The Blue Chalet's guide to the MOT
Detailed description of the UK MOT Test for Cars
Registration plates and Vehicle
Identification Number* (VIN)
For registered vehicles the plate
must be...
· present
· secure
· not faded, dirty or obscured
· be composed with correctly
formed letters and spacing.
The VIN number must be...
· permanently
displayed
· consistent
· legible.
* Required on all vehicles first
used on or after 1st August
1980.
Inside the car checks:
Steering
wheel and steering column:
· steering wheel is in acceptable
condition
· steering wheel is securely
attached to the steering
shaft
· upper bearings of the steering
column are inspected for
wear
· Steering shaft is checked for
excessive end float
· The clamping bolts are all
checked for security
· split pins and locking nuts
are also checked.
· 'free play' in the steering
is checked
· All flexible couplings and
universal joints are
checked.
Under bonnet checks:
This varies vehicle to vehicle;
some of these items
cannot be observed from under
the bonnet on some makes
and models. · security of the steering rack
or steering box and its mountings
· play in steering joints
· Inspection of any other swivel
joints which form part of
the vehicles' steering system
which can be readily inspected
from under the bonnet.
Under vehicle checks:
· All the steering joints
are inspected
by the Tester
whilst the steering
is loaded by
turning the steering wheel
from side to side.
· Power steering systems are
checked with the engine
running
· The security of attachment
of the steering rack
or steering box is checked
both with respect to the tightness
of nuts and bolts, and structural
cracking or corrosion
of the vehicle chassis where
it is attached
· Whilst the vehicle stands on
special swivel plates
the wheels are turned from
lock to lock and checked to
ensure that the wheels and
tyres do not foul either the
structure of the vehicle or
any brake pipes or hoses
· with the wheels jacked the
wheel bearings are
checked
· steering rack gaiters and front
outer constant velocity
joint boots are examined
· metal and/or rubber bushes
are checked as are
split pins, locking nuts and
other locking or retaining
devices which relate to steering
components.
(On some cars there will
be rear wheel steering which
is checked from beneath the
car.)
Horn
· operation
· control can be easily reached
by the driver
· loud enough
· not a sequential multi-tone.
Lights
All required lights are checked
for:
· operation
· condition
· security
Side lights and headlamps
· are the correct type and colour
· dip and aim.
Stop lights, indicators and hazard
lights*
· are the correct type and colour
· do not interfere with each
other in operation
· driver's tell-tale works with
respect to indicators,
or there is an audible warning
system.
Rear Fog lamps**
· must be fitted to the centre
or offside of the vehicle
· tell-tale must work · must
not be affected by other
lamps and not be obscured
· must be red.
Number plate lamps
· All lamps fitted must be working.
Rear reflectors
· There must be two red reflectors
fitted reasonably symmetrically,
securely attached and
not obscured.
* Must be fitted to all vehicles
first used on or after
1st April 1986, but if fitted,
must be tested. **
Must be fitted to all vehicles
first used on or after 1st
April 1980.
Bonnet Catch
Reasons for Failure · A bonnet that cannot be safely
secured in the closed
position
· An excessively deteriorated,
ineffective or insecure
(bonnet) retaining device
Doors
· Both front doors must be openable
from the inside and
outside and all doors must
latch securely.
Tailgates, bootlids etc.
· All these items, including
the tailboards and
dropsides of trucks must be
securable in the closed position
Vehicle structure
Body condition and security
· body must not be so insecure
or displaced so that
it might lead to loss of control
of the vehicle when driven,
or be a danger to other
road users
· there must be no dangerous
sharp edges or projections
caused by corrosion
or damage which is dangerous
to other road users including
pedestrians.
Corrosion
A vehicle can fail with respect
to corrosion for:
· excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed
area' -- within 30 cms
of certain safety related
components, e.g. brakes,
steering, suspension,
seat belt mountings
etc.
· excessive corrosion not in
a 'prescribed area',
but which is likely to adversely
affect the vehicle's
braking or steering. 'Excessive
corrosion' can mean a hole
or a significantly weakened structure.
Seats
· the driver's and the front
passenger's seats must
be secure
· all seat backs must be securable
in the upright position.
Brakes
Inside the car
Anti-lock braking system (if fitted)
warning lamp is checked
for:
· function
· sequence of operation
Footbrake
· sufficient reserve travel on
the footbrake
· pedal rubber not worn to excess
· correct operation of the servo
assistance system
Parking brake
This could be hand
or foot operated. Checked for
reserve travel so that it doesn't
reach the stops
on application. The mountings
will be checked for security and/or
corrosion.
Under bonnet checks · master cylinder and servo unit
are checked for leaks
with the engine on and the
brakes applied
· servo unit will be checked
to ensure it is operating
correctly
· visible metal or flexible brake
pipes will be checked
for corrosion, condition,
fouling or leaks
Under vehicle
checks · flexible brake pipes and any
other metal brake pipes
visible beneath the car are
checked
· discs and drums (external only)
checked for condition
and contamination
· brake back plates and caliper
securing devices are
checked for condition and security
· condition of the brake pads
will be checked if
visible
· The assistant operates the
handbrake and the condition
of the linkages and/or
cables is checked.
· on some vehicles there will
be a brake compensating
valve beneath the car which
will need to be inspected
for fluid leaks
Brake
performance check The
performance of the front and
rear brakes and handbrake
are checked for efficiency
and balance using specialised
equipment.
Windscreen
Includes all items affecting the
driver's view of
the road: the condition of
the windscreen, the wipers
and washers.
Chips or cracks in the windscreen
directly in front
of the driver, in the area
swept by the wiper blades,
are acceptable if they are
less than 10mm in diameter.
In the rest of the swept area,
up to 40mm diameter damage
is acceptable.
Official stickers (any used in
connection with road
enforcement, security or
crime prevention matters) that
are not readily removable are
only a reason for rejection
if they restrict the driver's
view.
Washers and wipers
· operation
· extent of area swept by the
wipers
· condition of the wiper blades.
Mirrors
Not all mirrors on all vehicles
are subject to Test,
depending on the age of the
vehicle. Those mirrors which
must be checked must be
· secure
· visible from the driver's seat
· not distorted or damaged so
as to seriously impair
the driver's view to the
rear.
Suspension
Under
bonnet checks · upper suspension joints
· any other suspension components
which can be inspected
from beneath the bonnet
Under
vehicle checks Applies
to the front and rear suspension
· no split pins or nuts missing,
no components broken
or excessively damaged
· road springs are checked for
condition
· all suspension joints are checked
for condition
· shock absorbers must not leak
and must be secure
(the vehicle will be 'bounced'
by the Tester to check that
they damp the springs adequately).
The suspension is checked for wear
by the assistant
applying loads in various ways
with the wheels jacked up
whilst the Tester observes
the result from beneath the vehicle.
Note: There are numerous different
suspension systems,
and the specific nature of
any examination will depend
to a large extent on the design
of the suspension system.
Seat belts
Most vehicles after 1965 must have
seat belts. Irrespective
of that requirement,
all seat belts fitted to
any vehicle must be inspected
for:
· security of seat belt mountings
and locking stalks · security
and operation of
the locking/release
mechanism
· condition of webbing
· retraction of the belt (it
is allowed to manually
feed it in).
Notes: 1. For technical reasons
the inertia locking
mechanism is not checked.
2. On some vehicles the belt
is attached to the seat, in which
case the security of the
seat to the vehicle would
also constitute part of the
seat belt check.
Exhaust system
The exhaust system will fail the
MOT if:
· Part of the system missing
or excessively deteriorated
· A mounting is missing or damaged
so it does not support
the system
· There is a major leak
· The system is excessively noisy.
Emissions
These are checked using
specialised equipment, the
details of the check depending
on the year that the vehicle
was first used on the road.
Excessive smoking (checked
visually) is a reason for failure.
Diesel smoke emissions are checked
by using a smoke
meter.
Fuel system
Any fuel leak will result in a
fail. Checked under
the bonnet and throughout
the run of the fuel line from
the fuel tank to the engine.
· fuel filler cap must fasten
securely
· the seal in the cap must not
be torn, deteriorated
or missing
· no other defect which could
cause fuel to leak
out.
Tyres and roadwheels
Tyre condition
The reason for failure
with respect to tyre wear is:
"The grooves of the tread pattern
are not at least 1.6mm
throughout a continuous band
comprising: the central three-quarters
of the breadth of tread around
the entire outer circumference
of the tyre".
Tyres must be correctly matched
with regard to:
· type
· size
· structure
NB. type or structure but not
both.
· tyres on the same axle must
be of the same structure
and size.
Also examined:
· general condition of tyre
· condition of valve.
Tyres fail if they have serious
cuts, bulges or other
damage.
The wear on the tyre is checked
with a tyre tread
depth gauge to ensure compliance.
The tyres are examined to ensure
that there is no
fouling with any part of the
vehicle.
Notes: Although under-inflation
is not in itself
a reason for failure, a brake
test may be inadvisable because
of possible damage, and it
may affect headlamp alignment.
The condition of the spare
tyre is not part of the MOT.
Wheel
condition · damage
· distortion
· cracks
· distorted bead rim
· securely attached to the vehicle
· no wheel nuts or studs missing.
An externally fitted
spare wheel or spare wheel
carrier must not be so insecure
that it is likely to fall
off.
Motorcycle MOT
Test items
a) Sitting on machine check:
1. All controls,
switches and
horn 2. Front
suspension, forks,
handlebars and
head bearings
b) At the front of the machine
check:
1. Front lights and indicators
2. Front brake master
cylinder (if fitted)
c) Place the machine on its stand
and raise front
wheel check:
1. Steering, front forks and
head bearings 2. Front brake
and wheel bearings
3. Wheel and tyre condition
d) Lower front wheel and go to
right side of vehicle
and check:
1. Frame, VIN, seat
and foot rest 2. Exhaust
system 3. Final drive (if
fitted to RHS of machine)
4. Rear wheel, tyre and brake
e) Raise the rear wheel and check:
1. Rear wheel, rear brake/components
and tyre condition
2. Rear suspension and
final drive
f) At the rear check:
1. Rear position lamp(s)/stop
lamp(s)/reflectors
and indicators 2. Rear
suspension 3. Registration
Plate
g) On the left of the machine
check:
1. Frame and foot rest
2. Exhaust system
3. Final drive (if
fitted to LHS of machine)
4. Rear wheel, tyre and brake
h) At the front of the machine
check:
1. Wheel alignment
2. Headlamp aim
3. Brake performance
If a sidecar is fitted it will
also be examined
in a manner specified by
VOSA with respect to Security,
Suspension, Wheel Bearings
and Wheel Alignment.