Checking car before MOT 'takes very little time'
Date: 17/06/2008 12:00:00
Car owners can cut costs by carrying out basic vehicle checks before an MOT test, according to car manual publisher Haynes.
Representatives for the company, which produces automotive repair guides, urged motorists to test their handbrake, footbrake, steering wheel and column for correct operation and excessive play.
"It takes very little time to check a car over before submitting it for an MOT test," observed the firm's spokesperson.
"Basic faults such as lights not working, worn wiper blades and insufficient tyre tread depth can easily be sorted out before the test," he continued, emphasising that this is "invariably cheaper" than having a vehicle fail an MOT.
From the driver's seat, individuals can also check that their windscreen is free of cracks or other damage, that door latches work and that seatbelts are in good condition and fasten properly, suggested Haynes.
Data from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency indicate that first-time MOT failure rates in the UK are higher than anywhere else in Europe, with a 21.6 per cent rate recorded last year alone.