That dreaded annual MOT is menacingly looming and for some people it can be tempting to leave it to the last minute, but why not go the other way and be a smug MOT early bird? Considering an MOT before its time can save you from those pesky vehicle problems that might crop up later – most probably when your on the motorway in a rush due to the law known as Sod.
At 7*Life, we’ve come up with 5 clever reasons to consider getting an early MOT for a stress free motoring life
You will have time to make repairs
If your new MOT test results in a fail, you will have a couple of weeks to make repairs without losing the use of your car, as you will still be covered by your previous (and still in date) MOT certificate. Of course, this only applies as long as there are no dangerous fails on your MOT score: any dangerous faults renders the car immediately unroadworthy and unfair for driving, even under the umbrella of the earlier certificate. Otherwise, MOT testing your car earlier is a fantastic idea as it allows a few days grace to arrange for the repairs to be completed. Also once they are done you can retake the MOT and merrily sail through it this time, making it a pleasingly painless experience.
If the car has been off-road
If the car has been declared off-road for a time, you will need to get it MOT tested before you can put it on the road again – and do note that this means even parking it on the road without driving it. (Cars in an undrivable condition must be declared SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notice) and they must be off the road, as in behind a fence or garage, not simply parked up somewhere with easy access to the roads.) Having finally got your car back on its wheels, you might want to get it back in line with its registration date, and the best way to do that is to apply for the MOT during the month before the registration anniversary.
To make it a tempting sale item
Another reason to cut short the previous MOT date is to make the car a more tempting prospect to potential buyers who tend to look for long MOT and insurance dates when they are purchasing second-hand cars. Getting the MOT test done early can be a great way to give your car the edge over other vehicles that your prospective customers’ may also be considering.
If you’ll be away
If you’re aware that you’re going to be away from home during the time the MOT is due, you might want to get it done earlier than usual to make sure you can spend your work or leisure time in Glasgow, Manchester or another one of the UK’s wonderful major cities. Or perhaps even finding time for both, rather than desperately trying to find a good garage which can squeeze in your MOT amongst all of their own regular customers. You can also book an MOT in London from DAT Tyres. There is no booking fee, you pay at the garage and get a joyously speedy booking confirmation.
For peace of mind
This is perhaps the most common reason for getting an early MOT: the blissful tranquillity that comes with knowing that you’ve ticked that rather important annual task off your to-do list. And as long as you’ve booked your MOT to fall between the expiration date and a month before (less one day), you will not lose your anniversary date. This means that you’ll effectively receive a satisfying thirteen-month MOT certificate, giving you peace of mind for even longer.
