MOT garage

January 27, 2023 by S4LadminPARC

An MOT is required by law on most vehicles, so it’s important to make sure it passes. Of course, you need professionals to carry out the test and any work needed to ensure it doesn’t fail. However, here are just a few things you can do to minimise the chances of a failure.

What You’ll Need:

The steps we go over are mostly just checks, however you may need a few things. You might want to get some cleaning equipment, screen wash, engine oil, lightbulbs and maybe even new tyres. A twenty pence piece might also benefit you. Finally, you’ll need to find a reliable garage to carry out the MOT after you’ve made all the checks.

How Long It Will Take:

Preparing for an MOT won’t take much time. Put aside 1 hour before your test to carry out these checks.

How Much It Will Cost:

Most of the things we look at are just checks. If you have to do all of the things on the list, it might set you back around £100 or maybe even more. Screen wash and bulbs are relatively cheap, whilst the price of engine oil, fuel and tyres will differ car to car. Most vehicles that are kept in reasonably good order won’t require more than £20 worth of supplies to get MOT-ready.

Pre MOT-Checks

1. Keep Your Car Clean

Okay, you won’t fail your test because your car is dirty or cluttered. However, ensuring there are no marks on your windscreen that affect the drivers view is important. Also, your registration plate needs to be legible, so make sure it is cleaned prior to the MOT.

2. Look For Broken Bulbs

Lights are one of the most common reasons for failing an MOT test. Simply check headlights, break lights and other lights by turning on your vehicle and getting somebody to look for you. If you need lights changing, you can do them yourself or inform the garage beforehand and have these sorted out.

3. Check Your Tyres

Tyres are an important part of the MOT test and crucial to making your car roadworthy. The tread depth should be 1.6mm to ensure there’s enough grip and to make sure you are not breaking the law. You can check this using the 20p test. If your tread depth exceeds this, then your vehicle will fail the test. Don’t panic as this is fairly common, check out our other blog on what to do if your car fails the MOT. If you don’t know how to change tyres, then the garage will most likely be able to change them for you.

4. Top It Up

If you’ve ran out of screen wash, your vehicle might fail the test. Furthermore, a garage might turn you away if you don’t have enough fuel and engine oil to complete the test. So, make sure you’ve topped these up before you take it in.

5. Check Your Windscreen

Your windscreen is important as it has to be in a good condition to drive safely. If you have any marks, scratches or chips that are bigger than 40mm, then the vehicle will fail. Also, your windscreen wipers need to be in working order so they can effectively clear your view. If they look a bit worse for wear, then they may need replacing before the MOT.

Get In Touch With PARC Today

Is your MOT is due? Then contact our garage today. If your car is experiencing any of the above problems, inform us before the assessment and we can assist in getting them fixed. We can help get your car up to passing standards and ensure it is roadworthy. To keep your car in top condition, make sure you keep up with regular servicing too.

September 23, 2021 by S4LadminPARC

It’s time for that dreaded MOT test again. It seems like yesterday you had your last. Unfortunately, a lot can change in a year, so it’s important to keep an eye on your vehicle to prepare for your MOT. Failing your MOT isn’t abnormal, so there are measures in place to get your car ship-shape and back on the road.

What If I Fail My Mot?

If you fail your MOT, you’re limited in what you can do until you rebook and pass your test. Driving without a valid MOT certificate can void your insurance if you’re in an accident and you risk incurring impressive fines. You’re also not able to park on the street without a valid certificate. You can be fined (again) and risk having your car towed away!

Can You Get Your Vehicle Retested After Failing Your MOT?

Absolutely! Otherwise, no one would be on the road. Your vehicle will be assessed and you’ll be notified of any repairs you need before you can retest. You’d then qualify for a partial retest for free or a reduced rate, depending on the criteria.

criteria For Retesting

If you leave your vehicle at our garage for repairs and have a partial retest within 10 days, you won’t have to pay. For minor grievances with items like mirrors, steering wheels and registration plates, you’ll also quality for a partial retest if you get them repaired the next day. In any other circumstances, you will have to pay for a retest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you appeal the results of your MOT?

Yes, provided you haven’t committed to any repairs. You can send a form to the DVLA within 14 days of your test result to appeal the decision. Legally you won’t be able to drive your assessed vehicle during this period, so keep that in mind.

How long can you drive without an MOT?

The technical answer? As long as you want. The realistic answer? It’s illegal, so we don’t recommend it. It’s dangerous and negligent to drive without a valid MOT certificate, for both yourself and others on the road. This is especially true if you drive after failing an inspection. A fault with your car could have disastrous consequences and lead to more expensive repairs down the line.

How much can you be fined for not having a valid MOT certificate?

Another reason you shouldn’t drive with an MOT certificate is because the fines are hefty. You can incur fines upwards of £1,000. Your vehicle may also be inspected on the spot, which could unearth underlying problems that result in extra fines. If you fail your MOT, get retested as soon as possible. It’ll be cheaper in the long run and it’s just not worth the drama.

Failing Your MOT & Retesting At Pontypool

At Pontypool Accident & Repair Centre, you can book your MOT and have your car serviced to check for any issues that will flag during your MOT. We offer premium advice to keep your car on the road. To speak to one of our experts and book a test, contact us today.

July 29, 2021 by S4LadminPARC

Often when we think about vehicle maintenance there are 2 things that are synonymous with looking after your car and that’s MOT testing & servicing. However these two parts of maintenance differ in many ways. Both important to keeping your car or van in good condition, we’ll break down the key differences here.

Do you know what happens during a vehicle service or MOT? Due to being a legal requirement, many customers schedule their car in for an MOT without understanding what that entails.

What Happens During An MOT Test?

In the United Kingdom, after a vehicle reaches the age of three years, it is required to be tested annually to verify that it continues to fulfil legal road safety and environmental criteria. An MOT (Ministry Of Transport), may only be performed by approved and recognised specialists who wear the iconic blue and white sign.

Multiple checks surrounding your automobile are carried out, including lights, brakes, exhaust, gasoline, and other safety features. They do not, however, include the inspection of your clutch, gearbox, or engine.

The test guarantees that the vehicle is safe to drive, but it does not guarantee that it is performing at its best. That’s because the MOT test only looks at what’s ‘safety critical’ in your car, not the car or van’s overall health. While the MOT test covers items like brakes, lights, tyres, and seatbelts, it does not examine things like your engine. That’s when a service comes in handy.

Vehicle Servicing Explained

A service is a vehicle examination based on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations that maintains your car’s reliability, safety, and fully functional. Both a MOT test and a service are comparable in that they both check things like tyres, brakes, and seatbelts.

Having your automobile maintained on a regular basis can ensure that it runs better, smoother, and more reliably in the long term. Servicing your automobile helps to make your vehicle more efficient, which means reduced operating expenses and less repair fees.

Interim Services

Our interim automobile service involves a thorough inspection of numerous key components to guarantee that your vehicle is safe to drive. We also replace items and top off fluids, such as engine oil and oil filters.

Full Service

On top of the intermediate service, a complete service includes several more detailed inspections. In addition to the vehicle inspections and fluid top-ups performed during the intermediate car service, we also replace many of the fluids with new ones to ensure that your car runs smoothly. We change air filters based on mileage and vehicle usage, as well as do extra coolant/antifreeze strength checks and top-ups, clutch fluid, gearbox fluid, and axle oil.

MOT & Vehicle Service Misconceptions

Car Servicing Is A Legal Requirement

While frequent servicing is suggested to maintain your vehicle in excellent working order, unlike a MOT, an annual service is not a legal obligation nor a need for motor insurance. However, if you believe you’ll save a few dollars by deferring your repair, you may wind up paying a lot more later if your automobile requires costly remedial work that might have been avoided if identified early during your service. Skipping a service is a waste of money.

Getting An MOT Test Means Your Vehicle Is Roadworthy For The Whole Year

While the MOT test certificate is valid for a year, the MOT tester may only make decisions based on the vehicle’s condition on the day of the test. In a year, a lot may change to your car’s state, so you can’t rely on the MOT certificate to ensure its safety. Regular inspections and maintenance, such as checking tyre pressure and condition, topping up oil and fluid levels, and replacing blown bulbs, are all necessary to keep you safe on the road.

An MOT guarantees the general mechanical condition of your vehicle

Basic road safety and environmental criteria are met when a vehicle receives a MOT pass certificate. Because the MOT tester is not allowed to dismantle any components on the vehicle, the test does not reveal its mechanical condition.