Walk me through getting an MOT

[HairsprayBabe]

First car due its MOT in about a month

Slightly older car - 2015 , bought off an elderly relative last year has less than 40k miles - has always passed MOT and I haven't noticed any issues since I have been driving it.

Please walk me through getting an MOT like I am an alien - what do I need to do and what should I expect.

@HairsprayBabe perhaps next time just google, it will be less painful for everyone

Google MOT garages near you & got for one that has good reviews

Alternatively Halfords do a pre MOT check if you want to give it the once over. They crack things like bulbs, wipers etc. Just turn up in a branch and they’ll do it.

The MOT process is as mentioned. Book a slot, drop the car off and wait for the garage to let you know if it’s a pass or fail.

In the same way that dh says "I've run out of pants" and the magical laundry fairy gets busy and washes and restocks his pant drawer. I just say "My car MOT is due" and then it just magically happens.....I suspect dh is involved!

Joking aside, It's very simple as you can read. Lots of garages will do a test and if it fails and then you get the repairs they won't charge for the retest.

You can't just leave your car i NI? That's interesting. I'd have thought it would be a UK-wide system.

I go to a local independent, who was recommended to me years ago, but also, they are walking distance from home. I usually get the annual service done at the same time.

@Allthegoodhorses I did google it, I then had further questions, googling failed to answer.

Go be a sanctimonious git on another thread I cant be fucked with people being snide and nasty for no reason.

I made a mistake, I said sorry and you chose to make it an issue, apparently for fun. What is actually wrong with people like you, I would love to know.

@HairsprayBabe 🙄

@Allthegoodhorses feel free to actually explain yourself rather than continuing to be pointlessly horrible for no reason.

@HairsprayBabeI think only one person has said, so I’ll add - you can book it in up to a month before and the test certificate will be forward dated. So if it’s due on 10 Dec, book it in now and if it passes, the cert is valid from 10 dec.

If it fails, there’s time to do the work.
I have to say I have never checked lights, tyres or water before an MOT test, but then I drive a lot so I check those aspects frequently anyway.

Its really not that deep. Take your car in. Listen to their advice. Simples.

Why are you overthinking this? Have you never had an mot before?

This is bad advice.

Wait till the mot is done before you have the service. In case it fails on something major.

@Eightdayz its my first car, I only passed my test in April - I don't have many driving friends/family around me to ask.

Or maybe they told you but you just "skimmed" instead of actually listening?

Most people get recommendations from relatives/friends who have a trustworthy garage. If not google it. Theres a thing called the good garage scheme. Do not go to kwik fit / halfords they're known in the trade as being very harsh on mots. Same as the main dealer.

@Hoppinggreen awh you have come to be horrible for fun too! Nice one! So tell me, what do you like about being unkind and snide so much?

Well I tried helpful and that was pointless so I thought I would try something else

I think the month thing you can book it in a month before (less a day) and still have the same MOT date.

So if your mot was Due on 10 Dec, you could book it in on from the 11th Nov.

Bear in mind if it it has a dangerous fail. ( As opposed to serious) You will still have an MOT on the police database but you really should not drive it to somewhere else for repair.

Some people for a pre MOT inspection, and get repairs done first as the mot history looks better.

If you have no warning light on the dash, no funny noises and a good mot history there's probably no need to worry too much.

You can also take it to a council test centre who do not do repairs and are less likely to fail you do you pay them for repairs but then that complicated things if your car fails.

@Hoppinggreen Hardly pointless - As I said sorry I skimmed your message, It was helpful thank you. There were a lot of posts to read at first, I often miss things when I read, I am dyslexic. If you don't want to accept my apology that is absolutely your right.

It doesn't mean you should start being randomly nasty, purely because I made a mistake.

Take your car , then keep checking on the Gov.uk site while waiting to see if it passes

I believe that MOT tests seatbelts so yes remove car seats.
I think depending on how much stuff in boot, remove some. I think they check the tread on any spare wheel you have.

Ask people locally for recommendations and get booked in asap. You can have it (I think) about 4 weeks before the expiry. It's best not to run too close to expiry in case fail and need work. Places are very busy usually.

Jesus fucking Christ. And if the OP doesn't have a bloke to help her then what?! She should just resign herself to a lifetime riding a bike?

Everything you need to know here:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot/

Nope @Starlight1984 but it's not untrue. Women are far more likely to get ripped off even from places like Kwik fit :(

Kwik fit rip off men as well. Go there at your peril.

Ditto halfords
Ditto main stealerships

Don’t to to a garage, go to your local MOT test centre - that’s where the garage will likely take it any way. They give you a timed slot, the test takes half an hour so you can have a coffee while you wait for your car. It’s honestly really simple.