Brits spend £325 to fix their car after it fails an MOT test – here’s tips to help your motor pass first time
Simple checks prior to an MOT can save you up to £55 for another test
BRITS spend an average of £325 to fix their car after it fails a MOT – including up to £55 for a second test.
Drivers in Liverpool face the biggest bill to repair their motor, with an average of £441.38 spent on getting their car up to scratch.
Repairs alone cost £272 on average across the UK, with the price of a car’s MOT capped by the Government at £54.85 – and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.
Faulty lightbulbs are the most common reason for failed tests – counting for 30 per cent of failures, according to the latest DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) figures.
Checking lights prior to taking your car to an MOT could save you the cost of a second test.
Lightly tap them to ensure they aren’t loose or damaged. Ask for the help of a second person to go around the car while you turn on all the lights one by one.
This includes the indicators, brakes, reverse lights, dipped and fog lights. They should also check that the colours are correct and match with each other.
A tenth of MOT failures are due to tyre conditions. You can use the 20p test to make sure that tread has a minimum depth of 1.6mm.
Also check for any cuts, bulges and other damage across the tyre – and that they’re all the same size for at least on each axle.
Don’t forget to check tyre pressures too – you’ll find this in your handbook, inside a car front door panel or online.
Other simple checks can avoid the common fault of an obscured view of the road, including via mirrors, washers, wipers and windscreens.
Prior to an MOT test, washer fluid should be topped up; mirrors should not be cracked or broken off; wipers need to be replaced on an annual basis at least; and windscreen cracks need to be fixed or replaced entirely depending on severity.
Top up your anti-freeze and oil too if needed.
Brakes are a common fault in MOT tests too – if they make strange noises or if your car pulls to one side when braking, you need to have them fixed as soon as possible.
This can be costly, but at least you won’t have to pay for another MOT test should they be the cause of a failure.
Philip Dugmore, Technical Manager at the Good Garage Scheme, said: “If drivers kept a closer eye on their cars they can avoid a hefty pay out to pass a second MOT.
“Simple things like learning how to check the oil and top it up, checking your tyre pressure regularly and making sure all your lights are working can keep your car ticking over – and make it far more likely to pass its MOT first time round.”