The Most Common MOT Fails and How to Avoid Them

Reading Time: 4 minutes

MOTs come around quicker than you think, and there’s often something that will catch you off guard. In this article, the 1st Call Windscreens team will be taking a look at some of the most common reasons why vehicles fail an MOT so that you’re armed with all of the knowledge you need to make sure your vehicle passes!

MOT checklist

Lights and signals

Unknown to many, lights and signals are actually the most common reason why most vehicles fail their MOT.

A simple way to check whether your lights are pass worthy is by switching all of your lights on, walking around your vehicle and checking for a blown bulb or misty plastic casing. Don’t forget to check the indicators too!

Suspension

Whether it’s potholes or a bit of accidental kerb riding, your suspension can take a serious knock out on the road, so make sure you check for issues regularly.

There are two key ways that you can check your suspension:

  • With your ears: while you’re out on the road, listen out for any strange clunking noises
  • With your eyes: while your car is parked, give it an inspection to see if it’s sitting level. If one side looks higher than the other, it might be a sign that you have a problem

Brakes

Around one in ten MOT vehicle failures are due to problems with brakes, so it pays to check these in advance.

Here’s how you can do just that:

  • Whilst driving: listen out for any squeaks or grinding sounds from your braking system. You might also notice your car pulls to one side whilst braking – this is another problem!
  • During an inspection: check your brake discs and pads – do they look thin? Smooth? Don’t forget to check your handbrake too, as this can be another big reason why vehicles fail.

Tyres

Vehicles don’t fail MOTs for tyre problems quite as often as you might think, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check yours regularly to see if they’re in working order.

One of the best ways to do this is with the 20p test. Pop a 20p coin in your tyre’s tread. Does the tread of the tyre eclipse the rim around the coin’s edge? If so, then your tyres are above the legal minimum; if you can still see the rim of the coin, then you will need to look into getting a new set of tyres.

Windscreen damage or clutter

Many vehicles fail their MOT due to the driver not having a clear field of view through the windscreen, so make sure you check that yours is clear before you take your car in.

Are there any objects or gadgets on the dashboard that obscure your view? Sat navs? Air fresheners? If so, it’s probably best to get rid of these. And of course, if you have a chip or crack that’s in your line of sight, then you need to look at getting a repair or replacement immediately!

Don’t forget to check your wipers too, and fill up the screen wash fluid if need be!

Avoid failing your MOT by booking in with 1st Call Windscreens today.

Exhaust and fuel

Emissions are a common cause of MOT failures, which is why checking your exhaust system should be high on your to-do list.

Consider buying a fuel treatment pack to clean out the system before the test, and it’s probably also a good idea to do an engine test at high revs too, to really clear out anything that might have settled.

Seat belts

Seat belts that don’t work properly can often be a cause of MOT failures, and they could well save your life in the event of a collision, so make sure that you check these regularly!

They need to retract easily and smoothly, so make sure that you spend some time removing any twists or knots. Once they are all secure and in position, you should be good to go.

Mirrors

It can be easy to forget about your mirrors in the run-up to an MOT, but they are absolutely essential when it comes to staying aware out on the road, so make sure that they are in top condition!

Check for any signs of damage on the mirror themselves and make sure they’re clean too – there’s no use in having a damage-free mirror that you can’t see anything in.

Warning lights

The chances are that if you’ve been using your car a lot and a warning light pops up, you will spot it, but just in case you didn’t, turn the ignition on and check now! If the tester does this and spots a warning light, you will fail instantly. This catches more people out than you would think.

Registration plates

There’s nothing worse than spending time making sure your vehicle is all prim and proper only to fail your MOT due to a dirty registration plate, so don’t forget to give it a clean and make sure it’s easily legible. Don’t forget to check that the associated light is working too!

1st Call Windscreens are the leading windscreen repair and replacement company throughout Maidstone, Sittingbourne and the wider Kent area. For more information about our services or to book yourself in, contact us today.

Posted by: 1st Call Windscreens

We are proud to be a leading windscreen company covering our local areas of Maidstone, Sittingbourne and the rest of Kent since 1996. Our 25+ years experience in windscreen services includes windscreen repair and replacement for cars, vans, trucks and more! Our expert technicians hold the relevant qualifications so you can rest easy knowing that your windscreen is in safe hands.

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