British drivers are being warned about six of the silliest MOT fails that can easily be avoided.
The team behind motoring giants LeaseCar.uk have researched and revealed some of the most minor causes of MOT failures – but most of them are preventable and could save drivers the hassle of having to put their vehicles through a re-test.
Some of the most common reasons for MOT failures include worn out brake pads, poorly aimed headlamps and tyre tread depth that falls below the 1.6mm limit – all which seem rational and fair.
However, there are some fails that may seem a little unreasonable, including badly placed car stickers and dirty number plates.
Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk commented: “Taking your car for its annual MOT can be a source of anxiety for many.
“Most of us will have had to go through the motions of an MOT fail at some point and it can be disruptive, and extremely costly.
“We’ve researched and highlighted some of the silliest reasons cars might fail their MOT test in a bid to warn drivers and help them to prepare and prevent unnecessary re-tests.”
1. Car stickers
If you’ve got a car sticker on your windscreen that’s deemed to obscure your view in any way, this will result in an automatic fail.
2. Registration plates
Illegal fonts, dirty number plates and plates that are the wrong colour amount to a great deal of MOT fails.
3. Windscreen washer fluid
It’s easy to forget about checking your washer fluid, particularly during the summer months when you’re less likely to use it, but this simple mistake results in hundreds of MOT fails each year.
4. Car hygiene
Many garages have been known to simply refuse to MOT a vehicle on environmental health grounds. Cars that are full of fast food leftovers, cartons and cans of drinks often fit into this bracket, as well as drivers that have risked their own health by allowing mould to grow on the interior and windows.
5. Warning lights
Warning lights are pretty self-explanatory – they’re there to warn you of potential faults. Ignoring them – whether the fault itself is an MOT fail or not – will see you having to put your car through a re-test once they’ve been checked out.
6. Excessive dirt
Not only will a particularly dirty number plate result in an automatic fail, but leaving the entire body of your car excessively dirty will too. So think twice before trying to use the dirt to your advantage to try hide a bit of dodgy bodywork or rust that you don’t want the tester to see.
