Every vehicle in the UK needs to be tested each year to ensure that it complies with at least the minimum road safety and environmental standards. Every vehicle that is more than three years old needs an MOT test. The first MOT test for a vehicle is done when the vehicle is three years old. If you use your vehicle as a taxi the MOT rules for you are different. When your vehicle is tested, the MOT looks at some of the important items to see if it meets the legal requirements. Please keep in mind that the MOT certificate is not the general mechanical condition of a vehicle. If your vehicle is registered with no prior use on the road, the MOT will be required three years after the date of registration, but if your vehicle is used prior to registration, as in the case of an import, the MOT will be required three years from the end of the year of manufacture. If your vehicle is tested within the calendar month prior to when the MOT is due, the test certificate will run from the date of the test to one year after the expiry date of the current certificate. The same rule also applies when the vehicle is taken in within a calendar month of the first MOT. The vehicle owner needs to present their registration document. If your vehicle is tested earlier than one month before its due date the MOT will run only for twelve months. 

 

There are a lot of garages in the UK which are approved to carry out MOT testing. The blue three triangles’ logo which the stations are bound to display helps identify the approved test stations.

 

 

Here are a few things that approved MOT test garages should have:

 

·         A test bay and observation area housed in a weatherproof building. The building, although weatherproof, need not be draught free. It must be capable of being totally enclosed and provide a satisfactory working area. The test facilities must be reasonably free from oil contamination, exhaust fumes, noise or other pollution from adjacent work areas

·         Equipment laid out so that testing can be performed effectively. The equipment should be laid out and located so that the other activities of the garage will not affect the proper conduct of the test

·         an unobstructed, safe and easy access via metalled road from the site entrance to the building entrance, such that vehicles can enter and leave the site in a forward direction

·         adequate off-road parking

·         sufficient inspection facilities, including underside access, for any vehicle repair or servicing work

·         a clearly identified, warm and weatherproof public waiting area from which the whole test can be directly observed without interruption (except road testing) (room for two people seated is sufficient)

·         The garage should also have on display: VT9a – fees and appeals poster

                                    VT26 – list of nominated testers

                                    VT9 – authorization of examiner

 

If you are not satisfied with the way your test was conducted, please let your local Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (VOSA) know about it. This enables VOSA to make sure that the MOT test stations are providing a good service. You can also discuss the test result with the test station if possible. Do not let anyone from the MOT test garage carry out repairs on your vehicle

 

Bibliography

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/index.htm