MOT Tips?

TheDean

TheDean

TheDean

Soldato
Joined
3 Oct 2004
Posts
5,020
Location
North East
Taking the old banger ['98 Corsa 1.4] in for it's for 1st MOT (with me). It's also the first time I've taken a car in for an MOT. Obviously, I'm concerned about getting ripped off and some wise guy claiming the engine is on its last legs.
I have heard there are places you can take them to that cannot replace parts, and so it's not in their interest to take the mick.
If anyone could give me some general tips, and even specific suggestions for places in Newcastle that would be great.
 
Wash it before you take it. If it looks well cared for it's more likely to pass that if it's got stuff growing on it!
 
See if there is a local council testing station near you. They are obliged to test private cars as well as taxis and buses etc and don't do repairs. So they have no incentive to fail a vehicle wrongly.
 
Janesy B said:
Nonsense

Sensible suggestion: Have a look at this PDF and go through as much of the checklist as you can.
Click to expand...

I suspect making the car look good might help sway the mechanic on "general condition of the vehicle".

Very useful document, thanks, I'll be sure to go over mine when MOT time comes.
 
My advice would be to take it somewhere and wait whilst it's done. If there are any problems you can then ask the tester to point them out whilst it's on the ramp.

You could have a look for a local place on http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk - it's not a definitive list, but in my local area most of the places with a good rep I wouldn't mind using are on there, and the shysters are not.
 
If it's too dirty it will fail.. i.e. number plates are not clearly visible, or lights, or even windows for that matter.
Common corsa problems i've came across,
Broken coil springs,
split/insecure outer drive shaft boots.

If your not mechanically minded, really the only things you can do is check all your lights work (and that the indicators are orange, not going white!)
Check your wiper blades, and make sure there's water in the washers!! thats a fail if not.
check all your seatbelts are not frayed, and that the release when under tension.
make sure you have all the pedal rubbers!
Mirrors and other bodywork secure.
 
Last edited:
The MOT lecturer at my college says he'll fail a dirty car on some points where he might just give advisories on the same parts if the car is clean and well looked after.

He reasons that if it is clean the the owner will likely act on the advisories soon and if it's filthy then the owner wont and he has to "force" the owner into replacing the parts by failing them.

I.e. "slight play in the steering rack" will turn into "excessive play in the steering rack". If "excessive" gets appealed and you tryo to say it's slight, you'll fail as the appeals board are much more strict - they never say "slight" - it's always "excessive".

He's the local VOSA "appeal" inspector as well!

It's not the way it's supposed to work but they are human, not robots so some interpretation / personal foibles are always going to creep in.
 
Janesy B said:
Nonsense

Sensible suggestion: Have a look at this PDF and go through as much of the checklist as you can.
Click to expand...

Not nonsense in the slightest. It reflects badly on the owner of the car if it is presented in a grotty state, and if it's grotty enough to affect lights/number plates/underside the examiner can refuse to test it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom