Top 5 reasons your car will fail its MOT

1. Lighting and signalling: responsible for 30% of fails

Switch all your lights on and walk around your car to check they’re in working order and free of cracks. Lights are usually quick and simple to replace if needed but can easily be left to the garage to fix too. Just let them know when you book your MOT.

Also check to see if any plastic lenses have become misty over time. If they have, don’t worry - they can usually be restored back to best using cleaning kits or even toothpaste.

2. Suspension: responsible for 13% of fails

Potholes are bad news for your car’s suspension, and there’s more and more of them on the road, especially after periods of bad weather. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that more than 1 in 10 MOT fails are a result of suspension issues.

One tell-tale sign there’s something wrong is noises made by your car when you travel over bumps or when cornering.

Another way to check your suspension is to push down on each corner of your car. When you let go, if it doesn’t return to its normal position without ‘bouncing’ then you might have a problem.

3. Brakes: responsible for 10% of MOT fails

It’s more than a little concerning to think that 1 in 10 cars fail because of brake issues.

If you hear any squealing or grinding noises when you brake, chances are your pads are wearing out. We recommend getting
these replaced as soon as possible so you don’t damage the discs. If this happens, it can in turn damage your brake callipers.

Both of these issues could cause the car to fail an MOT, and will increase the cost of repair substantially.

4. Tyres: responsible for 10% of MOT fails

You should check your tyres regularly. Luckily, it’s quick and easy to do using only a 20p coin.

Simply insert the coin into the main grooves on your tyre. If you can see the outer band at any time, then the tyre needs replacing.

You also need to check for lumps and cuts - both could cause a blowout and won’t pass an MOT.

If you do spot any defects like these, it’s best to let your garage know when booking your MOT so they can have a tyre on hand to replace at the same time as the test.

5. Issues affecting the driver’s view of the road: responsible for 8.5% of fails

Anything that stops you seeing the road clearly will earn you a fail.

This can include things you’ve placed in your car, such as sat-navs, but also applies to cracks and chips if they are in your eye line.

It’s also worth checking your bonnet can be closed securely and wipers work, as well as making sure your windscreen washer fluid is topped up too.

Remember, if you discover something you can’t sort out yourself, it’s very likely a technician will be able to take care of it for you on the day of your MOT. Either way, knowing what to look out for
will put you in the best possible position to pass with flying colours.

BP Rolls has been keeping Andover rolling since 1966. To book your next MOT with us, call now on 01264 361516

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