Motoring experts have revealed the most common MOT failure, with almost one-fifth of road users at risk. Specialists at the RAC have previously warned that lighting and signalling issues are among the worst on the roads, accounting for 18.9% of DVSA test failures.
Lighting problems account for more failures than suspension issues (13%), brake woes (10%) and tyre concerns (7.7%). Road users are set to be more at risk this Autumn, with September and October often considered the busiest months for MOT exams. These months consistently record higher demand for MOT exams, with more vehicles getting tested than any other time of the year.
Experts at the RAC have urged road users to conduct a series of tests at home before setting off for a garage to check their vehicles are up to scratch.
RAC Drive explained: “Nearly a fifth of all cars which fail their MOT do so because of an issue with their lights. Often, this will be as simple as a blown bulb. Switch all your lights on and walk around your car to check they’re in working order.
“Do the indicators flash as they should? Do the sidelights and fog lights function as they should? Don’t forget the number plate lights. It’s also worth checking the condition of the lights.
“Often plastic lenses get misty over time, so it might be worth buying a kit to clean your lights ahead of the MOT. Look out for any cracks in your lights, too, and ask someone to stand behind the vehicle to check the brake lights light up as you press the brake pedal.”
An MOT test is a legal requirement with road users unable to legally drive in the UK without a valid test certificate in place. The DVSA has previously claimed that the top fail item for all vehicle types is “headlamp aim incorrectly set”.
This looks at whether vehicle headlights are shining too high or too low for normal road conditions. The DVSA stressed road users can diagnose the problem by simply looking to see if one headlamp is higher than the other.
Shining the headlamps on a garage door or another surface may be able to help and could save road users the hassle of failing a check.
