How much is my car worth ? Is a question I hear often.

The thing is… when you go to sell your car; it’s common to run into a bit of a challenge when trying to figure this out.

All to often you may end up selling a vehicle that is worth far less than you imagined. And when the dealership hits you with the meagre number (far off what you expected), it can be a real rock to your confidence.

However the concerns that we are about to dig into when considering How much is my car worth – may play an important to role in realising the price of your vehicle accurately.

First up… what should you be looking, at when you think your car might be undervalued?

Car Dating Records

One thing that many people don’t think would matter, when asking How much is my car worth? – but almost certainly does, is how many “marriages” your car has had. By this, I mean how many owners; how many dates has the car been on with other people? Dealers rate this information highly as it gives the car a reputation of being reliable or one that you get rid of quickly.

Whilst a small grouping of owners over a significant period of time will not really hurt you too much, you do need to consider how a range of owners over a period of one or two years will look. It makes the vehicle look as if it has no real or genuine value, and can quickly be seen as a bit of a busted flush. However, it also comes down to the dealerships own personal successes with a vehicle; are they dealing with good sales on your kind of vehicle? Then they might look at your ownership rate a bit more positively.

Asking the question How much is my car worth? – is something that you do need to think about, as the company will be running with industry data to try and ascertain the fairest price, and if they are using Glass or CAP they will be getting plenty of information about the car, including an average price that is on the market. Things like the ownership record, though, could just rock the boat enough to see your price offered take a significant kicking. This is something to consider quite carefully as a car that is not producing a very positive ownership record could lose out to a car that is almost identical, but has had less owners.

Is The Heart Ruling The Head?

How much is my car worth?

When thinking about How much is my car worth? a major problem for those who are trying to sell cars is looking at the vehicle with their heart rather than the head. We’ve covered this further down below but it really is the biggest barrier to your success. You need to take off those glasses that are blocking your view and look at things like the body and the paintwork. Getting to grips with all those dull parts, scratches, bangs and bumps that never seemed to really matter until now is so important to getting the true value of a vehicle.

Take a forensic look at everything from the paint to the wheels and even the windows. Don’t forget about the interior, either – this has to be forensically investigated to make sure that you can get a vehicle that is easy to use and attractive to potential buyers. Is the car being serviced on time every year or are you delaying things? Because that will hurt you, too.

When considering How much is my car worth?, if you’ve paid a lot of money for spoilers and extras you will probably dent the final price, too. Most people aren’t keen on this kind of stuff and won’t be shy about letting you know. Take the time to be objective about the state of your car and you might get a whole lot more luck with ending up with a price that is actually reflective of its class.

Start by visiting places like WeBuyAnyCar.com, as they offer a very good range of starting points to do some research and to get a better idea of what your car is worth. The one thing we can say, though, is don’t be misled by looking at classified ads – they don’t tell the whole truth and will give you a rather poor perception of what you could be worth. Just because Joe from Brixton is selling his Fiesta for that much does not mean that you can, too!

Cars are like people. They have so many complex differences that when judging one against the other it is absolute folly. Lose the emotion and stop looking for logic to make sense to you – instead, find the actual facts behind the situation and you are more likely to lose the tinted glasses and start making smart, calculated and intelligent decisions about your vehicles overall price.

Understanding Dealership Valuations

When considering How much is my car worth? Another big part in establishing vehicle value and a fair price is the dealership valuation in general.

If you are using the average value based on what dealers are selling the car for then you will be in for a bit of a shock as this does not take into account the wide reaching ways they will find to reduce the fee that they are paying out to you.

Dealers will look at the model, specifications and the year of your vehicle before going any further. Your vehicle could have things like a manual gearbox, or come in a really undesirable colour that would need to be changed. You could, though, be sitting with the King of the car that you own with the best specifications and a classy, well-received colour. This all comes into play when looking at the price you’ll get.

One fancy spoiler to many

How much is my car worth?

Another big problem when considering How much is my car worth?, is when you jazz up your car too much. Fancy rims, spoilers and tinted windows might make you feel like you are in a racing movie, but the next buyer might not be so eager to drive around like this and that will impact on the value.

Whilst you will get away with having an older vehicle that has a bit more mileage on the clock compared to others, you won’t be able to get away with having an old car that is the vehicle equivalent of an OAP. If a model upgrade has happened to your vehicle since you bought it you can expect the price to have hit the floor with your model. Factor in things like warranty periods being expired and the value you expect and the value you get could be two totally different things.

Damage and decay

Another big issue when considering How much is my car worth?, is the condition of the car. If any kind of damage or decay can be seen, you will be charged for it in the final price. Leaks, tyre wear and tear, service history, MOT history and various other little things all come into the mind of the mechanic when looking at your vehicles service history. Everything that they need to fork out fixing up this stuff is going to come out of your final price.

Mileage

The last thing to think about when considering How much is my car worth? is the mileage on the clock.

If you’ve spent plenty of time going from Southampton to Inverness then your overall pricing is going to be a whole lot worse than it could have been. A car with low mileage despite its age can balance out, but if you like to go everywhere in the car you might find that it will hurt you when the time comes to sell.

I’m I being scammed?

How much is my car worth?

If you turn up to sell or exchange your car expecting a right few quid and you get offered buttons in exchange, no doubt you’ll be more than a little frustrated.

The question How much is my car worth?… may blurt out your mouth in alarm!

You may feel like the mechanic is out to get you. After loving your car and taking care of it soundly you might soon find that the mechanic who wants to buy it is not quite as impressed with your diligence. You’ve now been told that – after all that work and care – it’s worth less than half of what you were expecting. “Surly these guy are trying it!”

A rather broad a question…

When you ask How much is my car worth?,  you are asking a rather broad question. Whilst you’ll find morally dubious individuals who buy cars for a song and leave you out of pocket and with no other option, you will find that most of the markdowns are actually a bit fairer than they might appear. Keep in mind that you are going to a motor professional who knows that you want to sell; you have less knowledge, and you have no advantage as you initiated the process. This leaves you in a bit of a challenge, do you listen to their words and get a bad fee, or do you say no and risk being dropped?

The chances are, though, that the lowballing will start to incrementally rise until you get to a figure a bit more like what you were hoping for. Never ever accept the first offer provided; because it might be the lowest offer they could have provided you with!

By taking a running guess at your cars value and doing no research, or just going with arbitrary numbers based on what you paid for X and Y, you will get nowhere. However, if you are look at car ads you will be a bit more accurate, but not quite there yet. The best way to actually understand the price of your vehicle is quite simple; you need to remove the emotional aspect.

When considering How much is my car worth?, think of it as if you were a buyer, not the one who has had so many good memories and fun times in the car. Take out the emotional side of things and you will find that it could be much easier to negotiate a price that make sense.

A mechanic will always presume you don’t have a clue about this kind of thing so you need to be prepared to get on the web and get reading. Look into the reasons why you might be getting a poor value return and then work out why they might be trying to use industry data to try and tie you up in knots. Take the time needed to learn before you try and sell and get burned.

My car’s name is Daisy

How much is my car worth?

Your car may be called Daisy, and it may have got you to the moon and back, but the bottom-line is that the salesman does not care. They see an arbitrary figure and a chance to buy a car that could be worth something to them for next to nothing.

Funnily enough, you want to try and avoid this scenario and concentrate on the most effective way to stop this from happening. Without a doubt, this is by looking at your car as a Peugeot, not Peter the Peugeot. It’s not an actor, it’s not a superstar – it’s a car.

Finally…when considering the question How much is my car worth?, try to drop the emotion, do your research and line yourself up for a successful sale.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post How much is my car worth? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

When you received your MOT certificate you may have noticed the VOSA MOT logo plastered over it.

But what is a VOSA, and what does it take to become an approved VOSA MOT tester?

VOSA MOT

VOSA MOT – No walk in the park

1. First up… to be a VOSA MOT tester is no walk in the park, there are a host of requirements; and you really need to know your stuff.

2. To begin with, there is a requirement to have been in the game as a skilled mechanic for at least four years, full time and experienced in the vehicles you intend to test.

3. To be a VOSA MOT tester it’s also important to have an unrestricted driving license in line with the classes of vehicle you want to test.

4.Next up… someone needs to sponsor you and not just anyone, it needs to be an Authorised Examiner of a vehicle testing station that believes you have what it takes to do the job justice.

5. Oh… to be a VOSA MOT tester you can’t be a lawbreaker. Convictions for criminal offences linked to the Vehicle Testing Scheme or the motor trade, or involving acts of violence or intimidation
are a big no, no.

6. VOSA also specifies that for classes III, IV, V or VII, you must pass the NTT assessment exam or an assessment of a similar vehicle qualification.

Ok so that’s all good and well, and maybe it sound like a touch of “mumbo jumbo” but what is VOSA or more importantly, what do they do?

What does VOSA do?

VOSA basically helps to improve road safety by ensuring drivers, vehicle operators and MOT garages understand and comply with roadworthiness standards.

Ok so that sounds nice and simple. But they also provide a range of vehicle licensing, testing and enforcement services, and during 2014 merged with the Driving Standards Agency to become the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

VOSA Responsibilities

Just like any Standards Agency VOSA have a number of responsibilities:

Addressing the annual testing of lorries, buses and trailers through authorised testing facilities (ATFs) and goods vehicle testing stations (GVTS)

Conducting routine and targeted checks on vehicles, drivers and operators ensuring compliance with road safety legislation and environmental standards

Overseeing the VOSA MOT scheme so that over 20,000 authorised garages carry out MOT tests to the correct standards

Supporting the Traffic Commissioners with commercial vehicle license applications permitting them to carry out their independent regulatory function
conducting post-collision investigations

Providing a range of educational and advisory activities to promote VOSA road safety

Regulating, licensing and registration of local bus services defects, highlighting safety concerns and monitoring safety recalls

Monitoring products for manufacturing or design

VOSA is not just for MOT’s

As you can see VOSA handles a little more than just regulating your VOSA MOT. The agency has a host of responsibilities to make sure we have a safe environment to drive in.

So if you’re looking for a registered VOSA MOT tester feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to help.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless Mechanic,

Phil

The post What is a VOSA MoT? appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

So here it is:

Driving without MOT is a serious motoring offence that could leave you facing a hefty fine, yet you know what? Two thirds of motorists admit to driving without a valid MOT! No Bueno!

According to a study conducted by the SMMT, 67% of motorists admit to driving without MOT. That means a third of motorists are naughty, naughty boys and girls.

Now these protagonists are not just forgetful but most of them have knowingly driven a car for up to a week without a valid MOT certificate, with 24% admitting to going all out and driving without an MOT for up to a month.

When it comes to driving without MOT we all know the rules, so my question is, why bend them?

Driving Without MOT

Yes ok… if you are caught and found guilty driving without a valid MOT, the penalty is just a fine. And yes there are a number of exemptions and excuses that can be used in cases like this. But at the end of the day if you get caught, you can face fines of up to £1000, invalidating your insurance in the process – it’s simply not worth it.

The SMMT study also found noteworthy regional differences in driving without MOT responses.

Ok… so pick a location, any location – North, South, East or West?

Which area of the UK do you think came out top of the “bad boy” Driving Without an MOT table?

Yep you guessed it, it was us Southerners – to be specific the South West of the UK, with 41% of motorists in the South West admitting to forgetting to renew their MOT.

Age also seemed to be an important factor. The research suggests that young motorists are the least likely to remember to carry out a MOT, with 39% of 18-24 year olds admitting to driving without an MOT after it had expired. Of course research also identified that the most conscientious motorists were in the 45-54 year age group.

Driving without MOT and risking safety, fines and penalty points makes no sense.

A cool service you can sign up to as a reminder, and which actually has some useful information to prevent you ever driving without an MOT, is available at www.passmymot.co.uk.

So don’t snooze and lose, if it’s that time of the year where your MOT is due, feel free to get in touch – we’re here to help.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Driving Without MOT appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

On average 45% of MOT’s fail the first time, yes 45%. But to be fair, most of the MOT London failures we come across are preventable due to simple reasons.

If your car has ever failed a MOT, and you’ve wondered if there was anything you could have done to avoid it, I have a little MOT London gem for you, which requires not so much mechanical sense, but common sense.

An MOT in London doesn’t have to cost you an “arm and a leg”, they can be super low to retain on renewals and often there are a few handy things you can do to make this happen.

First of all when it comes to your London MOT, there are a number of things you can fix yourself, but some of the more technical faults will require the help of a professional mechanic. Either way, dealing with these MOT issues pre-test can be considerably cheaper.

MOT London Checklist

MOT London Checklist

Are your headlights fully working?

Now when I say headlights, I actually meant to say all your lights. So check the front and rear headlights including the dips, indicators and hazards. I found that the best way to do this, is to have someone sit in your car switching the lights on and off, while you walk round the vehicle to check the lights are working properly.

“One in five fail MOT’s due to a bust light bulb, so walk around and check your car’s front and back indicators and headlights”

If while doing the test you notice that a bulb is out, you can simply head down to your local auto store or Halfords, replacing the bulb(s) for a few bob. Job done.

MOT London: Check your suspension

A fully comprehensive, suspension car check can be Très difficile – I get that. But to see if your shock absorbers are on their way out, or worse still, completely gone, try applying your body weight to each corner of your vehicle and then releasing it or letting go. If your shock absorbers are in good condition, the car will settle back quickly. If not, you may have a problem.

MOT London: Check handbrake tension

Tension or lack of it, in the handbrake may be something you pick up during the daily use of your car.

So if your brakes are feeling unresponsive or loose, or you feel a lack of resistance when you are pulling the handbrake and you are unable to set the handbrake at the applicable level, you may have a problem. Fixing these issues can be slightly tricky so on this occasion you may need a mechanic to fix it for you.

MOT London: Buy your own car parts

When your MOT London is up for renewal, it’s possible to make crazy savings on car parts by sourcing them yourself.

Now perhaps this isn’t for the faint hearted or those of you short on time, but if before getting your vehicle repaired you don’t mind doing the legwork, ask your garage for one quote fitting for labour, and another quote detailing the cost of parts separately.

Ok so here’s the fun part…

Once you have your list of car parts, double check to make sure you have taken the exact… (did I say exact), car parts information including name, model, type and size, and then see what you can do to pick up these car parts for less.

If you’re serious and interested in trying this out, I recommend eBay for reasonably priced and at times cheap car parts, and online options like Amazon’s Car and Motorbike section, also independent suppliers can have really competitive prices.

So for those of you looking to save some money on your MOT in London, I hope this all helps.

But if you don’t have the time and you would like some assistance feel free to get in touch, we would love to help.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post MOT London? Do pre checks to beat common fails appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

I mean over the last few weeks, I must have seen at least 5 police check points at the side of the road on a ‘Check MOT and Insurance’ mission. And with Christmas on the way, no doubt their presence in the line of duty is going to increase.

Now the other day… I was driving through Bayswater, happily spending some time with my mother, when I noticed some police cones and about 7 police officers standing at a police check MOT point – you know… just pulling cars over. And yep you guessed it, I got pulled over!

Mother: “Son, why are the police pulling you over?” Now for some funny reason my mother questioning me, in a split second brought me back to those days when I would have stared at her with that, “Oh ish, I’ve been caught” look in my eyes…

Check MOT!

It was crazy… my heart started beating like I was already guilty of something! The thing was, this time I had nothing to hide.☺

Phil “What seems to be the problem officer?” Police “Well, we are doing insurance and MOT checks today so I would like to take your details.” (It went something like that).

Cutting a long story short, of course all of my stuff was up to date and fine. But at the end of the day, the fact remains, the police are on a mission to catch anyone out that is breaking the law. The need to check MOT is key. The problem is, unfortunately there’s a shed load of car drivers getting caught and fined, and in most cases this can all be prevented.

The Facts

London police are warning motorists that they face a fixed penalty fine if they fail to check MOT and renew their certificate on time. Now… the penalty for driving without an MOT starts at around £100, and ok the fine is not too severe if dealt with swiftly. But although no points are issued on your driver’s licence, if you fail to check your MOT a fine can be imposed by the court, up to a maximum of £1000.

I admit… when I was a young wiper snapper, I had a tendency to forget a few things like where I parked my car – let alone remembering to check MOT and pay. Now I’m not trying to break your balls, but recently I’ve had a few people in the clinic with overdue MOT’s. Worse still (no names), but I had one customer that had not checked his MOT, and that had an MOT certificate which had actually run out months beforehand. NO Bueno!

I like to think we are all law abiding drivers (well in most cases), and I thought that writing this blog would be a great opportunity to urge the tribe to take note of their vehicle’s Check MOT expiry date – and better still, to do something about it on time when it needs renewing.

To help Mr & Ms Forgetful…

here is a link to the GOV.UK – check MOT status report –  that will give you all the information you need on your MOT.

To be fair, at the auto clinic we normally send out a text to update our customers on when their MOT check is up for renewal. But for those of you out there that are not customers, I also recommend perhaps using the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) text service, which will send a message to your mobile phone when your check MOT is due.

At the end of the day, it’s every motorist’s responsibility to keep their vehicle insured, taxed and MOT’d, and as owners it’s our duty to be keenly aware of the rules and regulations regarding a Ministry of Transport (MOT) examination.

Yes, I appreciated that MOT check reminders are not automatically issued like vehicle tax and insurance, but sorry people… to forget is no defense. And the chances are, with the police out in force, that if you snooze on this one you may be slapped with a “dirty” fine.

WHEN IS MY MOT DUE?

Check MOT

MOT’s simply exist to ensure your vehicle meets the legal level of safety and emission standards.

Although the MOT test is thorough, the challenge, or should I say the confusion comes, as to when the MOT test is actually required. Partially this is due to the different rules regarding newly purchased vehicles, which has different rules to vehicles that are more than three years old.

To make it simple, if your vehicle is more than three years old and doesn’t have a valid MOT certificate it could be un-roadworthy and dangerous, to you, other road users and anyone else using your vehicle.

Does a valid MOT make my vehicle road worthy?

Having a valid MOT test certificate does not necessarily mean that your vehicle is road worthy. If you have faulty brakes, dodgy/defective steering, or illegal tyres as a driver you could end up with seriously high fines, not to mention points on your licence. The question, is it worth it?

I say…

Think safety first, have your MOT check done when it should be, and let’s not give any police officer something to grill us over, or put any needless money into the government’s pocket. Happy days!

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post Check MOT! They’re watching you. appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

With about 2.5 million cars in London, somebody somewhere at this moment in time is trying to find a London garage to attend to mechanical repairs.

The thing is, with a huge metropolis comes a host of London garages. But in the era of right here right now, where convenience is key, and with the high price of manufacture repair costs, the question is – not just how to find a good local London garage, but how to spot a reliable one?

So without further ado, here are my 7 tips to helping you find a reliable London garage.

How to find a reliable London Garage

1. Good Garage Scheme

A good suggestion is to begin your search by looking on the Good Garage Scheme website.

On the website you can make a choice of London garages based on real customer reviews and feedback, as opposed to being drawn into biased advertisement claims that London garages are well renowned for. The Good Garage Scheme will also help you find the closest London garage specialist to you. All you have to do is type your postcode into the search and “Bob’s your uncle,” a list of options will appear.

2. Flashing Lights

Convenience may be an important factor in your choice of London garage, but think twice about going for a garage that has the largest, brightest “in your face” media advertisements, or those flashing lights, website banners/paid ads on Google. Businesses that do this type of advertising tend to be large national companies with a big punch of spending power.

The question is – are they too busy spending money on mass advertising trying to win business, rather than on their mechanics to provide a genuine, great personal service?

3. Knightsbridge Anybody?

Location, location, location – sorry for the pun… but have you ever noticed that petrol seems to get cheaper the further out from London you get? Funny enough, the petrol is the same but the price is difference.

Now I’m by no mean’s advocating that cheap is best – hell no! In fact – generally if you buy cheap you tend to buy twice. But let’s put it this way… perhaps the location where you live may just affect the price you pay. For example if you live in Knightsbridge there’s a high chance that you’ll end up paying significantly more for the same mechanical repair then if you were to look for a London garage further afield. Yeah I said it.

4. That Friday feeling

Fridays are great, it’s the end of the week and hopefully you can look forward to a few days of rest.

Now just like that Friday feeling, there’s nothing that makes you feel more at ease than when you find a London Garage where the owner/manager is at hand to give you confidence, and let you know everything will be alright.

A smaller London garage will tend to have a more personal service, hopefully where the owners will give you that “we won’t rip you off” peace of mind. Everyone also knows that employees work harder, and are more inclined to look after every detail when the boss is around.

There is a chance however, that you find yourself in a situation where the mechanic has talked a good talk, but you’re just not sure, you can’t put your finger on it, but it doesn’t feel right.

In those situations all I can say is “when you know you know,” which means – if in doubt, leave it out. Trust that feeling in your gut – listen to it, because it may just be trying to tell you something.

5. MOT’s

When it comes to MOT’s there are bunch of London garages offering special offers.

So if it’s that time of the year where you’re looking for a good London garage MOT tester, to begin with, ask the London garage you’re considering information on the mechanic that will be testing your vehicle.

Find out about their qualifications and experience as it will help you to paint a better picture about who will be working on your car. It will also give you a vital indication as to whether the London garage you’re contemplating will execute a genuine, honest MOT service.

6. Inspector Gadget

If you’re old enough to remember the days of the cartoon Inspection Gadget, then you can probably recall he was always snooping around trying to investigate the crime.

Now I’m not saying that you should go into each London garage with your magnifying glass, but when you are there, take a good look around.

A tidy, orderly workshop is usually a good sign of caring car mechanics. Ask yourself, would you feel confident leaving your car with a garage that looks grimy?

Yes, of course all garages should have evidence of mechanical repairs, but it’s a “crime” and totally different if the garage is untidy and cluttered with a stack of ‘stuff’ all over the place. Not only is it a health hazard but a safety hazard too. My guess is when you see you’ll know it.

7. So how long have you been doing this for?

Yes this tends to be a favorite question to ask someone, regardless of what job he or she does. And it is a question you should definitely pose when it comes to selecting a London garage.

Try to find out how long the London garage has been operating. Ask them if they have an active social media following? Can they provide genuine, believable testimonials of happy customers? If so, who are they?

Finally

There is so much more I could say, but hopefully you can see that there’s more to choosing a London garage than just selecting an offer from a newspaper, or an advertisement on Google.

I hope that helps, but if you’re still struggling to find someone that can recommend a good, local London garage, feel free to get in touch, we’d be happy to help.

Oh, and remember if else fails… listen to your gut. ☺

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic,

Phil.

The post 7 Tips To Finding A Reliable London Garage appeared first on Xavier Auto Clinic.

We all love a good deal, and currently there are a tons of garages offering cheap MOT specials online for customers. But how do you go about spotting a genuine deal from a scam?

“It’s not the MOT test fee, but repairing the “fails” that usually costs a fortune.”

Companies can only charge up to the official maximum for an MOT. (The maximum test costs are £54.85 for cars or motor caravans and £29.65 for motorbikes. For a full list, see the Gov.uk website).

For example while some garages may promote MOT West London, with specials to win  new clients over and build lasting relationships, (based on good service and a positive first experience), others might have a more short-term objective in mind, and unfortunately your £24.99 MOT deal may just end up costing you thousands in repair costs.

Still, getting your MOT done in a local garage does bring convenience, as you can get all the necessary repairs done in one place – and the re-tests are usually free.

So how do you separate the genuine deals from the phonies and avoid unnecessary repairs?

For example if your looking for and MOT West London, check that the garage is on Good Garage to ensure it’s trustworthy, its great website because the reviews are based on real customer feedback and experience.

Second, conduct a do-it-yourself MOT check of the avoidable fails.

Forty percent of MOT’s fail first time, and far too many are due to a simple avoidable reason. Don’t worry, most of this is common sense not mechanical sense. Some of the fails you can sort yourself, others will need professional help. Either way, sorting out some basic work pre-test will usually end up being cheaper, and either way at least you’ll be prepared.

How To Beat The Most Frequent Fails

Without further ado, here’s my guide to helping you beat the most frequent types of MOT fails.

Lights: Are your lights fully working?

Have someone sit in your car while you walk around checking every light. Front, rear, headlights and dipped, hazards and indicators. If any aren’t working properly, buy a new bulb for a few quid and replace it. It’s easy in most cars although a few manufactures do make it slightly more complex.

Suspensions: Check your suspension.

While a full suspension check is difficult, in order to see if your shock absorbers have gone, quickly apply your weight to each corner of the car and then release. The car should quickly settle back into place – if not you may have a problem.

Brakes – Is there tension on the handbrake?

This is not so easy to do yourself, and it will need a professional mechanic to fix. If your brakes feel loose and unresponsive, or the handbrake slides up without resistance and can’t be reached at a certain level, it’s likely you have a issue with your brakes that will need attention.

Tyre’s: Check your tyre pressure.

To check your tyre pressure, look up what pressure they should be and fill ’em up at the petrol station. Check your tyre tread, which is the depth of grooves for road grip. The legal minimum is 1.6mm for a car tyre (enough to let surface water slip through).To measure, use the quick 20p tyre test detailed on the Tyre Safe website. Pop a 20p coin on its edge into the main grooves of the tyre tread. If the outer rim of the coin is hidden, your tyres should be legal. If you can see it, well its probably new tyre time.

Windscreen: Is your windscreen damaged?

Damage to the driver’s central view should be no larger than 10mm, and within the whole of the swept area, it should be no larger than 40mm. If it is, it make sense to have it fixed pre-test (often this is included in car insurance policies). Windscreen wipers? Front wipers are checked in the MOT test and need to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the washers.

Exhaust: Is your exhaust leaking?

To check, start the engine (in a well-ventilated place, at normal temperature) and from the rear of the car listen for any unusual noises or abnormal smoke. If you can hear unusual noises this may indicate a leak, which you should have looked at and fix pre-MOT.

License Plate: Can you read your license plate clearly?

Make sure that your license plates are clean and easily legible from 20m away.

Fluids: Are all your car fluids topped up?

Check the brake fluid, windscreen washer and oil reserves.

The rest: An all-over once-over. Make sure that your fuel cap is secure, that your mirrors are in good condition, and that all your seat-belts are fully functional.

Heads Up

New MOT checks were introduced in March 2013 under EU rules which were already in place in Northern Ireland. These include some extra checks on categories already part of the test, including  electronic warning lights, speedometers and electronic handbrake checks.

You can find more info on these individual changes via the DFT website, but for a full list of each check type please see – Gov.uk.

But as always, if you need any help or guidance please feel free to get in touch.

To health and vehicle happiness

Your fearless mechanic

Phil 

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