What Is The MOT?

If you own a car you must maintain it in a roadworthy condition. Once your car is 3 years old you must have an annual check called an MOT at one of the 19,000 registered garages to make sure that your vehicle meets set road safety and environmental standards. You can recognise these authorised garages by the 3 blue triangles logo displayed. The maximum fee must be displayed; however the garage can charge less than the scheduled fee.

The MOT certificate says that at the time of the inspection, the car has met those environmental and road safety standards that are required by law. The MOT does not, however, give any guarantee of the condition of any of the mechanics of the car i.e. the gearbox, clutch or engine. It also does not guarantee that the roadworthy condition will last for the full length of the certificate.

The MOT inspectors are all trained by VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency). Their test results are regularly reviewed.

Amongst those things checked are the lights, wipers/washers, exhaust emissions, wheels and tyres, seatbelts, the horn, windscreen condition, the fuel system, steering and suspension and the vehicle structure (corrosion or damage). The MOT is very comprehensive and designed for the safety of all road users.

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