If you are celebrating the third anniversary of your vehicle you have to be prepared for the upcoming MOT test. This test is mandatory for all vehicles that are above three years old.

You need to locate a nearby MOT center for the test. Generally, drivers do not get any MOT Due Reminder from DVSA but a service center may send you a reminder as their service.

Your car will pass the test if it has no mechanical faults. On the other hand, you will face a failure if your vehicle has serious issues.

If you want to avoid failure in the test, you need proper preparation for the test. Make sure that your vehicle has no serious faults during the test.

There are a lot of areas of inspection that you can carry out without the help of a mechanic. You should not avoid these areas before the test.

Proper maintenance is the key to success in the MOT test. However, we cannot say anything about the health of a vehicle on the day of the test. So, making a checklist before the test is a valuable step to avoid failure.

Read this blog to make a handy checklist before the test.

Some quick steps

First of all, keep your vehicle clean because a car with clutter may dissatisfy the tester. It is also possible that the tester is not ready to carry out the inspection if the interior or exterior of your car is dirty.

You have to look at the windscreen wipers for their functions. Moreover, check them for damage signs as well.

Clean your number plate and make sure it is readable at the time of the MOT test.

It is also mandatory to check that all lights in the car are working or not.

You have to visit the MOT center with a full fuel tank. Moreover, check the level of other fluids in the vehicle as well.

Check the minor parts like mirrors and horns for damage and functions.

Check your tires for signs like bulges and cracks. Measure the tread depth as well with the help of a coin.

Apart from these quick steps, you have to look at the following areas that are included in the test.

It is better you check these parts with the help of a mechanic before the test.

Exhaust system

The tester is going to check your exhaust system along with the level of emissions. Harmful emissions are not good for the safety of drivers and passengers.

Visible smoke from the tailpipe is a sign of serious fault. In this case, your car would not be able to clear the test. The tester will check the signs of leakage and damage in parts of the exhaust as well.

Brakes:

If we talk about the safety features of your car, brakes will secure the first place. Therefore, the tester is not going to avoid this component before declaring the results of the test.

They check the brake system for damage and efficiency. Moreover, they will put the vehicle on rollers to check the function of the car brakes as well.

Steering wheel:

You cannot fix the problem in your steering wheel on your own. You need the help of a mechanic. Therefore, you have to visit a garage to check these vital components.

The tester will check the steering for its position and proper functioning. The tester will check the components of the steering wheel for damage.

Tires:

Tyres are also vital for your car. Therefore, the tester would not avoid these vital components during the test. They will measure the tread depth. Minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm

Moreover, the tester will check the tyres for traces of uneven tread wear. Furthermore, the examiner will check the inflation level in car tyres as well.

The physical condition of car tires is enough to catch the attention of the tester. They would not like to see bulges and cracks on the sidewall of car tires.

Besides these common parts, there are a lot of components that the tester checks during the test. You have to visit a garage to check all the components thoroughly.

These parts may have minor, major, or dangerous faults. Generally dangerous and major faults lead to failure in the test. Therefore, make sure you do not reach the garage with major or dangerous mechanical faults in your vehicle.

Do not worry if your car fails its test due to mechanical issues. You have an option to have a retest after repairing the faults. However, it is better if you visit the MOT center with a car in perfect condition.