Every car owner in Britain knows the importance of MOT tests. It determines whether your car is roadworthy or not. As such, you must approach it practically and have all the relevant information at hand to stand a better chance of clearing it. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what to do before, during and after your BMW MOT in Northampton test centres.
When to Take an MOT?
You are due for your first MOT check on after 3 years from your car’s date of registration. Subsequently, you need to retake this test annually. You may go for it one month before your current certificate expires. In that case, you’ll get the renewal date as per your original schedule.
If you have somehow misplaced your MOT certificate, you may check the renewal date on the official government website by entering your registration number.
Is there a Buffer Period?
No. Your car automatically becomes illegal to drive on British roads as soon as its MOT expires. You may face a fine if you are caught driving in a car with an expired MOT.
The only exception is if you are driving to an MOT centre. Even in that case, you have to produce proof that you have already booked a slot for the test.
How to Prepare for the Test?
The failure rate of MOT in Northampton and the rest of Britain have gone up by nearly 35% in the past 2 years. With the new regulations in effect since 20th May 2018, it’s likely that these numbers will keep on increasing.
Most of these failures are for minor issues that are easily avoidable. Simply follow these instructions-
- Ensure that your car is in an overall good condition. Check for dents on its body, cracks on the windshield and mirrors, visibility of number plates etc.
- Check for the proper functioning and health of the Both under and over-inflation may lead to an MOT failure. Same goes for any cracks or bulges on the tyre body. Maintain a minimum of 1.6 mm of tread depth on all four tyres.
- All the lights, including brake lights and registration plate lights, should be in perfect working condition.
Where to Take an MOT?
There are thousands of DVSA certified service centres all across the British Isles where you can take your car for its annual MOT. Make sure you take it to a trusted place like Superior Cars. The advantage of taking your car to an integrated service station is that you get all the necessary repairs.
How Much Can an MOT Cost?
The cost of MOT depends on a lot of factors. The make and model of your vehicle, the location of the garage, the tools used and the time taken to perform the test are all crucial determiners of the cost. However, British Department of Transport has set the maximum limit to £54.85 in case of passenger cars and £58.60 for commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kgs.
How Can an MOT Turn Out for Me?
Based on the performance of your vehicle, a test centre will issue an MOT certificate with one of the following remarks-
- Dangerous
- Major
- Minor
- Clear
If your car falls under the first two categories, you need to repair it immediately. In case of minor issues, they’ll give you an advisory notice which will contain the areas that you must tend to soon. If you clear it completely, you can drive it without any concern for the coming year.
Superior Cars 