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Are UK motorists wasting money on MOTs?

Monday, 16 Jun 2008 12:59
Not even a Haynes manual could save this from a failed MOT check
Car manual publisher Haynes has urged motorists to stop wasting money on MOT tests and check their cars before taking it into the garage.

Recently released figures from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) demonstrate that first-time MOT failure rates in the UK are higher than in other EU countries.

In 2007, a failure rate of 21.6 per cent was recorded, with more than 271,000 of those due to lighting faults.

Most of these problems could be cured without difficulty, says Haynes, even by someone with only rudimentary mechanical knowledge.

J Haynes, vice Chairman and managing director at Haynes, said: "It takes very little time to check a car over before submitting it for an MOT test.

"Basic faults such as lights not working, worn wiper blades and insufficient tyre tread depth can easily be sorted out before the test. This is invariably cheaper than having your car fail the MOT test."

Haynes manuals have a section detailing the checks you can do before your car's MOT test. Haynes publishes manuals for more than 500 cars and vans, as well as glovebox guides such as Your Car.

Some of pre-MOT checks that you could perform are:

  • From the driver's seat, you can test the handbrake, footbrake, steering wheel and column for correct operation and excessive play.
  • Still in the driver's seat, check that the windscreen is free of cracks or damage.
  • Now check that the door latches work and that all seat belts are in good condition and fasten properly.
  • Moving to outside the car, check that the wiper blades are in good condition and that the lights and horn work.
  • The wheels and tyres should be inspected thoroughly. Wheels should not be damaged and tyres must be free of cuts, tears, lumps or bulges. Check the tread depth – a minimum of 1.6mm over at least three-quarters of the tread width is the current legal requirement (though it's best to fit new tyres well before the legal limit is reached).
  • Finally, clean your car thoroughly inside and out and on the underside, if possible. The tester can refuse to examine a car which is filthy underneath.

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