DIVERSOS

Sexta, 23 Junho 2023 09:16 | Actualizado em Quinta, 25 Abril 2024 17:10

Dropping your car off with low fuel or having too much CLUTTER in the cabin could result in a huge MOT headache, according to experts. 

Earlier this week an Essex woman was crowned owner of the UK’s messiest car in a competition where individuals across the country submitted pictures of their rubbish-strewn vehicle interiors. 

Even though the winner claimed a £200 Amazon voucher, a warning has been issued stating that a cluttered car can prevent your vehicle from being accepted for its vital MOT check - with a tester refusing to go anywhere near it! 

If a potential refusal issue only comes to light part-way through an MOT test, you might also still be hit with a partial charge - and you’ll need to find a new date to book the car in for a re-test, which could be tricky if you’ve already taken time off work. 

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, has listed the other important reasons why your car could get turned away at the MOT testing station - before it has even had a chance to fail - and how to avoid falling victim to these issues: 

Too much clutter

Select Car Leasing’s Mr Conway says: “A vehicle testing station (VTS) is within its rights to refuse to carry out an MOT if the interior of the car is too dirty and cluttered. It could be a hazard to health for the tester, and they - quite rightly - shouldn’t have to risk becoming poorly just because you can’t throw away your old sandwich wrappers. An MOT can also be refused if ‘the vehicle or any part or equipment on the vehicle is so dirty that examination is unreasonably difficult’, according to official Government guidelines. So get the sponge and bucket out.”

Oil leak

“Your vehicle may also get rejected if the car is deemed unfit for driving during the test, as a result of insufficient fuel, oil, or any other cause. Be sure to top up ALL of your fluid levels - including screenwash, brake fluid, coolant, and oil - before your test.”

Private number plate

“If you’ve got what’s called a ‘cherished’ or private number plate, you need to produce your vehicle registration document (V5C) at an MOT test to prove when the vehicle was first produced and used on the road. That’s because a cherished number plate doesn’t make clear the date when the car was first registered, unlike with a standard number plate.”

Unstable load

“If the tester believes that a load or other items, or lack of stability from a load of other items, would prevent a proper test from being carried out, they may refuse to carry out the test. It might be a dodgy roof rack attached to the top of your car, or it might be heavy items rattling around the boot or rear seats that could become projectile missiles in the event of a crash. Always try to empty your car and roof of all clutter before you go anywhere near an MOT test station.”

Dodgy service history

“It goes without saying that you should have your car serviced regularly, and maintain an accurate service record. An MOT can be refused if, in the opinion of the specialist in charge, a ‘proper examination would involve a risk of injury to any person or damage to the vehicle or other property’. 

"And there’s a further reason to refuse if you’re a diesel driver. It’s written in the guidelines that an MOT test can be refused with ‘a diesel where the engine’s maintenance history or condition was suspect’. That’s largely because a malfunctioning DPF (diesel particulate filter) on a dodgy diesel engine would result in harmful emissions being spluttered into an MOT testing bay. Which brings us on to…”

Too much smoke

“Whether you’re driving a diesel or a petrol car, an MOT can be refused if a vehicle emits high amounts of smoke. Again, that potential refusal is in place to protect the health of the tester.”

Boots and doors won’t open

“Structurally speaking, if any parts of the vehicle - the door, tailgate, engine cover, boot lid or fuel cap - cannot be opened, then a proper MOT examination cannot be carried out. Thus, a refusal is heading your way.”

Fee not paid in advance

“If the vehicle testing station has asked for a test fee to be paid in advance and this is not done, then the MOT test will not be able to be carried out. 

No identifying features

“Lastly, if your car does not have a clearly identifiable registration mark, VIN (vehicle identification number) or chassis number, a test can be refused. It’s a good idea to clean your number plate if it’s so filthy that it can’t be read, and make sure the VIN on the car matches the one in your vehicle’s V5C logbook.”