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MOT Question

5K views 20 replies 8 participants last post by  SWCeed 
#1 ·
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
 
#4 ·
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.
 
#6 ·
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.
 
#16 ·
Kinda like the yearly inspections that most US states used to have and some still do. They cover some weird things here though. My second car failed mot today as a garage 2years ago fit different sized tires on the front...normally I am anal about checking after work from a garage. All the other tires were 175/65/14 and one was 175/70/14. In Europe and UK, all tires must be the same size...so no dressing up like in the US where rear tires can be bigger and wider than the front to give that slant that so many like on the muscle cars.
 
#17 ·
In Europe and UK, all tires must be the same size
Not correct. If it was many BWM's and Merc's would fail. Tyres have to be the same size across an axle, does not matter if they are the same front and rear but I think it would be an advisory if you had bigger on the front (some old Citroens did).

I had a car about 10 years ago with 195 50 15 front and 205 50 15 rear, passed many an MOT.

The most important fact is you must inform your insurance if you change size form the OEM fit, if you don't and have an accident you may find yourself without the cover you thought you had.
 
#8 ·
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
 
#9 ·
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
 
#12 ·
My services are more frequent than 12 months as I do more than 20,000 miles per year. Does that make it OK with the body check? I could get off my backside and check my service book but I'm nice n comfy at the moment! I'll try and remember to check tomorrow.

Daz
 
#21 ·
It is advised to have a service every 6 months if you do over 6000 miles and every 12000 miles 12 months should be your next service.
Where is it advised to have a service every 6 months.

Kia service intervals for our MY2011 Ceed SW CRDi are 12 months or 20,000 miles (whichever comes first), ours is always 12 months @ approx 12,000 miles. If it was a petrol it would be 12,500 miles or 12 months.

Servicing every 6 months has not been necessary since the 80's. The last car I had with 6 monthly intervals was a 1984 Escort. Modern oils will have no problem with the recomended intervals providing the garage uses the correct spec long life oil.

My BMW needs servicing when the dash says, had it 5 years and its been serviced twice.

Servcing every 6 months is just throwing money away.
 
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