requirement in the UK for vehicles over three years old.

Every 12 months, your vehicle will need to be inspected to see if it’s roadworthy.

The MOT test checks for suspension, lighting, corrosion and any other mechanical issues to make sure your vehicle is in safe working order.

However, a vehicle can fail an MOT on some of the simplest things, which could be prevented if you spend 10 minutes going over your car.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some of the MOT tests’ simplest failures and how you can avoid them.

A vehicle with limited screenwash will fail its MOT. This is due to it playing a vital part in your safety when it comes to forward visibility.

Driving a vehicle with a dirty windscreen reduces your view of the road. Plus, if you’re suddenly hit with dirt and grime, a lack of screenwash could stop you from being able to clean this screen effectively. Screenwash helps clear the screen in a matter of seconds, however, if it isn’t topped up, it could lead to an accident with your wipers smearing the glass.

Our advice would be to top up the screenwash before you drive to an MOT test – it can be annoying when your vehicle fails on something so simple. Make sure you use a dedicated screenwash rather than water, as this won’t freeze in sub-zero temperatures.

Headlights play a crucial part in dark conditions. A vehicle will fail its MOT if the headlamps on normal, side, dip and main beam are not working.

Tail lights are checked for brake light bulbs as are side lights and reversing lights. If any of these are not working, it will cause the vehicle to fail its MOT.

Don’t forget to check your number plate lamps as these can easily be missed to see if they’re working. Also, indicators will need to be checked to see if the hazard warning switch is working correctly, too.

To prevent your car from failing on light bulbs, turn all the lights on a check to see if they illuminate when they should.

To check the rear lights, have a family member or friend look for you, or reverse up to a wall and look in your rear-view mirror to see if they’re working from the reflection.

Tyres are one of the most crucial safety aspects of your vehicle, and having limited tread depths can be dangerous.

The legal requirement in the UK is 1.6mm – anything below that will be a fail on an MOT. One simple check is to get a 20p piece and fit it between the tread patterns. If the tyre obscures the outer band of the coin, then they’re within the limit. However, if that outer band is visible, then they’ll need switching out urgently.

Look for cuts and perishing on the sidewalls and look at the age of the tyre. Old rubber can be dangerous and will have a greater risk of blowing out at speeds or not providing as much grip in slippery conditions.

We recommend you replace your tyres every five to 10 years – especially if you do limited mileage.

Wiper blades are there to clear your front windscreen in wet conditions. However, a car can fail its MOT if the blades don’t clear the glass effectively.

This could be due to the rubbers becoming split and perished, making them scratch the glass.

Checking the rubbers can save you from your vehicle failing its MOT. Plus, new wiper blades can be purchased from any motoring accessory store for as little as £15.

Warning lights that appear on your dashboard will need to be taken seriously as they could be a sign of a major problem

Engine management, airbag, ABS and oil pressure lights are the most important to take note of. Any light illuminated on your dashboard will be an instant MOT failure.

Before taking your car to a test, make sure that all the dashboard lights illuminate upon startup, but they should then all switch off once the vehicle is running. If one stays on, get it checked immediately.

An engine management light could be something small such as an oxygen sensor on an exhaust, or it could be something more problematic with an issue with the engine itself.