Top ten tips to save money on your MOT

Monday 3rd April 2023

With the current cost-of-living crisis, we understand that failing your MOT or forking out unnecessary cash on an overpriced MOT is an expense no one wants to deal with. That’s why we’ve created this blog to help you save money on your MOT.  

Tip 1: Book your service and MOT together

Booking your MOT and service together is a great way to save money. We recommend that you get a full service every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first. And, by law, you’re required to MOT your car annually too. By having your service carried out before your MOT, your service is more likely to highlight or correct any issues that can commonly cause you to fail your MOT. Plus, by booking both together, you can save time and money. Here at Formula One Autocentres, we offer MOTs from just £24.95 when you book together with a full service - saving you money. 

Tip 2: Check your lights

Checking all your car’s lights and bulbs before you go for your MOT test is essential. Replacing a bulb or cleaning your lights is a much cheaper option than having to pay to take a MOT retest. Lights are often overlooked when getting ready for your MOT test, so it’s a good idea to make sure to check them! 

Tip 3: Check your tyres

Worn out tyres can result in a preventable MOT failure - a tyre tread depth of anything under 1.6mm is illegal. We recommend that you should get your tyres replaced once they get to 3mm. For more information about how to make your tyres last longer, read our helpful guide.  

It’s also good practice to make sure that your tyres are inflated to the right pressure level, under or over inflated tyres can affect your tyre wear and fuel efficiency.  

Tip 4: Fix any minor faults before your MOT test

Most minor faults are easier and cheaper to fix than to have to pay to retake your MOT test. Minor faults like a broken wing mirror, dirty number plate or faulty windscreen can be remedied at a low cost before the test, preventing them from snowballing into bigger issues later.  

Tip 5: Book online

You’ll always find the best deals when booking online. Make sure to follow us on social media so that you’re the first to know about any sales that can bring down the price of your MOT. 

Tip 6: Shop independent

It’s a fact that independent garages are often cheaper than large dealerships. Over the last 50 years, we’ve established ourselves as one of the largest independent autocentres, that remains family owned and committed to the highest quality of service. Meaning we’ll always charge fair prices for all our autocare services. 

Tip 7: Keep your car well maintained throughout the year

Looking after your car throughout the year will save you money in the long run. Similarly to repairing any minor faults before your test, ensuring that you are performing regular maintenance will make sure your car is in the best possible condition before it goes in for its MOT.  

Some of the maintenance services you should be aware of include; 

• Free battery check: Your car battery on average lasts between 4-5 years, for peace of mind we offer a free battery check to ensure all the components of your battery are working properly.   
• Free brake check: We recommend a brake check at least once every six months, or more often if you brake harder than average.  
• Free wheel alignment check: Typically, we recommend that you get your wheels aligned every 2 to 3 years. However, if you clip or bump a kerb or pothole, you should get your wheel alignment checked straight away. 

Tip 8: Drive your car regularly

Keep your car running regularly, even if it’s for short journeys. You don’t need to drive your car every day, but once or twice a week should be enough to avoid running into trouble when it comes to your MOT.  

Tip 9: Check what’s included in the test

Checking what’s included in an MOT will give you a good idea of any potential areas of failure so that they can be pre-empted. Not sure what’s included on an MOT? Check out our guide for the full list of what’s checked.  

Tip 10: Never miss an MOT

Missing your MOT will result in a maximum fine of £1,000 and in some cases, your car may also be impounded. This is much more expensive than a MOT test. Luckily, we run a MOT reminder service, to make sure you never miss an MOT. 

Ready to book in your next MOT? Our trained professionals are ready to help you. Book online or Find your nearest centre today.