The acronym MOT test stands for Ministry of Transport test. It is this test that ensures all vehicles in the UK are safe and fit for use on the road. It is a series of tests and criteria, which each car must meet. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Transport was long ago replaced by the Department of Transport this test is still referred to colloquially and officially as the MOT.
The History of the MOT
The first MOT test was introduced in 1960 but only vehicles over the age of 10 years old with required to take it. In April 1967 motorcycles, ambulances and taxis were also required to take the test. In addition, the test had to be applied to any vehicle over the age of three years old. Today the same criteria are applied; however, in addition passenger vehicles with nine or more seats have to be tested after only one year. Some agricultural vehicles are still exempt from the test.
Over the years, the list of items tested has expanded. Today the test has over 100 different elements to it covering a couple of dozen different systems and components on the vehicle.
What is Included in an MOT
Any component that is deemed important to the safety and roadworthiness of the vehicle is included in the MOT test. Some components are obvious, for example the brakes and lights. However, some are less obvious, for example the state of the windscreen wipers.
In addition, the MOT test also ensures that the vehicle can be easily recognised. For this reason, there are several criterion that a vehicle’s number plate must meet in order to pass the MOT test.
At first, many people resisted having their vehicle tested. As a result, over the years the penalty for not having a valid MOT has increased. A big step forward was making sure that it was impossible to obtain a tax disc without a current MOT certificate (VT20). Most insurance companies will not pay out on a vehicle, which does not have valid MOT at the time of an accident.
If you need a MOT done use an AutoCare garage. All of the independent garages in this group offer a high standard of work for competitive prices.
