Three tips to keep the cost of your annual MOT down
SORTING out your car if it fails annual safety checks can mean brutal payouts.
But taking a few steps ahead of the yearly MOT, can make all the difference to your bank balance.
Here’s how to put the brakes on your test costs . . .
GET A DATE: You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT.
If you’re prone to forgetting then sign up for a free text or email reminder a month before its due at gov.uk/mot-reminder.
Garages can often be booked out a couple of weeks in advance so don’t leave it to the last minute. MOT test costs for a car are capped at £54.85 and many garages charge less than this.
But if you think your car could need some repairs it’s best to find a trusted garage that has good customer reviews.
FAULT PREVENTION: If your car is given a major fault it will fail the MOT and you are not allowed to drive it.
However, many common ones are easy enough to fix ahead of the test and gives you time to shop around for best prices.
Give your car a once over, check every light is working and buy and replace bulbs where necessary.
Also look at the tyre pressure and tread which should be at least 1.6mm.
As a rough guide, you can place a 20p coin into the main grooves to check they are deep enough.
If you can’t see the raised outer rim of the coin, then the tyre has sufficient tread depth.
Mend any damage to the windscreen — any obstruction within the central view shouldn’t be larger than 10mm.
MAINTENANCE: Keeping your car well looked after is the best way to ward off expensive problems.
Dan Meeghan, from OBD car scanner and app Carly, says: “The first step in minimising MOT expenses is to keep up with regular maintenance.
“Simple tasks like topping up fluids, inspecting lights, and ensuring tyres are in good condition can prevent minor issues becoming costly problems.”
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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