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The Most Common Reasons for MOT Failure
Reading time 4 minutes
Categories Driving News » Driving Tips »
We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
The Most Common Reasons for MOT Failure
Reading time 4 minutes
Categories Driving News » Driving Tips »
Taking your car for its annual MOT test is a necessary evil that helps to ensure your vehicle is safe when out on the roads.
The test is an inspection of your entire vehicle, to make sure that it’s roadworthy and that you and other road users will be kept safe.
Despite the very good reason for its existence, it doesn’t make waiting for your vehicle’s MOT results any less nerve-wracking.
But now, new research from One Sure Insurance has discovered some of the most common reasons why UK vehicles fail their MOTs.
In this blog, the team here at The Windscreen Company will take a closer at the main reasons for MOT failure and how they can be avoided.
Before we take a closer look at the most common reasons why cars fail MOTs, it’s important to understand which vehicles require them.
In short, the majority of cars on the road require an MOT. The only exemptions are as follows:
It’s often a misconception that electric vehicles do not need an MOT because they’re exempt from road tax and other costs that fuel-powered vehicles need to pay. However, this is not the case and unless your EV is less than three years old it will still require an annual MOT.
One Sure Insurance analysed almost 40 million MOT tests from 2021 and created a top-ten list of the most common MOT failures.
This includes:
A failed MOT can result in the loss of your vehicle and the need for costly repairs, so it’s important that you do everything you can to avoid this.
Now that we know the most common reasons for an MOT failure, there are certain things that can be done prior to the test to give your vehicle the best chance of passing.
Check your tyre tread
If your car has an insufficient tyre tread (less than 1.6mm) it is dangerous to drive and will fail an MOT test. You can check your car’s tread depth yourself using a 20p coin. Insert the coin into the groove of the tyres and if you can’t see the outer band of the coin, your tyres are safe to drive. If you can see it, the tyres will need to be replaced or you’ll fail your MOT.
Make sure all headlights are working
All your car’s lights must be working correctly for you to pass an MOT. Before your MOT inspection, check all lights are working and positioned correctly. If not, they’re fairly inexpensive and easy to replace.
Check windscreen wipers are working
If your windscreen wipers are not clearing water correctly, you will fail your MOT as your visibility will be impacted. It’s an easy thing to check, and if you notice they’re not properly operating you should get them replaced before the MOT.
Fix windscreens
A scratched, cracked or chipped windscreen can be extremely dangerous and must be fixed as soon as possible. A windscreen that is damaged in this way will also see your vehicle fail an MOT. If this is the case for you then you should contact a professional windscreen company to conduct a windscreen replacement or a windscreen repair service.
At The Windscreen Company, we provide all of our customers with leading mobile windscreen replacement services that will head directly to your location to carry out the work. Operating across the West Midlands and South East, get in touch with our team today to find out more.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
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