A Detailed Guide To MOT and Its Latest Changes

You are a vehicle owner currently living in the United Kingdom and don’t know what MOT is. No worries as we are here to help you with that. MOT is a test conducted for all vehicles in the United Kingdom to ensure that they are road-worthy and safe for you as well as other road users. MOT stands for the Ministry of Transportation which is a body of the UK Government. In this blog, we are going to provide you with an in-depth analysis of this test and help you understand what exactly this test is for and a list of the recent changes which are made for MOT. So, let’s begin with the blog and learn more about MOT.

Understanding MOT

MOT is a test which is conducted for all the vehicles that are being driven in the United Kingdom which have completed 3 years since their registration. This is mandatory for all United Kingdom vehicles as it helps ensure that they meet the safety requirements and roadworthiness standards set by the government. In this test, various components of your vehicle are checked by a DVSA-trained examiner who checks the condition of these components and decides whether your vehicle will pass the test or not. 

Parts Of Vehicles Checked Under MOT

The list of the parts and components of a vehicle checked under MOT Chingford has been updated many times. The recently updated list contains a total of 20 components. Here is a list of all the components of the vehicles examined under this test, the condition of which would also determine the passing and failing of your vehicle:

• Exhaust and emissions

• Seat belts

• Steering

• Windscreen

• Bonnet catch

• Horn

• Number plate

• Lights

• Brakes

• Tyres and wheels

• Mirrors

• Doors

• Seats

• Suspension

• Fuel system

• Body and structure

• Battery and wiring

Types Of Defects in MOT

Changes are also made to the list of defects that are detected under this test. There are 3 categories of these defects- minor, major, and dangerous. There are different purposes for these defect identification and would also determine the passing and failing of your vehicle. Here is a detailed breakdown of these defects which can help you get a better understanding of them:

• Minor Defect: The minor defects include problems like faulty lights or worn-out brake pads of a vehicle. These defects are not considered serious or dangerous enough to make your vehicle fail the test. But you are advised to get these issues fixed as soon as possible so that they will not become big in the future and cause issues with your vehicle’s safety standards. 

  
  

• Major Defect: Major defects are considered much more serious than minor ones and can lead to your vehicle failing the MOT. This includes problems like faults with shock absorbers, fluid leaks in the exhaust system, wipers/washers not working properly, or excessively worn brake pads. If any major defect is found in your vehicle then you will get a fail certificate and you can only drive your vehicle to the mechanic to get the issues resolved.

  
  

• Dangerous Defect: Dangerous defects mean that your vehicle is not roadworthy at all and can be dangerous if driven on the road. You are not even allowed to drive your vehicle from the MOT centre if any dangerous defect is found in it. The list of dangerous defects includes severely worn brakes, defective tires, and faulty suspension.

  
  

Latest Changes In The MOT

Recently various cases of ghost MOTs have been reported to the DVSA. Ghost MOT means that the vehicles are given the passing certificate for the MOT without them even taking the test. To solve this problem of ghost MOTs, the United Kingdom government has made changes in the testing process. 

The latest changes require the tester to click the picture of the vehicle when it is present in the test bay to ensure that the vehicle’s test is taken before the certificate is issued. The picture clicked will be uploaded to the government portal where a record of all the vehicles is kept. The photo of the front and the back of the vehicle is taken with a clear view of the vehicle’s registration number. 

This new rule was added in 2025 to ensure a more accurate record of the vehicles which are being examined under this test. So, if you are living in the United Kingdom and have not taken your vehicle for MOT, then book MOT London today and get your vehicle’s passing certificate today and make sure that your vehicle is safe and road worthy.

Conclusion

Environment degradation has become a major problem in today’s time and air pollution is one of the main reasons for that. Tests like the MOT have helped ensure that the vehicles being driven in the United Kingdom are not that harmful to the environment and meet the environmental standards set by the United Kingdom government. 

The test has proven helpful for the government to keep track of the vehicle conditions in their country as well as encouraging the vehicle owners to keep their vehicles maintained. This not only helps in protecting the environment but also helps in extending the lifespan of these vehicles.