MOTs

The MOT scheme is primarily a road safety measure designed to ensure, as far as possible, that all cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles more than three years old are properly maintained in the interests of road safety and the environment, as everyone who uses a vehicle on the road is required to keep it in a roadworthy condition. Once a year vehicles are examined at an authorised MOT test station to make sure that they comply with the requirements of the law

The first test is required once a car is three years old (unless it is used as a taxi). If a car is registered with no prior use on the road, the MOT will be required three years after the date of manufacture.

• For example, a car registered "from new" on 25th April 2010 will require its MOT no later than 25th April 2013.

If a car is used prior to registration, as would be the case with an import, the MOT will be required three years from the end of the year of its manufacture.

• For example, a car manufactured at any time in 2010 will require an MOT no later than 31st December 2013.

You should be aware that the MOT certificate is not a guarantee of the general mechanical condition of a vehicle. The test certificate relates only to the condition of the testable items at the time of the test and should not be regarded as evidence of their condition at any other time; nor should it be accepted as evidence of the general mechanical condition of the vehicle.

The standard MOT test procedures are laid out in a manual. If your vehicle has failed the test, you will be given a failure document with reference to the manual. You can watch the test from a designated viewing area, but you are advised not to interrupt the tester while they are working. The Government Agency responsible for supervising the MOT Scheme is the DVSA. Remember, only garages authorised by the Vehicle Inspectorate can carry out the MOT tests; they are easily identifiable by the blue, three triangle MOT Sign.