MOT inspections often result in failures. If your car has not passed its MOT, then it will not be possible to drive it on the road. The only exception to this rule is if you are taking your car directly to an MOT centre for it to be inspected. The police will only agree for you to drive to an MOT centre if you have already booked your test and have an appointment. This is the same for all parts of the country from Police Scotland to the Essex Constabulary and the City of London Police. So, get in touch with the team at Fife Autocentre for MOT in Dundee – 01382205000 – if you are in the area and need to drive to a reputable MOT centre with a valid appointment. In the meantime, read on to find out the main reasons why car owners see MOT failures and what you can do to avoid becoming one.
Poor Lighting
According to recent data, it is car lights that tend to cause the greatest proportion of MOT failures in the UK. What’s even more frustrating is that many of these faults could be resolved simply by replacing the bulb in the lamp cluster. Of course, not all headlamps and brake lights are easily accessible but many places that sell replacement bulbs will also fit them for you for a modest fee. Therefore, there is no good reason why you should fail an MOT for incorrectly functioning lights unless you suddenly develop a wider electrical fault with your car just prior to the inspection.
Faulty Suspension
This is harder for the average owner to put right and usually takes a trained mechanic but faulty suspension systems often cause MOT failures. That’s why a car service a few weeks before your MOT is due is a good idea to pick up on these problems. Nevertheless, if you notice your car is ‘bottoming out’ when you pass over bumps on the road, it probably means your suspension needs looking at sooner rather than later.
Tread Depth
Tyres account for a large percentage of MOT failures. They can simply be under-inflated which is a very silly way to fail a test because all you need to do is to pump them up to the correct level beforehand even if there is a slow puncture that means they will deflate once more. That said, around 17 percent of cars and vans fail MOTs not because of inflation but due to tread depth. Once your tread has diminished beneath the legal threshold, it is an automatic failure. You can check your tread depth quite easily using a gauge. While you are at it check for signs of sidewall wear since tyres can fail if these are damaged in some way, as well.
Licence Plates
Is your licence plate easy to read? Has it been damaged while reversing or has someone bashed into the front of your car so your registration number isn’t immediately obvious? If so, your vehicle is likely to be failed by its MOT inspector. The same goes for unauthorised plates such as custom ones where the numbers and letters have been placed too close to one another. Amazingly, licence plates account for about 14 percent of MOT failures today.
Wiper Blades
Blades that don’t operate when they’re turned on are considered dangerous and will result in failure. On top of this, worn-down wiper blades can cause MOTs of otherwise roadworthy cars not to be passed. This is because they are not good enough at keeping your screen clear in wet weather. Over a tenth of MOT failures are down to wiper blades that are in poor condition.
