MOT Information

Formula One Autocentres carry out over 100,000 MOTs per year and have over 130 state-of-the-art MOT testing stations situated across the UK, which are all approved by the government-appointed Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). All MOT tests are carried out by Formula One Autocentres’ MOT testers who have been appointed and nominated by the DVSA.

Pre-MOT checks you can do at home

There are several pre-MOT checks that you can do at home to ensure your car will pass its MOT, as well as maintain your car's overall health.

The most important checks to do at home are:

Tyres:

One of the most important at-home checks to do is on your tyres. Make sure that you have the correct tread depth, which is 1.6mm. An easy way to test this is by using a 20p coin - the outer rim of the coin should not be visible when placed in the tread grooves of your tyre. Additionally, check for any bulges, cuts, or signs of uneven wear on the tyres.

Lights:

Check the lights on your car to make sure they’re working. This means checking your headlights, indicator lights, brake lights, tail lights, fog lights, and number plate lights. Get a friend to help you out when it comes to testing your reverse and brake lights if needed.

Windscreen and wipers:

Take a look at your wiper blades to make sure they are in good condition and that they can clear the windscreen without juddering or scraping across the windscreen. Make sure to also check your windscreen for any cracks, chips or scratches. If these are present, they may be the reason for MOT failure.

Fluids:

As you would before a long car journey, you should check your car's engine oil level by using your dipstick. When checking your car engine oil level, make sure that it is between the minimum and maximum marks and appears clean and free of debris. Make sure to also check the level of coolant and top this up if needed.

Horn and seatbelts:

Make sure your horn is working properly by giving it a quick blast. Seatbelts are extremely important, which is why it's especially important to make sure they are functioning correctly. To check this, all you need to do is make sure they are retracting smoothly and that they clip and unclip correctly. You should also make sure they lock securely when pulled abruptly.

When can an MOT test be conducted?

All cars three years old and over require a valid MOT certificate with mandatory testing every year thereafter. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Exemption for new cars: Cars less than three years old from their registration date are exempt from needing an MOT test.
• Exemption for classic cars: Cars that are classed as historic vehicles (manufactured or registered 40 years ago or more and not substantially modified) are exempt from MOT testing.

Find out more about MOT testing and what’s involved with our easy to understand guide.

MOT tests can be conducted on your car up to one month, minus one day before the expiry date of an existing MOT certificate, provided that a current MOT certificate is presented to the examiner at the time of the test.

What happens once the MOT is done?

On passing the MOT test, the car will receive a certificate valid from the expiry date of your existing MOT certificate.

If your car fails its MOT test, a retest fee will apply if your vehicle is removed from the test centre for repair and returned within 7 working days following the day it originally failed. Please see full terms and conditions for more information.

Contact your nearest Formula One Autocentres MOT test centre for more information or book your next MOT test online today. It couldn’t be simpler!