20 Myths About Mot Test: Busted

our car’s MOT test has been phased in over the last few decades. Here we take a look at 20 common myths surrounding this annual test.

Whether you’re an experienced driver or a first-timer, nobody likes hearing those four dreaded letters: MOT. Every time your vehicle is due to its MOT Scunthorpe, it brings with it trepidation and anxiety as you wonder whether your beloved car will pass with flying colours – meaning another year of carefree driving ahead – or whether it’ll fail miserably and leave you out of pocket as well as down on the road.

The latter may not be such a big deal if your car is worth peanuts or is likely to have little resale value going into the, but what if it’s a rare collector’s piece or if the MOT failure was caused by your negligence?

Although an MOT test is something we all have to go through, it has come under a lot of fire in the past for being overpriced and covering only a limited amount of things that could affect the safety and efficiency of your car. That said, there are also many myths surrounding MOT tests: like how you can’t get them done on W1-plates; that small cracks won’t be spotted; and that you can drive around with bald tyres.

Here we take a look at 5 such common misconceptions about MOT test

MOT FAILURE

You’ll automatically lose your no claims bonus – WRONG! The part of your no claims bonus that will be deducted depends on what exactly needs fixing and how long you’ve had the number plate:

1-12 months: 25%

1-2 years: 50%

2+ years: 100%.

You’re not allowed to drive your car home – PARTLY RIGHT.

If your vehicle fails its MOT test, an MoT tester won’t turn you away straightaway – they’ll provide a list of faults for you to fix first. That said, if some of those faults pose a serious threat to your safety as well as the safety of other road users, they can seize your car until they’re fixed. It happened in a case study reported by The Telegraph, where a vehicle with bald tyres and an oil leak was deemed unsafe to drive.

You can’t drive home if your MOT certificate has expired – RIGHT. You will have to get another MOT before you can drive it again.

Can you book an appointment for the day of the MOT test? – WRONG!

Try and visit your local MOT centre at least a few days beforehand as early morning slots go fast as they’re in high demand (there’s no such thing as an MOT drop-in centre). If that fails, drop by around 10:30 am as most people tend to cancel their tests afterwards due to failed repairs; which means their chances of getting an earlier slot rise. Or, try dropping by during lunchtime as it’s the quietest time of day. If you do miss out on an appointment, you can try your luck for another one in a few weeks.

You cannot get MOT tests done on W1-plate vehicles – WRONG! You can get an MOT test done even if you only have provisional plates (the ones with P at the beginning). Only cars that are restricted to doing 30 mph or less cannot be tested.

The other types of vehicles available for testing are N1 (cars registered before 1st January 1977), L (motorcycles) and T (tricycles).

Also, you don’t need any paperwork to prove that your car is taxed; all you need is its number plate – not even your logbook is necessary.

You cannot get an MOT if you are moving into the UK from abroad – WRONG!

You can always take your car for its MOT as long as you have both valid insurance and the correct V5C registration documents. If you fail, don’t worry – there’s a retest waiting for you straightaway, usually with no extra charges.

You cannot get an MOT if your vehicle has been modified – RIGHT.

You’ll probably need to re-modify your car after undergoing any serious modifications which affect its performance or safety.

You can’t get an MOT on a new car – RIGHT.

You have to wait until your car has been registered for one whole year before you can get its first MOT test done.

You are not allowed to drive with tyres in the following condition – WRONG

If your tyres are unsafe, you’ll be told at the start of the MOT test, which gives you time to replace them before having another go car service Scunthorpe. Of course, if they’re deemed ‘immediately dangerous’ or unfit to carry the weight of your vehicle, then the tester will tell you not to drive it any further.