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Is your car in need of an MOT soon? Then the day of the week you book your test for can have a big impact on whether you pass!
When preparing for an MOT, there are several straightforward checks you can perform to avoid failing due to minor issues. However, studies have found that the day of the week can also play a part, with Sunday offering the highest MOT pass rate at 78.36%, while Monday has the lowest rate at just 70.45%.
If you are taking your car for an MOT, here are some essential pre-test checks to keep in mind:
Approximately 18.9% of MOT failures are due to issues with lights and signals. To avoid this, turn on all your car’s lights and check whether any bulbs are blown or if the surrounding areas are dirty or misty and need cleaning.
-Suspension
Suspension issues, accounting for 13% of failures, are harder to spot but can often be detected by listening for clunking noises when cornering or driving over speed bumps. You can test the suspension by parking on a flat surface to see if the car sits level. Press down on each corner and check if it returns to its normal position smoothly, without excessive bouncing.
-Brakes
Around 10% of failures are due to brakes. To assess yours, listen for squealing noise or whether your car is pulling to one side while braking. If possible, remove the wheels and inspect the brake pads and discs to determine if they are worn and need replacing.
-Tyres
Tyres contribute to 7.7% of MOT failures. The legal tread depth is 1.6mm for the central 75% of the tyre’s circumference. Use a 20p coin to check the tread depth - if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tread may be too shallow.
-Windscreen
Lastly, problems with the windscreen cause 7.2% of failures. Ensure there are no chips or cracks, especially in the driver’s eye line, where cracks must not exceed 10mm in length. Confirm the wipers are functioning effectively and replace them if needed.
Taking the time to address these common issues will help increase the chances of your car passing the MOT… and save you money on having the garage fix them for you!
Calls may be monitored for quality and training purposes. Eastern Western Motor Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities under reference number 310505 – we are a credit broker not a lender. Registered Office: 8 Westerton Road, East Mains Industrial Estate, Broxburn West Lothian EH52 5AU Registered in Scotland No. 14833 VAT Registration No. 269233051 We work with a number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you finance for your purchase. We are only able to offer finance products from these providers.