An few easy fixes are to ensure the visibility of the road from the drivers view is clear. Make sure the wipers are clearing the windscreen effectively with no cracks in them and the washers are working as they should. Another easy fix is the lighting, a car can fail its MOT if it has a blown bulb or the lights are discolored or cracked. Take a good look around the car to ensure all lights are functioning.

Some things aren’t as easy to spot when they break try listening out for any strange noises when you are driving. Any unusual sounds when cornering or breaking could be due to issues with your suspension. Grinding noises could be a sign your brakes need replacing, the brake pedal shouldn’t feel spongy and the car shouldn’t pull to one side when braking.

Finally, a good one to check yourself is the tyres. The legal tread depth of a tyre is 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tread, you can use the 20p test to check, also check for any cuts, lumps or bulges. If in any doubt about the condition of your tyres drop into AllCarz and we will check them for free!

The post Pre-MOT checks appeared first on AllCarz.

The fail certificate will explain what needs to be repaired in order for your vehicle to be classed as road worthy. If you can have your car tested, repaired and then retested within 10 working days then you get a free re-test.

As long as your vehicle is still within its test date you are able to drive the vehicle away from test center, however, it isn’t recommended to drive a car with a failed MOT due to problems that could arise with your insurance. However, if your vehicle fails and flags a dangerous fail then you are not allowed the drive that vehicle any longer until the dangerous fail is rectified.

Your car may have advisory notes. These are issues with the car that at that point in time are not enough to fail but will need to sorted in the near future. These advisories shouldn’t be ignored as it then becomes your responsibility to get these repaired before they become dangerous. It is also a good idea to do them before the next MOT as they may cause your car to fail its MOT the next year.

The post MOT failure, what next? appeared first on AllCarz.

An annual service ensures your car is running and performing as it should it is also a great way for any potential issues to be addressed and fixed before it causes any further damage to the vehicle.

Many cars come with a service history telling you when the last service was and which parts were replaced. Modern cars tend to not have a service book instead the services are logged online by the main dealer. However, you can purchase a service book online and use it to keep a record of the service history.

The post How often should my car be serviced? appeared first on AllCarz.

Rust can start underneath the car.
Rust can start from under the car and spread over the chassis leading to extensive damage and causing your car to become unsafe meaning it is more likely to fail its MOT. Repairing rust as soon as possible will stop it spreading to other parts

Corrosion
Liquids and grit can cause corrosion creating holes and damaging the metal structure of your car. Check this over the winter months especially and regularly clean. If you can keep your car in a garage when you aren’t using it to reduce potential corrosion.

Bumps and Potholes in the Road
It is likely that you will encounter bumps and speed bumps in the road. Hitting a pothole at speed could impact the framework underneath the car such as the suspension and exhaust. If you hear a noise when going over a speedbump this could be the underside of your car hitting the surface of the road, reduce your speed when approaching any bumps in the road to avoid repair costs.

The underside of your car is important and should be checked regularly like other components to the car, to avoid costly repairs and ensuring it passes its MOT. Ensuring no rust or corrosion is affecting the underside of your car will help it stay in tip top condition.

The post Protecting the Underside of Your Car appeared first on AllCarz.