Most people don't look forward to their vehicle MOT. It's not the test fee, but repairing 'fails' that can become costly.
You will always get an honest assessment of any repairs that your vehicle may need from the team here. As a family business spanning three generations we pride ourselves on looking after our customers.
During the MOT your vehicle will be checked by one of our experienced technicians, using the latest diagnostic equipment, and if we do find anything wrong all of our parts and labour are guaranteed for twelve months (or 12,000 miles). We will never charge a 're-testing fee'.
You can arrange an appointment online and have an MOT test completed up to one month before the expiry of your previous MOT.
Our MOT Test costs £50. Our MOT and Annual Service costs from £189.99.
The MOT test is required by law. Here's some of the main things checked during the test.
Seats and seat belts, warning lamps, dash switches, wipers & washers, brake controls, steering wheel & column, speedometer.
Registration plates, lamps, indicators, hazards, headlamps, wheels and tyres, shock absorbers, mirrors, doors and general body condition.
Vehicle structure, braking systems, exhaust systems, fuel systems, steering & power steering components, suspension components.
Steering including power steering, suspension & shock absorbers, wheel bearings, wheels & tyres, brake systems, mechanical components, exhaust system, fuel system & fuel tank, structure & general vehicle condition.
The vehicle will be inspected, to check that it meets the criteria for exhaust emissions.
Here are some quick checks you can carry out on your vehicle before bringing it in for an MOT - it might mean the difference between a pass and a fail.
Are all lights working as they should? Walk around your vehicle checking every light; front, rear, headlights and dipped, hazards and indicators.
While you can't exactly check the suspension you can see if the shock absorbers have gone by quickly applying your weight to each corner of the car then release. It should settle back quickly, if not it could be a sign that the suspension needs replaced.
You can't make a proper check of your vehicle's brakes on your own but if your brakes feel loose and unresponsive, or the handbrake slides up without resistance or can't be set to stop the vehicle, it's likely there's a problem.
To check tyre pressure, look up what they should be online, and pump them up at your nearest petrol station. For tyre tread i.e. the depth of grooves for grip, the legal minimum is 1.6mm for a car tyre (enough to let surface water slip through). To measure, pop a 20p coin on its edge into the main grooves of the tyre tread. If the outer rim of the coin is hidden, your tyres should be legal. If you can see it, get them checked and if need be replaced.
Is the windscreen damaged anywhere? Damage in the driver's central view should be no larger than 1cm. It should be no larger than 4cm anywhere on the windscreen. If it is, get it fixed pre-test (often this is included by fully-comprehensive car insurance policies). Front wipers are also in the check. They need to be able to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the washers.
Look for a leaking exhaust. To check this start the engine (in a well-ventilated place, at normal temperature) watch for strange smoke or anything that sounds off. These an indicate a leak, which you can fix before the MOT.
Again, checking if your steering is working properly isn't too easy for you to check on your own. Watch out for things like the steering feeling less responsive, or have noticed any other issues, it's likely you need to get this looked at. Also check for a warning light.
Check the brake fluid, windscreen washer and oil level. Do they need topped up?
Give the car a once over. Check the fuel cap, mirros, seatbetls, chairs, anything else that might present an issue. Is everthing in good working order?