Can A Dirty Car Lead To A Failed MOT?

Sending your car for its annual MOT can be a nerve-wracking experience as you sit and envisage the size of the bills that might come as a result. There are many things that you can do to help your car get through its MOT, but did you ever think something as simple as cleaning your car could be one of them?

In this article, Car Mats UK look at whether a dirty car can make a difference when it comes to passing or failing your MOT, and what types of mess might lead to you failing.

MOT tests

An MOT test is an annual inspection of your vehicle from the point at which it reaches three years of age. This should be carried out by a qualified inspector and will check the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

A Ministry of Transport (MOT) test will check a range of components on your car, from the brakes to the seat belts in order to ensure that it is safe to drive. It also tests the exhaust emissions of your vehicle, but it does not look at the condition of your engine, gearbox or clutch.

If your car passes its MOT, it will be given a certificate as proof. However, it can fail on certain important points, or it may pass but with advisory notices to look at some issues that could become a problem further down the line.

If your vehicle fails its MOT test, you must undertake the work that has been highlighted and get it fixed so that it can be retested and hopefully pass before the expiry date. Without a valid MOT certificate, it is illegal for your car to be on the road and your insurance will not be valid, so it is essential you do all you can to ensure it is in good condition when it goes for its test.

Rubbish in your car

If you are the sort of person who discards fast food containers, plastic bottles and coffee cups in your car and never cleans them out, then you could be in for a nasty surprise on the day of your MOT. Whilst no-one cares much about your housekeeping skills, rubbish in the footwell of the car can cause a hazard that an MOT inspector must pay attention to.

This is because it is capable of rolling under the pedals and can then stop them from working properly, particularly when it comes to failing. Whilst the odd sweetie wrapper won’t make much difference, a car full of rubbish could be an MOT failure.

Headlights

If you haven’t given the outside of your car a clean for a while, then this could impact on the success of your MOT where your headlights are concerned. This is an important safety point on any MOT test, and so if they are dirty enough to obscure the lights then it could result in your car failing.

All of your lights will be tested, including your headlights, tail lights, indicators, hazard lights, side lights, brake lights and fog lights, so it is essential that you make sure that they are all clean and clear ready for the inspection. As nearly 30% of defects on MOT tests come from the lights or signals, it is clear that many do not realise the importance of clean, clear and working lights on their cars.

Seat belts

Your seat belts perform an essential safety function, so these need to be working properly. If there is dirt in the mechanism, it can prevent them from being used correctly, whilst mess could also cause tangles and difficulties, causing the vehicle to fail its test.

Number plates

It is important that your number plate can be read at all times by the human eye and by cameras in order to identify your vehicle. However, if dirt has been allowed to build up then it may not be possible to read the number plate. If this is the case, then your MOT inspector has not choice but to fail the vehicle.

Windscreens

Just as your headlights and number plates can be obscured by dirt, so can your windscreen. If there is too much dirt to see through, then this can be a problem for your MOT test and can be a sign that your wipers or screen wash is not working correctly.

Vehicle identification

As well as your registration plates, your MOT inspector will also want to identify your vehicle in another way. This is through the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which can normally be found on the V5 registration document and the base of the windscreen or on a stamped metal panel underneath the bonnet. It is essential that this is displayed and legible otherwise the inspector will not be able to identify the vehicle.

Excessive mess

If your car is excessively dirty, then your MOT inspector does have the right to refuse to carry out your MOT at all. This is probably only in extreme circumstances, but if the dirt and mess make it difficult for them to carry out their jobs, then they won’t be able to assess the vehicle properly. Rotten or mouldy food within the car can also create a health hazard, and the inspector will be well within their rights to refuse to get into your car.

Whilst cleaning your car may not be your favourite task, it is important to make sure that it is presentable when you take it for its MOT test. Taking it through a car wash or hosing it down with a pressure washer might be all that you need to get your car through its test.

A dirty car may say a lot to the inspector about the way in which you maintain your car and can therefore highlight other faults where it has not been properly looked after. Failing on something as simple as being in need of a wash can waste time and money, so make sure it has been cleaned inside and out before you go.