mot test & certificate
'The MOT' is the commonly used term for the annual vehicle test for cars over three years old. It actually stands for 'Ministry of Transport' even though the Ministry has been replaced by the Department of Transport.
The test is used to help keep vehicles roadworthy. A qualified technician will give your car a thorough inspection for the condition of the tyres, brakes, suspension, bodywork, lights, wipers, windows, seatbelts and exhaust as well as checking the engine's emissions and the effectiveness of the brakes.
The car's number plates are also checked for such 'tricks' as using a fixing screw to change the appearance of a number or letter, the use of truncated or extended letters or numbers, the use of unusual fonts and for the use of reflective paint or film to alter the plate's background to make it difficult for speed- or ANPR- cameras to read them.
Many garages are able to perform the test and most do it on a while-you-wait basis. Look for garages that display this sign. The test cost £50.35 and has recently been computerised which may stop garages offering reduced cost tests, as the time taken is now driven by the computer link not by their speed of work.
If you look after your car well, an MOT test should hold little fear as you'll know that everything is well. You can do this by regularly checking that all your lights are still working, that you have no cracked lenses or chips in your windscreen and that your tyres are in good nick.
If your car passes you will be given a shiny new MOT certificate — keep this safe it is important and valuable to you. An MOT is valid for 12 months from the day of the test, or 12 months from your previous expiry date if that is coming up in the next calendar month.
If your car fails the test you will be given an explanation of what needs fixing before it will pass. You should consider if it's best to get this garage to fix what's wrong, do it yourself or take it back to your favourite garage or a specialist to get things put right. The rules on retests have changed with the introduction of computerised MOTs, with garages able to charge up to the full price of the test for a retest. If you get into this situation ask, don't assume.
If it is something serious, like a severe structural corrosion that might cost more to fix than the car is actually worth, you'll have a difficult decision to make.
If you don't have a valid MOT certificate you will find it impossible to tax your cars and you will be fined if stopped by the police and are unable to produce one when asked to. But just because you have a valid certificate does not guarantee that your car is roadworthy - a lot can change since your car last had it's MOT test and you have to make sure it's still safe and legal.
Keep the certificate safe, you'll need it when you re-new your car tax and it is valuable when you come to sell your car as any potential buyer will want to see it. When selling a car it is a good idea to get your car tested again as a new MOT certificate shows that your car is in good nick so the potential buyer should not have to worry too much about it for another 12 months.
