Car Servicing & MOT’s – What is the difference?
Regular car maintenance is crucial to ensure your vehicle remains fully functional and to avoid any possible problems which could result in serious damage, either to you or the vehicle. Making sure you take your car for its MOT when required and regular servicing will help your vehicle remain in full working order and will highlight any likely future issues.
Many car-owners are not familiar with the difference between car servicing and MOTs, which can result in a vehicle not passing the correct testing and can ultimately mean the legal requirements are not sufficiently followed. This article will serve to explain what car servicing and MOT procedures entail to avoid any confusion.
MOTs
This is a legal obligation for all car and motorcycle owners when the vehicle is over 3 years of age. It can often also be compulsory for vehicles such as taxis and ambulances over one year of age, or vehicles with nine to twelve passenger seats with the minimum requirement of seat belts.
The purpose of an MOT is to assess whether the vehicle corresponds with particular set standards in relation to safety. Parts of vehicle tested include:
- Condition of the windscreen
- Seat belts
- Tyres
- Steering
- Brakes
- Suspension
After the testing is completed, if a vehicle is close to not reaching the set standard, the technician may give the vehicle an ‘Advisory’ notice which must be addressed and dealt with by the owner urgently. If your vehicle does fail its MOT, it can be left with the Testing Station for repair to the required standard and usually, a free re-test.
If you are the owner, registered keeper or are considering buying a vehicle, keep a track of the MOT status by checking online – the status check will confirm the date and mileage of the last test and its expiry date.
Remember: using a vehicle without a test certificate being in force can result in a maximum fine of £1,000 so make sure you keep regular check of your vehicle’s MOT to avoid any possibility of a monetary punishment.
Servicing
This is not a legal requirement but rather a personal decision in conjunction with an MOT to spot any potential problems with your vehicle and catch them before they become a major issue. Servicing is essential to guarantee your vehicle remains in a reliable, safe and fully-functioning condition. By getting your car serviced every six months before or after an MOT, your car will be receiving regular car testing by a professional, ensuring the best chance of an efficient and safe drive all year round.
During an interim or basic service, the technician checks for obvious problems, as well as tops up the fluid and oil and replaces the filters. A full service will typically entail dismantling and checking the brakes for a more thorough examination. A tip when booking your car in to be serviced with a garage is to verify exactly what will be included as services can vary and you may end up paying a substantial amount for repairs you are not aware were needed.
Here at Munster Tyres, our specialist team carry out a comprehensive range of car servicing, MOT’s and car repairs services to ensure your vehicle remains in peak condition. Optimum safety and performance is extremely important to us, which is why our fully qualified team will carry out a detailed examination of your vehicle to guarantee each part operates as it should. Simply give us a call or get in contact via our online contact form today for more information about any of the services we provide – our friendly staff are always on hand to help with any enquiry.