Each car owner in the UK is aware of the feared MOT test. It is their annual inspection that can either confirm that their car is safe and sound to continue being on the road. Most drivers perceive the MOT as another unnecessary cost, but what they do not know is that regular servicing of the car during the year will cost them nothing but a failing exam, which would make them spend too much money fixing the car.

What Exactly Is an MOT?

MOT test is an annual safety test of cars that are three years old and above. In doing this test, a qualified technician analyses different sections of the vehicle to make sure that they comply with legal safety and environmental standards. 

The test includes brakes and lights, and also includes emissions and steering. When a car does not pass an MOT test in Birmingham, then it is not allowed to drive on the roads legally until it rectifies the issues and retakes the exam.

The Connection Between Car Servicing and MOT Success

MOT testing and regular car servicing go hand in hand, but most car owners do not realise this. Whereas MOT is a legal process that verifies whether a car is safe to drive or not, car servicing is a form of preventive maintenance of a vehicle, which ensures that it drives smoothly and safely throughout the year.

Imagine it this way, servicing a car is akin to visiting a doctor to ensure it is going well, whilst an MOT is akin to visiting the hospital when something is already amiss. Regular servicing identifies little issues before they grow into big, costly failures at the MOT test.

Common MOT Failures That Could Be Prevented

There are numerous reasons this can be avoided with basic car servicing, and many of the most common reasons to fail the MOT are. The principal places where missing maintenance gives rise to MOT issues are these:

Brake Problems

Brakes are among the safety elements that are of utmost importance to a car, and they are well-examined during each MOT. As time passes, brake pads become worn, brake fluid becomes contaminated, and brake discs may be damaged. 

Car servicing involves inspection of these parts regularly and changing them before they can become hazardous. Cars that have not been serviced well always fail their MOT due to poor functioning of the brakes to meet safety standards.

Light Failures

Perhaps it sounds ridiculous, however, broken lighting is one of the largest causes why cars fail to pass their MOT. Everything should be fine, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and indicators. When servicing their cars regularly, the mechanics will examine the car's lights and replace the ones that have burned out. They also wash dirty light covers that may cause the lights to be too dim to clear the test.

Tyre Issues

Tyres must be suitable in depth of treads and in good condition to pass MOT. The legal tread depth measure is 1.6 mm, yet most car owners do not regularly check this. When a car undergoes servicing, tyres are checked by a mechanic for wear and tear and air pressure. They can identify issues in good time and suggest new tyres before the arrival of MOT time.

Exhaust and Emissions Problems

The current vehicles are required to comply with tough standards of emissions to pass their MOT. The exhaust must be functioning well and should not be polluting excessively. Engine performance and exhaust system checking are among the regular car maintenance tasks.

Problems with the exhaust pipe, catalytic converter or engine may be identified by mechanics before creating an emissions failure during the MOT.

Windscreen and Wiper Issues

An MOT failure may occur due to a broken windscreen or battered wipers. When vehicles are being serviced, the welfare of the windscreen and the wiper blades is examined by the mechanics. They can prescribe repair or replacement before these objects become a menace during the MOT test.

The Hidden Costs of Skipping Car Servicing

Most car owners miss routine servicing and save money, yet this strategy can be rather expensive in the long run. When a car fails its MOT, the owner will incur a number of costs: the price of the failed test, the price of repairs and the price of re-testing. The repairs required in certain situations may cost a lot more than would have been the case had they been noticed during routine servicing.

As an illustration, when brake pads are changed during the routine servicing of cars, it may be about £100-150. However, when the brake pads are neglected and worn off and end up damaging the brake discs, the cost of repair when they fail the MOT might cost £300-500 or even higher.

There is the inconvenience factor, too. A vehicle that does not pass MOT is not allowed to be driven further without repair and re-testing. This implies that the owner may have to organise other means of transportation, take a leave to repair or even pay the cost of emergency repairs.

How Regular Car Servicing Helps MOT Success?

Regular servicing of the car is insurance for a successful MOT. In a normal service, mechanics do much of the same inspections as those done during an MOT test. They inspect brakes, lights, tyres, exhaust systems and other significant parts. If they identify any issues, they can be corrected over time over a year instead of being repaired at once during MOT time.

There are numerous cases of cars with a regular service history reported to be passing MOT much better than many garage owners. They are cars that normally pass all their MOT tests due to the fact that all the possible issues have been found out during their regular servicing and corrected.

The Smart Approach to Car Ownership

The most intelligent car owners know that routine car servicing Birmingham and MOT preparation are a couple. They do not wait for the time of MOT to consider the state of their car. Rather, they plan routine service over the year, which is typically 6,000-12,000 miles or once a year, whichever arrives first.

In the process of such services, they request their mechanic to scan through parts that are usually examined during MOT tests. Such a proactive attitude implies that there will be fewer surprises, reduced costs and reduced stress at the time the MOT comes.

Conclusion

Not servicing a car may sound like a cost-saving option, but it can and frequently results in a costly MOT failure and unsafe driving. Consistent service spotting issues early on ensures car safety and significantly increases the likelihood of passing the annual MOT test on the first attempt.

Those car owners who invest in regular car servicing not only save on time and money, but in the long run, they also save on the time and hassle of protecting their safety and that of other road users as well.