Whether you have been driving 10 years or are a new driver, the importance of booking your annual MOT test is just as important to a new driver as it is to an experienced driver. Ministry of Transport tests (MOT’s) are an important part of car ownership because they check that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy. They also test that the exhaust emissions produced by the vehicle are not excessive; reducing the effect it has on the environment.While an MOT test is done annually, don’t scrimp on preparing for a test in advance, because having an annual MOT test can save your car from unwanted accidents, and more to the point save lives. As someone who lost a friend three years ago in a car accident, I know from personal experience just how dangerous cars can be, and while she was not driving the car and was a passenger, the person who was driving the car was uninsured, had not tested the car out before he drove and ultimately put my friend’s life at risk because he did not think of the consequences. While he survived and my friend had died, before I go any further to stress the importance of booking your annual MOT test. I would also like to point out that her death was not his fault, but I merely wrote about it as an example to show how MOT tests really can help to save lives. After all, isn’t better to get a test done to ensure that your car or somebody else’s car is in prime condition to drive, to prevent against accidents? But an Annual MOT test doesn’t just save lives but it also cuts down on car repair costs, gives you an up to date record of your car’s condition and if your car does need repairs, it gives you a checklist of all the tasks you need to do to keep your car in prime condition.
MOT Tests Save Lives
An annual MOT test is a fact of motoring life and while it sounds dramatic or cliche to say, it really does save lives. After all it’s as the motto goes, an Annual MOT Test each year keeps the Grim Reaper away. I mean I totally made that up but you get my drift, an MOT= living safer and longer, which is an aspiration for all drivers out on the roads isn’t it? But why is that an MOT test will quite literally prevent against unwanted accidents I hear you ask? Well put simply, an MOT test checks everything from brakes and fuel system to lights, mirrors, seatbelts, windscreen wipers and the exhaust system (although it does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch and gearbox so you might need to get that checked separately). Even something that needs ‘minor repair’ can lead to a car breaking down later down the line if it is not dealt with promptly, especially in arduous weather conditions where the condition of tyres can deteriorate pretty quickly. While cars that are three years and over are legally required to get annual MOT Tests, even your car is newer I would still recommend getting a car checked out as wear and tear can build up very quickly.
MOT Tests Checks That Your Car Meets Safety And Environmental Standards
An MOT doesn’t just save lives but it also ensures that your car’s current condition is compliant with safety and environmental standards. For example, in Europe, the European Commission has adopted the following legislation on emissions, fuel consumption and fuel quality:
- By 2021, cars emitting more than 95g of CO2/km will not be allowed on the market.
- By 2021, manufacturers must produce light-duty vehicles which consume less than 4.1l/100 km of petrol and 3.6 l/100 km of diesel.
- By 2020, greenhouse gas intensity of automobile fuels should be cut by 10% in order to improve fuel quality.
But it is not just CO2 emissions that MOT tests check for, other factors can also influence the enhancement of road safety, especially technology innovation such as anti-drunk driving systems.
MOT Tests Cut Down On Costs
While it seems obvious to say that MOT tests will cut down on costs, it is nevertheless imperative to book your test, especially if it has dangerous faults that can lead to your car breaking down or even result in a car accident. More to the point did you know that if you drive a car without an MOT under any other circumstances, or drive a car with dangerous faults, you can be fined £2,500, be banned from driving and get three points on your licence? So an MOT test does not just protect against repairs and breakdowns but also fines, as it is illegal to drive a car with dangerous faults or without an MOT. So protect yourselves and your bank balances at all costs. And remember if your MOT test finds that your car has a dangerous or severe fault, you will need to fix all major and dangerous faults to make your car roadworthy and then arrange a partial MOT retest in which your car must pass before you can drive it on the roads again.
Bonus Tips
Now that you know why it is important to get your car serviced, here are some bonus tips that will help you get peace of mind. From knowing what documents you need for an annual MOT test to local MOT services, read on to find out more below.
What Documents Do You Need For An Annual MOT Test?
It is important to come prepared for an annual MOT test so here are the documents you need:
-A Vehicle registration document V5C(NI)
-An appointment letter.
– Any current Certificate or Notice of Refusal for all cars, motorcycles, light goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.
How Long Does An MOT Test Take?
An average MOT test takes between 45 and 60 minutes, but there are a couple of other things to take into consideration.First, if your vehicle fails the test and repairs need to be made this will take longer, so you should really take a day to focus on the car just in case as a failsafe option. Even if the test shows that you don’t need to have any repairs, it does not neccessarily mean that the test will only take an hour, so it is important to keep that in mind. You must also be aware that a test centre is not allowed to let you drive away a car that has failed an MOT until the problems are fixed, unless your existing MOT certificate is still valid, or you’re taking the car to have the faults fixed.
How Much Does An MOT Test Cost
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency sets the maximum fee official test centres can charge for an MOT.It’s currently £54.85 for cars and motor caravans and £29.65 for motorbikes, but many garages charge less than this – sometimes up to 50% less. You can search online for “cheap MOT” or “MOT discount” to find out how you can save money on your car’s next MOT or alternatively find recommendations through word of mouth.
Remember to find an MOT test centre near you, and if you are someone who is from the countryside like myself, you might know that country roads can often be harder to drive because they are quite hilly, might have potholes or simply be bumpy roads which can contribute to wear and tear. While that much is true, local driving can become easy if the car is properly maintained, even if you are driving somewhere like West Yorkshire, home to the infamously beautiful and Instagrammable Yorkshire Dales. If you are based in West Yorkshire, you can easily book your MOT test within Wakefield – by visiting Ossett Tyre House.
Is Your Car Due For Its Annual MOT Test?
*Disclaimer
This is a collaborative post but all thoughts and research is my own and is not affected by monetary compensation.
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