Keeping the cost of a MOT test down

Friday, 16 December 2011

 As long as people have taken out car insurance on a vehicle that has been on the road for at least three years, the motor will need to undergo a MOT test once a year.

Such a task is sure to fill many drivers with dread, seeing as though a bill can easily rack up into the hundreds of pounds should a vehicle require a list of repairs.

This does not need to be the case though, as motorists can carry out a few tasks themselves before they head to the MOT garage in order to ensure their car is in tip-top shape to pass a test with flying colours.

Here's how to save a load of pounds:

Know what is going under the microscope

One of the main tactics when it comes to keeping the cost of a MOT test down is to simply know what a mechanic will be checking the car for.

The list is certainly thorough, covering the obvious details like if door mirrors are secure and visible to the driver's eye-line to the more quirky features such as if a fuel cap can be securely fastened.

As a result, drivers should take the morning before a MOT test - or perhaps even a whole day on the weekend prior to the trip to the garage - to search the car of every fault.

Some of these could be repaired within a day, yet this task could prove the pivotal point between if a vehicle can drive out of a test centre with a first-time pass or if motorists need to fork out even more money to put their beloved motor through another test once the repairs have been made.

See clearly to return a car to its perfect state

It is not just the small problems of a vehicle that need highlighting and worked on though, as the major faults can mean that a car is not only heading for a fail on its MOT certificate, but could also be deemed to dangerous to return to the road.

For example, a chip on a windscreen is so often ignored by motorists for a long while yet can easily develop into a dangerous crack over time.

This issue does not have to develop though, as many insurance policies have a line which assures drivers that they are entitled to a replacement windscreen without needing to fork out any cash.

 

Put the brakes on a MOT fail

One element of a car which will come under intense observation by a mechanic during a MOT test is its brakes.

That is because these two or three simple pedals can prove the critical element between if a driver avoids a collision and causes one themselves.

While many elements of the brakes will not be able to be adjusted without expert guidance, one tip for car owners is to give the brake pedal a press and work out if it feels a bit more spongy than normal.

If this element is inspected, drivers can quickly solve the problem by simply moving any excess air which has found its way into its hydraulic system.

While it may not solve all the brake problems of a vehicle, at least it is a welcoming start.

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