#Collaborative post
The MOT is a long-established part of motoring life, and it seems impossible to imagine life without it. But there are some fascinating facts about the MOT that you should learn so you can impress your friends and colleagues with your obscure MOT knowledge. Okay, maybe not friends and colleagues – but definitely the motorheads at the pub!
It Was Born in the 60s!
The MOT was introduced in 1960 in a bid to cut down the high and growing number of road accidents plaguing the UK’s small but growing network of roads and highways – soon to be wide fast-flowing motorways. The first MOT test was held in September of the inaugural year and was voluntary, held on vehicles over the age of ten. A shocking fifty percent plus of vehicles failed this test, showing the misplaced confidence of drivers in their shoddy rides! The following year the test was mandatory and for vehicles older than seven years old. Again, a high number of fails saw the age of cars being tested dropping until they arrived at three-year old cars, which largely managed to sail through their MOT without any fails: a benchmark for beginning the process of annual testing.
The Growing Checklist
The original checklist only looked at three items: the brakes, the steering and the lights. And indeed, these three are still very important items on the checklist, but it has grown to include nearly forty items, ranging from the practical (like brakes and lights) to the environmentally friendly (emissions) to the legally compliant (having a clearly legible numberplate).
Fails Can Be Silly
While most people understand that to be roadworthy a vehicle should be in good running order, have the driver be seen and see well all around them, and to be able to stop promptly when necessary, there are an awful lot of MOT fails for silly – even trivial seeming – reasons. These include things like the car being too dirty inside or out. The MOT inspector is allowed to refuse to even begin the MOT if the car is too dirty or cluttered for his or her liking, and a dirty exterior can mean that the number plate is not visible, as well as hiding signs of damage and/ or rust patches. Don’t be tempted to try and hide accident damage in this way: the inspectors have seen it all before!
Who Doesn’t Need an MOT?
For the first time in the history of the MOT, there are a cohort of vehicles which do not need to be MOTed. These are vehicles over the age of forty, and the thinking is that any car this old is almost certainly well-cared for and, most likely, is a vintage or classic car, kept up by a very careful owner and only driven once or twice a year to car shows and the like.
Does My Tractor Need an MOT?
Other vehicles that do not need an MOT include tractors that remain on farm or private roads. However, do be aware that as soon as you take a tractor onto the main roads, it will need to have an MOT. If you use roads of which you are unsure of the designation, it is always best to assume that it is a public road, and MOT your tractor accordingly. Better to pay £54.85 for peace of mind than risk a large fine!
If you can’t find the best local garage for MOT testing, then you do not need to worry about it as Elite Direct brings exceptional car services along with MOT testing. So, book your MOT in London at Elite Direct.