Basic vehicle checks could cut costs ahead of MOTs
With about 2.5 million MOTs expected in the UK in March, drivers have been urged to carry out basic vehicle checks that could help them pass first time.
The guidance comes with many repairers reporting that a growing number of motorists can’t afford routine maintenance.
According to the Motor Ombudsman, there are five common defects that are easy for drivers to spot and cost-effective to fix before they take the MOTs.
Rebecca Pullan, owner at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Carmaster Garage and MOT station, said: “Spending just a few minutes walking around the car in advance of an MOT can help drivers quickly identify if something doesn’t look quite right.
“Nipping any issues in the bud is vital to preventing simple problems from becoming more serious and costly later on, and it can be the difference between a straightforward pass and an unexpected MOT failure, meaning unforeseen time off the road for drivers.”
Five common checks:
Tyres: One of the most frequent causes of MOT failures. Bulges, cuts, or tears are easy to identify, while tread depth must mee the legal limit of 1.6mm.
Daytime running light: These are found on the front of a car and designed to make a vehicle stand out more during daylight hours.
Wiper blades: Vehicles will fail their MOTs if blades are missing or fail to clear the windscreen.
Windscreens: Vehicles will be deemed unroadworthy if there are windscreen chips larger than a centimetre in the driver’s line of sight.
Windscreen washers: Washer systems not working or providing sufficient fluid will result in an instant failure.
