MOT

To many, the ever-changing make-up of cities such as London, Manchester – or for that matter even Stoke-on-Trent – represent a joyous melting pot of culture, art and multiculturality. But they are also becoming increasingly expensive places to live, with everything, from rent to loaves of bread, seeming to cost just a little more than is comfortable. And with this economic load a constant reminder to be frugal, it can be quite tempting to look for areas to cut costs – such as on car servicing. I look after my car, the reasoning might go, so it won't hurt to miss just one service. However, that’s flawed reasoning. Getting your car serviced should be seen as an investment: paying a little money now to save future you from high car repair bills.

Hundreds of cars were denied an MOT this year because they were too dangerous – or too excessively dirty – to test. A Freedom of Information request to the DVSA revealed that in the first five months of 2023, more than 7,000 vehicles suffered an embarrassing “MOT refusal” – distinct from an MOT ‘fail’, since testers refused to test the vehicle in the first instance. Of that figure, 526 vehicles were ordered to turn around because they were simply “too dirty to examine.” Select Car Leasing made the FOI request for the top reasons for MOT refusals in 2023 between January and May 2023. 

Insurance broker One Sure Insurance analysed the DVLA's MOT database to find the most common causes of MOT failure among Class 4 vehicles (Cars, vans, motorhomes, and other smaller commercial vehicles). It will come as no great surprise to anyone in the trade that taking first place as the most common reason for a car to fail its MOT are worn or damaged tyres. Across all four tyres, poor condition, or not meeting the legal requirement of at least 1.6mm of tread depth contributed to 1,101,839 MOT failures across the UK in a single year. The driver-side front tyre tread depth accounted for more than a quarter of these, the equivalent of 368,853 MOT failures.

ETB Autocentres has unveiled a package of money-saving measures for customers to combat the cost-of-living crisis. The 43-depot network, which has sites in the Midlands, Wales and the South West, Free brake pads, Amazon gift vouchers and winter safety kits are just three incentives to lighten the load, while daily competitor price checks take place to ensure the lowest possible charges on tyres and other automotive solutions.

Anton Fricker of Taunton has received an eight-month suspended custodial sentence for issuing 31 MOT certificates without carrying out the tests. The case was heard at Taunton Crown Court and concluded on 26 August 2022. He was also banned from MOT testing for five years by DVSA.

A poll commissioned by Halfords has found that 6.5 million cars are being driven with faulty wiper blades. The data based on a OnePoll survey of 2,000 motorists found that 20 per cent don’t know when their wiper blade needs to be changed, while 15 per cent were worried about driving in the rain and cited it as a reason that they put off driving during the autumn and winter months.

Halfords Autocentres will now collect and drop off your car for servicing and MOT bookings. The service is available within five miles of the 215 selected Autocentres – see full list below this article. Halfords is charging £19.99 for the service. The autocentre chain explained that customers must book the service over the phone and ensure their vehicle is parked in a suitable location.

Tyre inflation firm PCL is warning motorists they could still face penalties for driving on dangerous tyres tyres following the government MOT extensions.

Cars, motorcycles and vans won’t need an MOT from 30 March 2020 for the next 12 months to allow essential travel during the lockdown. But “vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition, and garages will remain open for essential repair work”. And the government adds “drivers can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles.”