When booking an MOT in London, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Here at SN Autohaus we are able to carry out MOTs on Class 4 and 7 vehicles in London, but there is also some general information that will be helpful to have.
Check The Test Centre
MOT test centres must be approved before they can carry out any tests. You will recognise a centre that can by checking for a blue sign with three white triangles. Any centre that tries to offer you a test when they don’t have this sign is likely not licensed to carry out MOTs, so avoid them and consider reporting them to the relevant authorities.
When Do I Get One?
An MOT must be carried out on the third anniversary of its registration, so be sure to check your owners manual so that you are fully aware of when this is so that you can book in advance.
Furthermore, following that first MOT, another must be carried out every year afterwards, using the date of the last MOT as your guideline. You can get your MOT up to a month, minus a day, before the previous MOT expires.
Be aware that if you do not get the vehicle tested before then, you could receive a £1,000 fine for driving a car without a valid MOT. Furthermore, there are some vehicles that require MOTs more frequently, or at an earlier date following the initial registration, so be aware of this so you don’t get caught out. If you do forget to book your MOT in time, remember that it is illegal to drive the car, unless you are taking it to be repaired or are on the way to a pre-arranged MOT test.
Booking The MOT
Before you book your test, bear in mind that there are maximum fees in place so that you can be sure your chosen garage won’t overcharge you. A helpful list can be found at the gov.uk website, so be aware of any tester that tries to charge you more than the relevant price listed here.
To actually book the test, you can simply head into the garage where you want the test to be carried out and arrange a date with the technicians there. Furthermore, sites like SN Autohaus also offer online MOT booking in London, which will allows you to handle everything from the comfort of your own home, instead of having to travel.
After The Test
Once the test has been completed, your vehicle will receive either a pass or a fail. If it passes, you will receive certification to say that the vehicle is ready to drive, and the result will be uploaded to the MOT database.
If the vehicle fails, you will receive a certificate of failure and this result will be recorded on the database. You will also be provided with a list of issues that need to be remedied and will no longer be able to drive the vehicle, even if the previous MOT hasn’t expired, unless you are taking it to get repairs or are going for another MOT test.
