MOT Question

[Daz Jones]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I posted on this forum (got a bid fed up with certain aggressive users). Anyway, he's hoping you're all friendly again....

...so...my question. My car is approaching 3 years old, still under warranty. Do I have to present it to the dealer to take it for it's first MOT or can I just use any MOT garage (to maintain the warranty)? Experience suggests that it costs more to use the dealer as they simply mark the price up to the maximum they're allowed to charge. Also, can I present it 28 days early and still have the original registration date honoured (you know you can have a car tested before the expiry date and have the original renewal date honoured).

Daz

[AyJay]

You can use any garage for your MOT. I used the dealer i bought the car from but only because they do MOTs for £10!

Yes can have the MOT done up to 28 days early and still keep the original date.

[Spencernj]

The dealer I use and some others offer a free MOT with a service. So it may be worth to shop around. I would get the MOT done at a Kia dealer though as any issues they can just plan in the warranty work straight away without any hassle.

[SWCeed]

No car today should fail its first MOT providing you check the basics before you go i.e. lights, horn, wipers, washers, tyres. Saw a survey a while back that listed the reasons for failure, just listed them above, why don't people do simple checks before taking the car, just realised, they are muppets.

Since carrying out an MOT entails no work it simply cannot affect your warranty but should it happen to fail on say a suspension bush which is a warranty item you would have to take it to a Kia dealer to get the work done and then return to the original garage for a re-test which is a fair bit of hassle.

Since Kia's tend to be service every 12 months or mileage (depend on the age and engine) its odds on that the MOT will be due when a service is due (unless you do an annual mileage that makes your services due at odd times). Ours is 3 years old in September and will have the MOT while the service is being carried out. One visit and theoretically no hassle. I could save a tenner going to the garage up the road but is it worth the 2 hours or so of wasted time involved.

[cobra259]

MOT is some kind of safety inspection? All cars have to have them?

[SWCeed]

Cars are due an MOT test on their 3rd birthday and every year after that.

Originally it was just a simple enough safety check but as time as progressed more and more items have been included. Emmisions have been included for many years now and more recently things like non-standard headlight bulbs should be checked for legality.

My first few cars which at the time passed with no problems would not get past the door in the current test.

Older cars are not subject to the most modern set of tests e.g. one of my cars is considered to be pre 1978 and is only checked visually for excess smoke rather than having to comply with the more strict rules. In truth it would pass the rules for a pre 93 car but would fail the later requirements since it does not have a cat fitted.

[cobra259]

Originally Posted by SWCeed

Cars are due an MOT test on their 3rd birthday and every year after that.

Originally it was just a simple enough safety check but as time as progressed more and more items have been included. Emmisions have been included for many years now and more recently things like non-standard headlight bulbs should be checked for legality.

My first few cars which at the time passed with no problems would not get past the door in the current test.

Older cars are not subject to the most modern set of tests e.g. one of my cars is considered to be pre 1978 and is only checked visually for excess smoke rather than having to comply with the more strict rules. In truth it would pass the rules for a pre 93 car but would fail the later requirements since it does not have a cat fitted.

Thanks for your answer!

[Spencernj]

There is a French equivalent called the Controle Technique. It starts at 4 years old and is repeated every 2 years. One crucial difference is that test centres only do testing and are completely seperate from repair garages by law.

Sent from my ZTE-BLADE using AutoGuide App

[Daz Jones]

Thanks for all your friendly replies. The only reason I asked was because I've never had a car still under warranty at MOT time. I've considered the argument of hassle free MOT by using the dealer (in case of warranty work) but also considered the lower cost of using an everyday MOT garage. I guess I'll have to see how much the dealer charges before making a decision.

My services are dictated by mileage, not time so a routine service wouldn't coincide with the MOT.

Thanks again.

Daz

[SWCeed]

Originally Posted by Daz Jones

My services are dictated by mileage, not time so a routine service wouldn't coincide with the MOT.

Daz

How many miles a year do you do then.