{"id":13933,"date":"2021-12-09T13:30:49","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T13:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/?p=13933"},"modified":"2021-12-09T13:35:20","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T13:35:20","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-mot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/2021\/12\/a-beginners-guide-to-mot\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginners Guide to MOT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">As a learner\u00a0or new\u00a0driver, you\u2019ve probably heard of an MOT, but\u00a0<a href=https:\/\/www.kwik-fit.com\/blog\/servicing-and-mot-whats-the-difference>research<\/a>\u00a0shows that as many as <strong>59% of Britons<\/strong> are confused by the difference between a service and an MOT.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/GettyImages-980117574.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/GettyImages-980117574.jpg 724w, https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/GettyImages-980117574-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/GettyImages-980117574-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An MOT is an annual vehicle check set out by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). It ensures vehicles are&nbsp;roadworthy,&nbsp;safe&nbsp;and meet environmental and exhaust emissions standards. It is obligatory for your car to have its first MOT three years after being first registered, and then on a yearly basis. Prior to this, there is no legal obligation to undergo testing. There are a few exceptions to the requirements of needing an MOT, such as cars over 40 years old, but even \u201cclassics\u201d must still be maintained in a roadworthy condition if driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A service is a vehicle inspection based on guidelines set out by your vehicle manufacturer rather than the DVSA; it keeps your car in a reliable, safe, and&nbsp;fully-functioning&nbsp;condition. You should follow the service intervals recommended by the car manufacturer as a minimum. In some ways an MOT test and service are quite&nbsp;similar&nbsp;and both include checks such as tyres, brakes, and seatbelts. However, a service is more comprehensive in that it covers the vehicle health and preventative maintenance &#8211; things like oil and filter changes &#8211; not just the \u2018safety-critical\u2019 aspects of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Over two thirds (67%) of our customers go out and buy a car three months after they pass their test, and many will opt for second hand. This often means the car will need to have an MOT within 12 months of purchase, so we\u2019ve pulled together a handy beginner\u2019s guide in partnership with our friends at <a href=https:\/\/www.michelin.co.uk\/>Michelin<\/a> and <a href=https:\/\/www.kwik-fit.com\/>Kwik Fit<\/a>, to help you understand the rules and regulations for MOTs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;your vehicle&nbsp;fails&nbsp;its MOT&nbsp;test&nbsp;it&nbsp;means&nbsp;it is deemed not fit for the road and cannot be&nbsp;driven&nbsp;further.&nbsp;You can receive a <strong>fine of up to \u00a32,500<\/strong> for driving without a valid MOT. Penalties can also include <strong>points on your licence<\/strong> or a <strong>driving disqualification<\/strong> in more severe cases.&nbsp;Whilst the financial costs can be steep, they are nothing compared to the risks of the safety of you, your passengers and other drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>How do you avoid failing an MOT?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>During an MOT,&nbsp;a&nbsp;car&nbsp;is tested on a wide range of safety aspects including <strong>vehicle identification number, windscreen, seatbelts, emissions,&nbsp;mirrors&nbsp;and brakes<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find additional information about each of these components as well as other aspects of&nbsp;the MOT&nbsp;test on the&nbsp;<a href=https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/getting-an-mot target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GOV.UK\u202f<\/a>website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst they might appear obvious, there are some pitfalls that&nbsp;are&nbsp;vital to watch out for before sending your car off for an MOT, some of which we have detailed below.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4><meta charset=\"utf-8\">L<strong>ighting and signalling<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Just under&nbsp;one fifth of cars&nbsp;fail&nbsp;their MOT because of an issue with their lights.&nbsp;Often, this will be as simple as a blown bulb.&nbsp; Some people retro-fit their halogen headlamps with LED bulbs to improve the brightness, but this is now grounds for an MOT fail. Make sure that you check your lights before getting your car tested &#8211; switch all your lights on and walk around your car to check they\u2019re in working order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4>Tyres<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A car can have&nbsp;every&nbsp;safety&nbsp;system&nbsp;known to man, but if the tyres aren\u2019t up to scratch, this is all&nbsp;irrelevant.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is vital to check tread depth, ideally with a tyre tread depth gauge. Don\u2019t have one to hand? This can be done by inserting a 20p coin into the grooves on the tyre. If your tyres are within the legal limit then you should not be able to see the outer band of the coin and if you can, get them checked out and changed prior to your MOT. If this is the case, we recommend <strong>our partner Michelin<\/strong> for new tyres you can trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4>Issues affecting a driver&#8217;s view of the road<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unsurprisingly, a clear view of the road is vital for safe driving. The view can be obstructed by items such as sat-navs&nbsp;or air fresheners, or cracks and chips within the driver\u2019s eye-line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, book your test as soon as possible instead of leaving it till the last minute. Booking an MOT even a day late can mean your car is then only legal to drive to a test centre for an MOT. <s><\/s><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If after reading this you\u2019ve realised that your car&nbsp;is in need of&nbsp;an MOT,&nbsp;<a href=https:\/\/www.kwik-fit.com\/mot>book<\/a>&nbsp;one with Kwik-Fit. They only take an average of 45-60 minutes, and with over 600 MOT test centres throughout the UK, the majority of which are open 7 days a week, it&#8217;s no&nbsp;surprise&nbsp;they are the <strong>UK&#8217;s number 1 MOT tester<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Remember,<\/strong> if you fail your MOT, you can\u2019t drive away. <strong>Top tip<\/strong>&#8230; it&#8217;s best not to leave an MOT until the day before it\u2019s due. Take your car in two weeks before the expiry date to give yourself time to fix it if needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a learner\u00a0or new\u00a0driver, you\u2019ve probably heard of an MOT, but\u00a0research\u00a0shows that as many as 59% of Britons are confused&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"readmore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/2021\/12\/a-beginners-guide-to-mot\/\"> Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":7558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[31,4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Beginners Guide to MOT - RED Driving School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Having a valid MOT is an essential part of driving safety &amp; compliance. Read our guide for a breakdown of how to prepare your car for an MOT.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddrivingschool.com\/2021\/12\/a-beginners-guide-to-mot\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Beginners Guide to MOT - RED Driving School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Having a valid MOT is an essential part of driving safety &amp; compliance. 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