If your vehicle is three years old or more, you'll need an MOT test every year. The MOT is a thorough safety test of your vehicle and also checks your exhaust emission levels.
If you don't have a valid MOT certificate, you're breaking the law. In addition, you won't be able to buy car insurance or renew your road tax. It is up to you to ensure that your vehicle MOT is up to date every 12 months.
We're an approved MOT tester and are accredited by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). This means that we can test your car against the specified MOT criteria and either pass it as safe, or not. The MOT assessment is based on your car on the day you bring it to us. As well as deciding whether it meets the standards, we'll also let you know about any 'advisory' items that have passed the test but that you'll need to attend to in the future.
You don't have to wait until your exiting MOT has expired. You can have your vehicle MOT tested up to 28 days in advance of the date it is due. Your MOT is valid for 12 months from the expiry date of the previous certificate.
What To Bring To Your MOT
When you book your car in with us for its MOT, you need to remember to bring two things with you:
Your V5 document - your Vehicle Registration
A means of paying the current MOT fee
MOT Fail
Sometimes, your vehicle won't meet the necessary legal requirements. This means that it fails its MOT and must be repaired in order to bring it up to the required standard. When we've finished the MOT, we'll explain what, if any, repairs are necessary. The notes on the back of the test report will also help you.
If you believe that your nominated MOT tester has been unfair, you can appeal. You should request a VT17 form that explains the steps you should take.
MOT Re-Test
Once repairs to your vehicle have been carried out, we can then re-test it.
The VOSA guidelines say that there are two circumstances in which you won't pay for an MOT re-test. Firstly, you won't pay for a re-test if your vehicle fails its MOT and is left for repair and re-test at the testing station (and does not leave the testing station).
Secondly, your re-test will be free if your vehicle fails its MOT because of one or more items on the following list - as long as you return your vehicle for re-test by the end of the next working day:
Bonnet
Boot lid
Brake pedal anti-slip device
Direction indicators
Doors
Drop-sides
Fuel Filler Cap
Hazard Warning
Horn
Lamps
Loading door
Mirrors
Rear reflectors
Registation plates
Seat belts
Seats
Sharp edges or projections
Steering wheel
Tailboard
Tailgate
Wheels
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Windscreen and glass
Windscreen washer and wipers
Tyres (Not applicable to motorcycles and side cars)
If your vehicle fails an exhaust emissions test because of defective components, it may not be necessary to replace the complete exhaust system. It is advisable for you to have the exhaust components checked at Rapid Fit before submitting your vehicle for its annual MOT test.
