MOT

In 1960, the UK Government introduced the Ministry of Transport (MOT) test for vehicles. An MOT test is a yearly test performed on your vehicle to ensure that it has a basic level of roadworthiness. If your vehicle is under 3 years old, you do not need to get it MOT tested. A certified MOT technician will perform the check on your vehicle and will focus on key areas of the vehicle. This includes the brakes, lights, and windscreen wipers and performing an emissions test on the vehicle.

Your MOT test is designed to cover all the essential checks that let the technician know whether your vehicle is safe to drive. If your vehicle fails its MOT test or has advisories, you and your technician will know exactly what needs doing to ensure that you and other road users are safe.

It’s worth noting that an MOT is for safety matters, whereas a service also checks things that affect the running and well-being of your vehicle, like the condition of your gearbox. Both are important for your vehicle.

Here are some of the items which are checked during an MOT test:

• Steering
• Suspension
• Lighting and signalling equipment
• Brakes
• Drivers road views
• Tyres and wheels
• Seat belts
• Body structure
• Exhaust and fuel emissions

Do not drive or park your vehicle on the road if your MOT has run out, as this could lead to a fine of £1000. There are two exceptions where you can drive your vehicle without an MOT:

• To or from somewhere to be repaired.
• To a pre-arranged MOT test.

You can check your vehicle’s MOT history using the GOV.UK MOT history checker. This tool is great because you put your registration in, and it will show you the past results of a vehicle’s MOT tests, including:

• When the next MOT is due.
• The mileage recorded when it was tested.
• If it passed or failed.

You can check the status of your MOT by using the GOV.UK status checker by just putting your registration number in and it will tell you when your MOT is due.

Speed cameras currently do not check whether you have MOT on your vehicle. Although, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras can detect whether you do.