With Brits looking to save money wherever possible at the moment, an unwanted car bill is the last thing drivers need. But passing an MOT is a legal requirement to drive on the roads in a car that's over three years old.
Moneyboat has used looked at government data to reveal the most popular reasons cars can fail their MOT. It has also teamed up with managing director of MotorServ UK, Kamran Saleem, to show how much these failures may set you back and offer some tips to help ensure your car passes its MOT.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment – up to £1,500
The most common reason cars were found to fail their MOT is down to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment not working, with 18.9% of vehicles failing due to this, as reported by the RAC. This could mean the bulb in your brake light has gone, or the lenses over your lights get misty.
According to Kamran, this can cost anywhere from £2 to £3 per bulb, but can also go up to £1,500 depending on the complexity of the fault and the model of the car. To prevent your car from failing its MOT due to faulty lights and electrical equipment, Kamran advises switching all your lights on and walking around your vehicle to check they're in working order. Look to check if the lights have gone misty or cracked before your MOT so you're aware of the state they're in.
Suspension- up to £2,000
MOT data has shown that 13% of cars fail their MOT due to damage to the suspension, which in some cases can cost up to £2,000 to fix. Unexpected costs to fix your suspension can be mainly prevented by avoiding big potholes when driving, as well as not going over speed bumps at speed or mounting kerbs.
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Brakes- up to £750
One in 10 (10%) of MOTs are failed due to issues with brakes, according to the RAC. With brakes costing up to £750 to fix, Kamran suggests the following to make sure you prolong the life of them:
- Avoiding heavy braking
- Don't overpack your car; keep your car light by avoiding carrying heavy objects
- Have brake fluid flushed regularly
- Inspect brakes are in working order regularly
Tyres- up to £400
Tyres are the fourth most common reason cars fail their MOT, with 7.7% of MOTs failed due to this. Karman has shared some things you can do to avoid unexpected MOT failures and costs of up to £400 for specially fitted tyres:
- Regularly monitor your tyre pressure. Preferably once a week or before you go on a long journey. The more you drive, the more frequently tyres should be checked. Incorrect pressures can mean tyres wear unevenly and need changing earlier.
- Check tyres regularly for punctures, lumps and tears.
- Check the thread isn't worn away.
Visibility- up to £2,000
Cracks and chips on the windscreen can sometimes be inevitable when driving. However, when a crack appears, it can impact the driver's vision. Research done by the RAC revealed 7.2% of MOTs failed due to cracked or chipped screens.
As soon as you see a chip, it is vital to do something about it immediately. A chip can easily be repaired by injecting an epoxy or acrylic adhesive into it, preventing the crack from travelling and the whole windscreen from having to be replaced.
Karman has advised that replacing an entire windscreen can vary from car to car, but can start at around £180 up to £2,000, depending on the model and make of the vehicle. A Bentley Bentayga with night vision Infrared function can be £8,000 for a replacement screen.
A spokesperson for Moneyboat said: "With rising costs impacting everyone daily, an unexpected expense is something everyone would like to avoid, so it's essential to be aware of things we can do daily to avoid costs we’re unprepared for. Hopefully, these tips can help those with cars keep their costs down by ensuring they’re regularly checking for any faults before they get out of hand and costly.”
