- Joined
- Dec 17, 2005
- Messages
- 13,219
- Reaction score
- 1,071
You may notice the use of the words "excess" and "excessive" a lot. This is because a certain amount of wear and tear is allowable. It is in the opinion of the tester whether the wear is excessive or not. A tester has to have shown that they have the knowledge and experience to be able to make this decision. The way he/she would look at this would to be to ask themselves if they would feel happy driving around with a component worn as it is.
Firstly, a list of items that people believe are in the car and light van test (MOT Class 4), but in reality they are not! Some items however DO apply to HGV, PSV and other classes of tests.
Tyre pressures and tyre valve caps
Spare wheel and/or tyre, jack and wheel brace
Wheel alignment/tracking
Reversing lights
Headlamp flashers (but the dip/main beams must work)
Headlamp leveling system
Headlamp washers and wipers
Self canceling indicator switch
Panel/interior lights (apart from ABS, rear fog light, indicator and hazard light interior warning lights)
Airbag (SRS) warning light
Heater, demister and heater fan
Engine and gearbox mountings
Oil leaks from engine or gearbox
Engine oil level (in order to carry out a catalyst or diesel emission test, the oil level must be between the 'Min' and 'Max' Levels)
Noisy engine or gearbox
Gearbox, differential and power steering oil levels,
Colour, condition and water content of brake fluid
Engine coolant level and antifreeze level
Loose, insecure or leaking battery
Heated front and rear windows
Passenger door mirror on cars (as long as the interior mirror is OK)
Clutch pedal and accelerator pedal rubbers
Condition of clutch (but vehicle must be at least be able to drive)
Corroded/split fuel pipes/hoses (but they must not be leaking)
Rear wheel drive prop shafts, drive shafts, couplings, rubber gaiters
Front wheel drive inner (ie. gearbox end) CV boots/covers
Front wheel drive outer CV joints 'knocking'
Front spot/fog lights
Rear wash/wipe
Front wipers not auto parking (but they must be able to be switched off in the normal position)
Speedometer and mileage recorder
Windows not opening or closing
Rear passenger doors, tailgate or boot lid not opening (in most cases access is required to fully carry out the test - check seat belt mountings, etc - the tester can refuse to test the vehicle)
Door locks (but not handles) and/or central locking
Accident damage on bodywork (as long as lights, steering, suspension, front door opening/closing, etc. are not affected)
Rust/corrosion holes on bodywork (as long as the holes are not sharp or jagged, and are not less than 30cm from any mounting of any main testable item - where these holes would pass or fail does vary in different vehicles)
Now the list of the main car and light van Class 4 testable items (click on any item to jump there):
Lights
All side lights (with the ignition off) including rear number plate light (or both if two are fitted)
Headlights, both dip and main beams including beam alignment (they must not shine too high or too low). The dip and main beam switch must operate correctly
Indicators and hazard lights must all work and flash at a rate of between 60 and 120 flashes a minute. Vehicles registered after April 1986 must also have the side repeaters (those little ones on the side) fitted and working. The interior (dashboard) indicator and hazard warning lights must also work
Brake lights must all work properly (even the ones in the rear window if they were fitted and working from new)
Rear reflectors must be fitted, coloured red and not broken - rear lamps must not be broken or show any white light
There must be no interference between the lights (so your brake light must not flash or flicker with the indicator, for example) and no light can flicker if tapped by hand.
Steering
All steering elements must be securely mounted and not loose
Rubber steering rack gaiters must not be split
There must not be excessive free play in any of the steering joints
Steering must freely rotate from side to side, without any roughness or noise
The steering wheel must be secure and not have excessive free play
If power steering is fitted, it must work and there must be no fluid leaks - rear wheel steering (where fitted) must either work or stay in the straight ahead position
The road wheels must remain free from touching any body work or any other components (especially brake pipes and hoses) when turned from lock to lock.
Suspension
When each corner of the vehicle is pushed down, there should be no excessive stiffness or excessive bouncing
All road springs (both coiled and leaf types), anti-roll bars and suspension links must not be broken, corroded to excess, must be complete (and not cut down to lower the suspension), and sit correctly in their mountings. Any rubber mounting points must not be excessively worn, perished or split/cracked
Shock absorbers must be free from leaks and work
The suspension must remain free from touching any body work or any other components
Front wheel drive shafts must be secure, undamaged, and the outer CV joint rubber covers or all couplings secure and undamaged.
Firstly, a list of items that people believe are in the car and light van test (MOT Class 4), but in reality they are not! Some items however DO apply to HGV, PSV and other classes of tests.
Tyre pressures and tyre valve caps
Spare wheel and/or tyre, jack and wheel brace
Wheel alignment/tracking
Reversing lights
Headlamp flashers (but the dip/main beams must work)
Headlamp leveling system
Headlamp washers and wipers
Self canceling indicator switch
Panel/interior lights (apart from ABS, rear fog light, indicator and hazard light interior warning lights)
Airbag (SRS) warning light
Heater, demister and heater fan
Engine and gearbox mountings
Oil leaks from engine or gearbox
Engine oil level (in order to carry out a catalyst or diesel emission test, the oil level must be between the 'Min' and 'Max' Levels)
Noisy engine or gearbox
Gearbox, differential and power steering oil levels,
Colour, condition and water content of brake fluid
Engine coolant level and antifreeze level
Loose, insecure or leaking battery
Heated front and rear windows
Passenger door mirror on cars (as long as the interior mirror is OK)
Clutch pedal and accelerator pedal rubbers
Condition of clutch (but vehicle must be at least be able to drive)
Corroded/split fuel pipes/hoses (but they must not be leaking)
Rear wheel drive prop shafts, drive shafts, couplings, rubber gaiters
Front wheel drive inner (ie. gearbox end) CV boots/covers
Front wheel drive outer CV joints 'knocking'
Front spot/fog lights
Rear wash/wipe
Front wipers not auto parking (but they must be able to be switched off in the normal position)
Speedometer and mileage recorder
Windows not opening or closing
Rear passenger doors, tailgate or boot lid not opening (in most cases access is required to fully carry out the test - check seat belt mountings, etc - the tester can refuse to test the vehicle)
Door locks (but not handles) and/or central locking
Accident damage on bodywork (as long as lights, steering, suspension, front door opening/closing, etc. are not affected)
Rust/corrosion holes on bodywork (as long as the holes are not sharp or jagged, and are not less than 30cm from any mounting of any main testable item - where these holes would pass or fail does vary in different vehicles)
Now the list of the main car and light van Class 4 testable items (click on any item to jump there):
Lights
All side lights (with the ignition off) including rear number plate light (or both if two are fitted)
Headlights, both dip and main beams including beam alignment (they must not shine too high or too low). The dip and main beam switch must operate correctly
Indicators and hazard lights must all work and flash at a rate of between 60 and 120 flashes a minute. Vehicles registered after April 1986 must also have the side repeaters (those little ones on the side) fitted and working. The interior (dashboard) indicator and hazard warning lights must also work
Brake lights must all work properly (even the ones in the rear window if they were fitted and working from new)
Rear reflectors must be fitted, coloured red and not broken - rear lamps must not be broken or show any white light
There must be no interference between the lights (so your brake light must not flash or flicker with the indicator, for example) and no light can flicker if tapped by hand.
Steering
All steering elements must be securely mounted and not loose
Rubber steering rack gaiters must not be split
There must not be excessive free play in any of the steering joints
Steering must freely rotate from side to side, without any roughness or noise
The steering wheel must be secure and not have excessive free play
If power steering is fitted, it must work and there must be no fluid leaks - rear wheel steering (where fitted) must either work or stay in the straight ahead position
The road wheels must remain free from touching any body work or any other components (especially brake pipes and hoses) when turned from lock to lock.
Suspension
When each corner of the vehicle is pushed down, there should be no excessive stiffness or excessive bouncing
All road springs (both coiled and leaf types), anti-roll bars and suspension links must not be broken, corroded to excess, must be complete (and not cut down to lower the suspension), and sit correctly in their mountings. Any rubber mounting points must not be excessively worn, perished or split/cracked
Shock absorbers must be free from leaks and work
The suspension must remain free from touching any body work or any other components
Front wheel drive shafts must be secure, undamaged, and the outer CV joint rubber covers or all couplings secure and undamaged.
Last edited: