As thousands more cars fail new MOT test, here’s how to make sure yours passes
More than 650,000 cars have been deemed 'dangerous' by MOT rule changes
CAR due an MOT? Do not get caught out by last year’s changes, which could make it more likely you will fail.
Around 190,000 more cars failed the test in the three months after the changes were introduced in May, compared to the three months before.
And with March the most popular month for MOTs, many drivers are about to be hit with the new tests for the first time.
Follow our guide on what to look out for . . .
‘DANGEROUS’ CATEGORY
Before May last year, cars either passed or failed their test.
But changes in England, Scotland and Wales have seen the introduction of the new categories “minor”, “major” and “dangerous” for any defects.
Major and dangerous faults will both cause a car to fail its MOT.
If a car fails because of a dangerous fault, it is illegal to drive it on a public road — an offence punishable by a £2,500 fine and up to six penalty points.
Previously, owners could drive failed cars to a garage for repairs or to a scrapyard.
Now, a dangerous fault means a car cannot be driven until it is repaired.
RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “The addition of the ‘dangerous fail’ category meant that over 650,000 cars have been deemed to be an immediate risk and unsafe to be driven on public roads without immediate repair.”
But motoring groups have accused some garages of using the change to hold drivers to ransom by charging huge fees to repair dangerous faults.
Duncan McClure Fisher, founder of advice site MotorEasy, said: “We would, naturally, never condone driving on public roads with a dangerous car and anyone who does so will still be risking a fine and penalty points.
“However, we’ve already seen examples of garages using an interpretation of the wording in the guidance to bully motorists to get repairs done before leaving the premises, which they have no right to do.
“Unscrupulous businesses could not only make customers feel they’re unable to take their car away if it fails, but could also hold the customer to ransom over prices as a result.”
He advises that garages have no legal right to stop drivers taking cars away, even if they have a dangerous fault.
If you are concerned your MOT garage is ripping you off, you can call another one and arrange for them to collect it on a truck to repair elsewhere.
'CHANGES ARE OVER ZEALOUS'
MOTOR repair boss Matthew Tumbridge ended up in a taxi after his own car fell foul of the new MOT rule change last year.
Matthew, chief operating officer of breakdown firm MotorEasy, had his Toyota Auris MOT’d early so he could shop around for new parts if needed.
But he wasn’t expecting his car to be a “dangerous” fail due to a faulty rear seatbelt, which had seized up through lack of use.
It meant he couldn’t drive away in the car – despite the fact that it was completely safe to drive.
He then had to take a 40-mile taxi ride home from the garage near work in Reading, Berks to his home in Watford, Herts.
He took another £60 taxi ride next day to collect his newly fixed car.
Dad-of-two Matthew, 37, said: “These new changes seem a bit over-zealous – the details haven’t really been thought through.”
If your car’s problems are so severe that repairs would cost more than the car is worth, then you could get some money for scrapping it.
Call an authorised scrap car recycling company that can collect the car for you.
There are companies, such as CarTakeBack, that pay around £100 to £125 for a medium-sized car — and you could get extra if your vehicle has reusable parts.
Avoid dealers who pay in cash. These may be unlicensed and may provide a fraudulent Certificate of Destruction, which means you could still be left liable to pay tax on the vehicle.
KEY FACTS
- By law, the maximum charge for an MOT is £54.95 and £29.65 for a motorbike
- It is illegal to drive a car which is three years old or older without an MOT - you can be fined £1,000
WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
Other changes include tighter rules on diesel car emissions that mean your car could fail if there is any evidence of smoke from the exhaust.
There are also stricter checks on tyres, which can fail if they are not properly inflated.
Brakes will undergo more rigorous tests, including checks to see if the brake fluid is contaminated.
Reversing lights will be tested for the first time, as will headlight washers on cars first driven after September 1, 2009.
Tests on daytime running lights on cars registered from March 1, 2018, are also now in place, but these cars will not need their first MOT until 2021.
In good news for classic vehicle owners, cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles will not need an MOT if they are more than 40 years old and have not been substantially modified.
How to save ££s on tests
IT is worth checking your car over before taking it to the garage so you can deal with easy-to-fix problems that could lead to a fail, according to the RAC’s Pete Williams.
Steps to take include...
- CLEAN the headlights and number plate. It’s a simple way to ensure they are all fully visible.
- CHECK that windscreen wipers are in a good condition and replace them if there are any tears.
- MAKE sure all the lights are in full working order. If any bulbs have gone, make sure you replace them.
- INSPECT the tyre tread and change tyres if they are too worn. Pump up tyres to the correct pressure.
- CHECK the levels of your screenwash, brake fluid and oil. If any of them are running low, top them up.
- GIVE the horn a hoot or two to make sure it works. It is perhaps the easiest of pre-MOT checks to make.
- MOVE anything that blocks the driver’s view of the road, including phone holders and sat navs.
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