Vehicle Test Certificate Explained

The MOT test is no doubt something you have heard of before, but you don't pay that much interest to what it actually is before you are a car driver and faced with the prospect of requiring such a test on your vehicle.

So what does the MOT in MOT stand for? A surprising number of people don't know - but it simply stands for Ministry of Transport.

This is an annual test that is done on a car to ensure that it roadworthy essentially. It tests things like the brakes, steering, lighting, tyres, washers, wipers, wheels, bodywork, horn, suspension, the noise from the exhaust and also the emissions from the vehicle - in summary it is a comprehensive test to ensure that when you are driving the vehicle it is safe for you and therefore other road users that you are on the road in that vehicle.

So who needs an MOT? Well, if the car that you are driving is over three years old then it needs a test from an approved MOT tester once a year. The vehicle can be tested up to a month before the current one expires.

If you need an MOT test certificate for your vehicle, as outlined above, and don't have one, then you are committing an offence. If a request is ever made by the police to see the MOT certificate then you must produce it within seven days of the request being made.

Related Articles...

driving theory test
Tips on driving in half light
Most drivers prefer driving in the day in good light in optimum road conditions, because these are the best conditions in which to see exactly what is going on in the road. However there are...

More on Motorway Driving
Signs that let you know there is a motorway ahead are rectangular, and they have a green background. This shows that they are information signs on a primary road. The part with the reference...

What to do at a box junction
The box junction is quite common but despite this there are a whole wide range of ways in which different drivers interpret what they are supposed to do at them so you will see different behaviours...

When to expect your licence
The answer to this question depends on whether you have a licence issued after March 2004 or not, which was a photocard driving licence. If so, then you h'll have the option to get it...

Maintaining your car
It is essential that you look after your car and keep it in good condition. Not only is this paramount for your safety and that of other road users, but also it means that the longevity of your car...

Selecting low gears when driving
When you are driving, you will just learn to change gears without really thinking about what you are doing and when. But generally you will change up gears the faster you are going, and this is...

Driving Test and Independent Driving
Independent driving - where the candidate is not following the directions given at each stage by the instructor but rather following a route, e.g. following road signs to Town X until the instructor...

Rules regarding the use of seat belts
When it comes to seat belts, you should be certain of what the rules are with regard to seat belt usage, and your responsibilities as the driver in terms of other passengers in your vehicle and...

How Pass Plus Works
What does pass plus contain? Well, it has six different modules and each of these ones focuses on a different set of conditions in which you might have to drive. These are in and around the town,...

Speed limits on motorways
The speed limits on the motorway are something that you will no doubt be aware of for cars, but is the limit the same for a motorbike? And what about if you are bus or a coach driver? Another...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions