Car owners often dread the MOT test, given the rising cost of MOT bills. Now, the MOT tests themselves cost a standard fee, but the repair charges hike up the overall bill. There were cases where MOT costs had risen to as much as £375. However, the MOT test is mandatory for any vehicle to ensure compliance with road safety & environmental standards. But you can cut the cost of your MOT even before it happens. The article below offers the best secrets to reducing your MOT bill. But first, let’s look at a few major points about MOT.
When to get the MOT test?
You should send your vehicle for MOT test by:
- 3rd anniversary of the vehicle’s registration
- Anniversary of the vehicle’s last MOT when the car is already 3+ years
On the other hand, there are some vehicles which must be sent for MOT after its 1st year. You can check with MOT website to see whether your current vehicle falls under that category.
MOT fees
The maximum MOT fee for a car is around £54.85. If it’s a motorcycle (standard option), the cost would be £29.65.
MOT fines
Don’t ever make the mistake of not sending your car for MOT if it qualifies for the test. You would be fined something like £1,000 if you were caught driving your car without a valid MOT.
Tips to reduce MOT bills:
Follow regular maintenance
This is one of the most important points in cutting the cost of your MOT. Most cars fail in MOT tests and end up with expensive bills due to maintenance issues. Thus, experts always advise you to get consistent with car maintenance so that you can avoid a pricey repair on time. You must keep checking on the car parts at regular intervals and make sure to find appropriate replacements before it’s too late. If your car receives timely maintenance, it will perform better on the road and will be more likely to pass the MOT test.
18.7% of cars fail the tests due to lighting & signalling problems, 12.5% for suspension issues, and 10.2% for braking problems.
Get the light & signal tested beforehand
As mentioned in the above point, most cars fail the MOT for light & signal issues. So, it’s always advised to get a regular checkup on your car light & signal. It will help to locate any possible problems on time and get their fix done before you send the car for the test.
Make sure to have a regular check on rear & front lights as well as headlights, indicators, hazard lights, high beams and dipped lights. If the yellow coating from your indicator is coming out, you should get it replaced fast.
Be mindful of tyre tread
A car should have minimum 1.6 mm tread on every tyre to pass the MOT test. If your car doesn’t comply with this minimum criteria it will be declared as “failed” even when the other parts are in perfect condition. Thus, you should check the tyre tread on a regular basis so that you can get replacements on time– before the car is sent for MOT.
There is a 20p trick here to check the tyre tread. Just push your 20p coin inside tyre tread. If you can see its outer edge, the tyre needs replacement.
Check tyre pressure
It’s a vital point to remember when you want to know how to cut the cost of your MOT. Tyres have to be changed over time. However, you can enhance the longevity of the tyre if you keep the tyre tread in good condition. According to experts, the right level of tyre pressure is crucial to the durability of the tyre tread. Under-inflated tyres slow the vehicle and also hike fuel consumption. On the other hand, over-inflated ones damage tyre tread faster, resulting in frequent replacements. Thus, make sure to get a monthly checkup on tyre pressure to avoid unnecessary wear & tear.
Practice smooth driving
We have seen that braking issues are a major cause of MOT failures. Thus, you should take proper care of your brakes to ensure they last longer. Aggressive driving ruins brake pads faster, calling for frequent repairs. Many car owners ignore that to save costs, which turns into a hefty repair bill when the car is sent for MOT. But you can save all such hassles if you make sure to drive safely and smoothly. Gentle driving practices don’t cause much strain on the brake pads and save you from frequent repair needs.
Be mindful of your choice of test centre
The test centre you choose plays a decisive role in determining the range of your MOT bill. There are four options: a car dealer, a fast-fit outfit station, an independent local garage and a council MOT station.
The dealer option is costly. Fast-fit stations are comparatively cost-effective since many such stations extend handy offers on cheap MOTs. But it’s also true that they try to make money by handing out pricey repairs if the car fails in its MOT test. There have been reports that some unscrupulous stations fake a MOT failure only to make car owners pay for costly repairs.
Local independent garages show a similar side. However, if you manage to build a good rapport with a garage mechanic, you can save those incidences of fake failures and unnecessarily costly repairs. The most reasonable option would be the council MOT station. These centres just test the vehicle and don’t perform repair work. And as they don’t do the repair fixes, they won’t benefit anywhere from staging fake failure to hike up the MOT bill. You can expect an honest and unbiased opinion here.
Experts also advise you to get a pre-inspection for your car before you send it for the MOT test. Look for a credible garage that can provide a neutral and honest opinion about your car’s issues. You can ask a friend here who recently had a successful MOT test to refer you to a trusted garage.