News & Features

The Most Common Faults Found in MOTs Revealed

Posted in General News on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024

New research conducted by Vansdirect suggests that faulty electrical equipment accounts for most defects found during MOT tests. The research examined MOT testing data for Great Britain over the last 12 months, to identify the most common defects found in vehicles. It was revealed that lamps, reflectors, and electrical equipment were the most common defects, accounting for 25.11% of defects last year. The data also revealed that MOT tests frequently found defects with suspension (19.53%), brakes (16.38%), and tyres (12.56%). Unexpected repairs can become costly. That’s why Vansdirect has compiled a list of defect checks you can complete before your next MOT, preparing you for the potential findings: 

1. Make sure your lights are working 

Before your MOT, take a moment to check all your lights, including brake and reverse lights. It’s as simple as switching them on and off, asking a friend or family member to confirm whether they’re working. 

If there is an issue, you can try changing the lightbulb yourself to get ahead of the problem. However, should that quick fix not work, it may signal a wider electrical defect, which might require a trip to the mechanic. 

2. Look over your tyres 

There are a couple of quick tyre checks you can complete to ensure they are in good condition for your MOT test. First, you can check your current tyre pressure against your vehicle handbook. If you need to adjust it, then head to your local petrol station to either inflate or deflate your tyres. 

3. Examine your brakes 

When it comes to potentially faulty brakes, you’ll likely have already noticed issues while driving your vehicle. 

For example, if you notice that your car pulls to one side slightly when you apply the brakes, then this suggests a major defect that needs to be addressed immediately. And while you can check your brake pads for excessive wear, we would recommend hiring a professional mechanic for this particular task. 

However, if you suspect your brakes are faulty or have an issue, then don’t wait until your MOT test. Always take your vehicle into the garage as soon as possible, just to be on the safe side. 

5. Check your windscreen 

Fixing chips in your windscreen needs professional attention. Any chip that’s larger than 40mm will instantly result in a failed MOT. Additionally, if the windscreen chip is on the driver’s side and is covered by the wiper, it can be no larger than 10mm. 

Make sure you address these windscreen chips while they are still small and cheap to fix, rather than needing to replace the entire windscreen.

Comments (0)