Can My Car Pass a MOT Test without a Service?
It's
possible for your vehicle to pass its MOT test without being serviced,
which is another incentive to get your car service completed after
the MOT. If you opt to skip maintaining your vehicle completely, you will not
be able to detect minor problems before they become severe problems that will
cost you a lot of money to rectify.
The
MOT certificate verifies that your car meets the legal minimum environmental
and road safety criteria at the time of its inspection. It does not imply that
the vehicle is roadworthy for the duration of the certificate, and it is not a
replacement for routine maintenance.
It
is also a good idea to book your car with a MOT centre that also carries out car repair. The reason for this is that if your vehicle fails the MOT test and has
a serious issue marked as a 'dangerous fault', you will not be able to drive it
to a repair garage unless your current MOT is still valid, and you will have to
arrange for recovery. You will save time and money by booking with a garage
that does a MOT test, service, and repair.
What Is the Difference Between A Servicing And A MOT Check?
What
comes to mind when you think about vehicle maintenance and the steps you may
take to keep your vehicle in good working order? We're guessing you chose
either a routine service or a yearly MOT test as your response.
Both
are acceptable replies, but many drivers admit that they have no idea what the
difference is or even what happens when they bring their car into the
garage for these necessary inspections. In fact, according to our recent study,
up to 59 percent of car owners are unsure what is included in their MOT
and service, so we thought we'd take a time to clarify the distinctions and
debunk a few prevalent fallacies.
What does a MOT check include, and what does the acronym MOT stand for?
We
found that 85 percent of drivers had no idea what the term MOT stood for in a
recent poll, so what better place to start than here? MOT stands for Ministry Of
Transport, which has been defunct since 1970.
However,
while the government agency in charge of our transportation network has changed
names numerous times over the last four decades and has been known as the
Department for Transport since 2002, the MOT test has remained the same.
The
test is a legal requirement for an annual vehicle inspection. It follows the
DVSA's stringent checklist of criteria to assess whether or not your vehicle is
suitable for purpose and roadworthy. To pass your MOT, your car may require
further work, although the test does not include any repairs or replacement
parts.
The
test confirms that the vehicle is safe to drive, but it does not guarantee that
it is performing at its best. That's because the MOT test only looks at what's 'safety
critical' in your car, not its overall health. While the MOT test covers items
like brakes, lights, tyres, and seatbelts, it does not examine things like your
engine. That's when a service comes in handy.
What is a Vehicle Service, exactly?
A
service is a vehicle examination based on your vehicle manufacturer's requirements
rather than the DVSA's; it maintains your vehicle efficient, safe, and fully
functional. Both a MOT test and a service are comparable in that they both
check things like tyres, brakes, and seatbelts.
A
service, on the other hand, is more complete since it covers the vehicle's
whole health, not just the 'safety-critical' parts. It also includes the
replacement of some parts, such as the engine oil, to keep your automobile
operating smoothly. To boost vehicle performance even further, a comprehensive service
might include replacement spark plugs, fuel filter, and air filter (if
applicable).
Having
your car maintained at the manufacturer's suggested intervals can ensure
efficiency and help you prevent problems all year.
Having
your vehicle serviced might also help you save money on costly
vehicle repairs. Regularly servicing your vehicle can assist to prevent
significant repairs, just like recognising faults before your yearly MOT.
Simple procedures such as changing your oil and checking your brake fluid and
antifreeze can help to maintain your car and keep it running smoothly, but it
can also mean that car parts and fluids are ignored, resulting in corrosion,
overheating, and leaks. On your car, all parts are subject to wear and tear,
but simple check-ups and top-ups can help prevent serious damage, especially on
longer trips.
Service History and Valid MOT Maintains Your Vehicles Value
If
your vehicle has a complete service history, it might really help keep its
worth. A buyer may have a negative image of a car with a missing or incomplete
service history since they are seeking for a trustworthy vehicle with a
comprehensive service history. Along with mileage, the number of previous
owners, and the general condition of the vehicle, your service history is one
of the key elements that might affect a car's depreciation rate. A
comprehensive car service and MOT provides piece of mind to potential
purchasers, so retain all of your car documentation and make sure the garage
stamps your service book every time you receive a service.
Is It Necessary to Service My Car Before A MOT Test?
It's
advisable to complete the MOT first when scheduling a service and a MOT for
your vehicle. Because some of the defects found during a service will also be
noted during a MOT, having the MOT completed first can save you time and money.
This
does not, however, imply that you should abandon the service entirely. Even if
a car passes its MOT, a service can reveal additional issues early on, allowing
you to address them before they become a far more expensive problem down the
road. Not only that, but all of the essentials, such as oil changes, fluid
top-ups, and other inspections, are required aspects of a service that
aren't covered by the MOT.
We
hope this answers the question ’why car servicing and repair is best for MOT
test’. If not, please read on.
Unfortunately,
we've learned that young drivers, in particular, are putting themselves in
danger by failing to get their cars serviced on a regular basis. This
is because they can't afford it or because they're unfamiliar with the
notion.
In
a recent poll conducted by the rapid fit network, 34 percent of 500 drivers
questioned said they would rather not pay for a service and instead rely on
their vehicles passing their MOT test to save money.
Another
intriguing data is that 57 percent of those who chose not to use a service were
between the ages of 17 and 30, indicating that the tendency is widespread among
younger drivers.