Are You Setting Yourself up to Fail the MOT?

The old saying goes that there are two things that are certain in life: taxes and death. If you’re a car owner, however, you also have to look forward to a MOT test. These inspections are performed after a vehicle reaches three years old ( or in some cases one year old) and are performed once a year after that. MOT tests are mandatory, and they help ensure your car is in good working order and doesn’t require repairs or replacement car parts.

While some car owners sail through the MOT test with flying colours, others find passing this inspection a little more difficult. If it’s almost time for your Renault to undergo the MOT, make sure you’re not setting yourself up for failure so you can get back on the road and back to your normal life.

How You Could be Setting Yourself up for Failure

When it comes to a MOT test, there are a number of things that can go wrong. Be careful that you’re not doing the following things that could spell failure for your test.

• Driving the Wrong Kind of Car- Fleet cars, or cars that are leased by government agencies and businesses for employees to drive may help you save money, but they are much less likely to pass their MOT than private family cars. Why? The individuals who lease these cars are much more likely to be neglectful of regular maintenance, simply because they don’t technically own them. If the business or agency doesn’t take care of the maintenance themselves, you may inherit some faulty car parts.

• Ignoring the Small Stuff- Passing your MOT means paying attention to every aspect of your car, from the bulbs that illuminate your dash to the condition of your number plate. While you may not think that a small chip in your windscreen will be a problem, if you don’t fix it before the test, you’ll be paying for a retest later.

• Ignoring Car Parts- During a MOT inspection, Renault parts will be scrutinised heavily to ensure they are in proper working condition and will allow you to remain safe on the road. Because of this, you need to make sure every car part is ready for that scrutiny. Visit your mechanic before the test and have him evaluate the condition the Renault parts beneath your bonnet. If something needs repaired or replaced, don’t ignore it.

• Forgetting Maintenance- Many problems can be avoided altogether if you remember to keep up with your regular maintenance schedule. Take the time throughout the year before your next MOT test to regularly check your Renault’s fluids, rotate the tyres, and assess any repairs that need to be completed.

• Choosing the Wrong MOT Location- You have options when choosing the location for your MOT test, such as your local garage, a council MOT test station, or a dealer. While a damaged car part could result in a failure at any of these locations, you’re really setting yourself up for failure if you choose the wrong one. Why? Because getting the problem fixed fast is important if you want to avoid paying for a retest and want to make sure your car is roadworthy. Council MOT locations may not be able to fix the problem at all and having the MOT done at a dealership means you’ll be paying a lot more to have the repairs made. If your local garage or mechanic is certified to perform MOT inspections, have yours done there. You’ll likely save money on labour costs and the mechanic will be much more likely to help you understand where you went wrong.

Are you ready for your MOT test? Or rather, is your Renault? Before you head to your inspection, make sure you’re not setting yourself up for failure.