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Choose where you live, the type of car and what service you require

Maintenance

Modern day cars are not built to allow you to tinker under the bonnet like years ago; nowadays we are supplied with what is termed a sealed engine. Probably the only areas of your car you need to keep an eye on and tend to are:

• Your oil always check using your dipstick
• Your tyres (see our friends at www.blackcircles.com)
  The legal limit is 1.6mm
• Your brakes listen for a squeal or
• Your water check your gauge on your dashboard
• Your exhaust listen for a rattle and check for rust

Nowadays your car may tell you when it is ready for a service. Yes, for those of you who haven’t got this function upon starting the engine your dashboard display may say i.e. 100 miles until service. You should check your car manual or call your dealership to check on when the cars service intervals are and keep a note in your diary – your service intervals are a series of mileage milestones when reached your car needs to be given the once over.

Your MOT kicks in when your car gets over 3 years old. Each year thereafter you are obliged to get an MOT test to ensure your car meets the road requirements set by the Ministry of Transport.

MOT testing is a series of checks made on aspects of your vehicle; the main testable parts of your cars are as follows:

• All your lights including your stops lights, headlamps and rear reflectors. Your headlamp aim and your indicators.
• All aspects of your steering, suspension, wheel bearings and shock absorbers.
• Your hand brake, foot brake, ABS (if appropriate) and all hydraulic systems.
• Tyres (see www.blackcircles.com)
• Seatbelts
• Mirrors, seats, doors, spare wheel, car body condition, exhaust, horn, windscreen, washers and wipers.

We can offer service quotes for the following marques:

ALFA ROMEO service, ASIA MOTORS service, ASTON MARTIN service, AUDI service, AUSTIN service, AUTOBIANCHI service, BENTLEY service, BMW service, BUGATTI service, CADILLAC service, CHEVROLET service, CHRYSLER service, CITROEN service, DAEWOO service, DAIHATSU service, FERRARI service, FIAT service, FORD service, HONDA service, HYUNDAI service, INNOCENTI service, ISUZU service, JAGUAR service, JEEP service, KYA service, LADA service, LAMBORGHINI service, LANCIA service, LAND ROVER service, LEXUS service, LOTUS service, MARUTI service, MASERATI service, MATRA service, MAZDA service, MERCEDES service, MG service, MITSUBISHI service, NISSAN service, PAGANI service, PEUGEOT service, PONTIAC service, PORSCHE service, RENAULT service, ROLLS ROYCE service, ROVER service, SAAB service, SEAT service, SKODA service, SMART service, SSANGYONG service, SUBARU service, SUZUKI service, TALBOT service, TATA service, TOYOTA service, UAZ service, VAUXHALL service, VOLKSWAGEN service.

We can offer MOT quotes for the following marques:

ALFA ROMEO mot, ASIA MOTORS mot, ASTON MARTIN mot, AUDI mot, AUSTIN mot, AUTOBIANCHI mot, BENTLEY mot, BMW mot, BUGATTI mot, CADILLAC mot, CHEVROLET mot, CHRYSLER mot, CITROEN mot, DAEWOO mot, DAIHATSU mot, FERRARI mot, FIAT mot, FORD mot, HONDA mot, HYUNDAI mot, INNOCENTI mot, ISUZU mot, JAGUAR mot, JEEP mot, KYA mot, LADA mot, LAMBORGHINI mot, LANCIA mot, LAND ROVER mot, LEXUS mot, LOTUS mot, MARUTI mot, MASERATI mot, MATRA mot, MAZDA mot, MERCEDES mot, MG mot, MITSUBISHI mot, NISSAN mot, PAGANI mot, PEUGEOT mot, PONTIAC mot, PORSCHE mot, RENAULT mot, ROLLS ROYCE mot, ROVER mot, SAAB mot, SEAT mot, SKODA mot, SMART mot, SSANGYONG mot, SUBARU mot, SUZUKI mot, TALBOT mot, TATA mot, TOYOTA mot, UAZ mot, VAUXHALL mot, VOLKSWAGEN mot.

MOT’s in the UK

The MOT in the UK is an annual examination of motor vehicles and light commercial vehicles. It is used to ascertain the roadworthiness of the vehicle. There are, however, some exemptions to this rule. One of which is small breakdown trucks another is cars that are less than 3 years old. These vehicles become eligible to take the test after their third birthday. This is the responsibility of the owner, no prior notification will be given by the relevant authority, and the onus is on the vehicle owner to ensure that their vehicle has the correct documentation.

The MOT came into existence in 1960 when the then Minister of Transport, Mr Ernest Maples, made the decision that all vehicles over 10 years old should have their lights, brakes and steering tested annually. This became known as the “Ten Year Test”.

The reason for the introduction of the “Ten Year Test” was because after the Second World War as the nations prosperity started to recover people were keen to purchase their own forms of transport. However they were initially only able to purchase second hand vehicles, many of which had been manufactured pre-1940. As a result of this these vehicles were in an extremely poor condition and in particular their lights, brakes and steering. This made these vehicles potentially hazardous to not only their drivers but other road users as well.

The stringency of the MOT test has been gradually increased over the period since 1960, with vehicle emissions now being tested. The biggest change, however, to the MOT test came when Britain gained entry into the European Community in the early 1970’s. At this point vehicle testing came under the remit of European legislation and was governed by European Directives, which themselves set the minimum requirements for vehicle testing. Each country, however, was able to supersede these minimum standards with more rigorous standards to ensure the vehicles roadworthiness. (The European minimum is that a test be carried out every 2 years unlike the UK where the test is conducted annually.)

The MOT test is policed in this country by the Government itself with an Executive Agency to oversee policy. This agency VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is directly responsible to Parliament and the Secretary of State for Transport.The problem with the MOT has always been that there needs to be local access to testing facilities for the convenience of the motorist, but there needs to be a uniform set of standards that have to be adhered to, this ensures consistency throughout the whole process.

This problem was overcome by the implementation of the following system. If you wish to become a MOT tester you must first pass an examination conducted by the Vehicle Inspectorate, after this you become an Authorised Examiner. The garage either through the individual or partnership or the company is now the Authorised Examiner. The Authorised Examiner now has the authority to appoint a person to conduct the test. They are now known as the Nominated Tester. A draw back to this system is you can only do the tests if you are a nominated tester. Any young person who wishes to become a tester must work for an Authorised Examiner. This is because there are no qualifications or further education courses available to become an MOT tester. This leads to a shortfall in the number of testers.