All MOT Matters-Articles relating to MOT Testing in Halifax

MOT Garages that are removed from MOT testing scheme to be made public

6th October 2022/1 Comment/in mot testing/by Eric Roberts

DVSA have agreed with Ministers to make the information publicly available following the announcement by Justine Greening MP in 2012, of the Governments’ commitment to the Garage Customer Experience.

Eric Roberts‘s insight:

MOT Garages testing station, owners opinion

So, as the owner of an MOT centre then I am not quit sure what this will achieve. Consequently, I know that there are thousands of normal garages. Strangely, who claim that they do MOT testing. Incredibly, but in fact do not. What they do is to take their customers car to an approved MOT testing station. Consequently, having what we call “a trade test” carried out.

Of course, I am not saying that the car will not be tested correctly? But the test is not carried out by the garage and the car is not in their control. Subsequently, if the driver has an issue then he can not take it up directly with the testing station.

Customers should look out for the official MOT testing sign,

Concerned car owners should look out for an official MOT sign ! Usually outside the garage premises at the roadside. So looking the same as the one in my above image. Some garages have sort of look alike signs, but are not official testing stations.

I can only think that garages who have lost their license to test cars because of a bad disciplinary record, still carry on taking cars in for testing, but have a trade test done at another official testing station, under the pretense that they still have a testing license, or simply do not remove their MOT Garages signs as if their still testing.

A list of banned testing sites will be published but i wonder who will read them?.

Hi I would like to introduce myself. Working in the Garage and tyre and Battery business now for 40 years. So. Working for a couple of national tyre companies before starting my first business. Of course, I now own a company here in the UK called Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre. Blogging about anything to do with cars and their related products. Naturally, that will help my business.

UK motorists-1 in 10 think the MOT test is Only an OPTION?

4th October 2022/1 Comment/in mot testing/by Eric Roberts

Millions of UK motorists are clueless

about the legal requirement for MOT test, insurance and road tax (Mot’s only cover approx 20% of your car being checked but servicing covers approx. 70% as i was told when i last…

Eric Roberts’ insight:

As the owner of an MOT test station

Of course, I do believe these figures from the excellent Auto express magazine. Significantly this article makes interesting reading ! Stating that 10% of UK motorists . Many car owners do not know that the MOT test is compulsory ! Importantly, on cars that are over three years old.

The British government are computerizing the vehicle system. Including the whole system of car insuring and road tax along with the DVLA MOT Rules. In my opinion, they would be better off aligning the three systems. This of course would make it much easier to regulate and also for ease of use to the vehicle owners.

So, enabling it impossible to have one thing without the other ! Of course, at the moment, they are not aligned . Incredibly, you could have a car insured without an MOT test. In my opinion, this will be the Governments aim. Because at the end of this year the road tax disc will be abolished and the system will go online. Making it easier for the UK motorists, the List of New MOT Rules and details will probably have to be entered along with the insurance details. Thus tightening up on the whole system which is at the moment flawed.

Today 2019, then this as all been implemented. Therefore no UK vehicles have to show a tax disc ! Vehicle data is all computerised and also available at any time for police officers to check.

Hi I would like to introduce myself. Working in the Garage and tyre and Battery business now for 40 years. So. Working for a couple of national tyre companies before starting my first business. Of course, I now own a company here in the UK called Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre. Blogging about anything to do with cars and their related products. Naturally, that will help my business.

See on www.autoexpress.co.uk

MOT Inspection Manual Renewed-to be introduced in May to reflect testing service changes-MOT Testing Halifax

3rd October 2022/in All MOT Matters/by Eric Roberts

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MOT Inspection Manual Renewed

In my mind then this falls in line with another aspect of the MOT testing scene. Last week the transport minister announced the scrapping of the first MOT test for cars of 4 year old.

As the owner of a testing station in Halifax, UK. This would have been a huge mistake. As a result the current 3 year spell will be resurrected from the scrap heap. Common sense and a lot of pressure from the garage industry showed the government what a mistake it would have been to implement the four year gap from new to the first test.

The second part of this article is about the introduction of a new MOT inspection manual. One of the implementations will be to to change the categorize a cars defects so that they’re rated as dangerous, major, or minor.

This of course is one of those improvement that in my opinion existed on the old system. Just that the words have changed?

On this new system then the Minor is the same as the “old advisory” The major and the dangerous are both fails. The difference is that the dangerous part of fail is explained to the customer who will be warned that the car is too dangerous to drive away.

MOT Inspection Manual Renewed some parts confuse me

The “dangerous part of the fail was also available on the old system that will be replaced. So, it just looks like the swapping round of words. When talking to Ryan Linton, my MOT tester about the changes, then I became confused. We both agree that there did not seem like anything was wrong with the old part of the system with the old classes of mot reporting

It was either pass or fail. With an option to list the car as dangerous which could be explained to the customer. As the tester an explanation for the dangerous would be given to the customer. In my simple mind then the new system looks confusing. Like anything else though, I suppose we will get used to it and everything will fall into place.

To finalise a great blog to explain all this the “matters of testing” blog and is worth a look at this subject.

The DVSA is to introduce its new MOT inspection manual for class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles to reflect changes to the MOT test which will be introduced in May 2018. The new manual, which must
Source: New MOT inspection manual to be introduced in May to reflect testing service changes – Garagewire

Dodgy MOT fraud crackdown- by DVSA- remains key focus for DVSA

30th September 2022/0 Comments/in mot testing/by Eric Roberts

Dodgy MOT fraud crackdown

As the owner of a UK MOT testing station. Then I just fail to understand the number of MOT stations that have been shut down for fraudulent activities. According to this attached article 143 testing stations. Of one type or another have had there testing facilities removed. Consequently not able to carry out any more MOT tests.

The public are now able to report stations that they feel were not truthful one way or another. Probably leading to more investigations. With the end result been a station loosing its MOT testing status. The mind boggles when you realise the importance of such a great system for testing vehicle safety here in the UK.

I believe that we have to be totally honest with both the DVSA and the public who bring their vehicles to us for a honest and reliable MOT test. We do hear of horror stories coming from customers with a long list of improper failures after a test on their cars.

Could things get worse !

What frightens me the fact that we are heading in for an economic downturn. So putting pressure on people to fail cars for the sake of more income. I have been in this industry for 50 years or so now and seen all this kind of thing before.

Larger companies with massive overheads will be putting even more pressure to increase their sales and profit margins. Recently a good friend of mine decided that he had enough of sales pressure from the large garage network that he worked for.

Encouraging the workers below him to report car faults that did not exist. He did not mention specific MOT jobs but you could not rule this out. Customers were told that things needed replacing when they were perfectly alright. We have all hear of this yet the companies keep on trading when the little guys get hit.

Finally as long as we keep up our good reputation for honesty when testing cars and also everyday servicing work then to hell with the rest. The we will not be involved in any Dodgy MOT fraud crackdown.

The DVSA has published its annual report, outlining its 2020-2021 activities. Some 40,490,000 MOT certificates were issued from 2021-22, up from 38,790,000 in the previous period. Following on from the DVSA’s Beat the Rush campaign in 2020, the

Source: MOT fraud crackdown remains key focus for DVSA

MOT Horror Submissions-Broken cars sent in for the MOT test-have you seen worse ?

20th September 2022/in All MOT Matters/by Eric Roberts

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MOT Horror Submissions

As the owner of an MOT testing station in Halifax Yorkshire. So, we have seen most things. Hence, when it comes to car owners and presenting their beloved vehicles in for the dreaded MOT test.

Of course, this applies to 90% of motorists. Consequently, these are the drivers who really care about their cars. They do most of the right things, by having the cars checked out before the test date.

You can tell though that they are worried and often pace up and down waiting for the tester to appear with the results of the test. Obviously many drivers are worried about the potential cost. Especially this time of year when approaching Christmas time.

With this is mind it is only understandable. That when it comes to an annual MOT test. Then drivers can often be filled with dread. Wondering whether they are about to be presented with a long list of failures. Consequently, that will leave them with nothing more than an immensely high bill!

MOT Horror Submissions-Check the easy things before the test

Subsequently, If your vehicle is due your MOT test. Then check all the common things that are easy to do. Such things as the lights and tyres. This will only take you a good 10 minutes and is part of the test. make sure your windscreen wipers are in good condition and washers are working. Simple things that will ensure a smoother test experience.

It doesn’t matter how long you have been driving and what condition your car may be. So, no one actually enjoys the dreading feeling. Hence, of having to head to the local garage for their annual MOT test. We’ve heard all the horror stories. Including the multiple fails, the eye watering quote to fix any issues. Most garages are busy because they are trusted.

A lot of garages and MOT centres. Pride themselves on providing the best service. Offering the best prices possible as it is only this degree of customer satisfaction. That will ensure a continuous trade for the garage concerned.

However, there is a small percentage who operate with underhanded tactics and have incredibly questionable ethics that leave mechanics with a very tarnished reputation. These should be avoided at all costs. Because you will be asking for trouble and a big bill at the end of it.

MOT Horror Submissions-10% of drivers don’t give a damn?

Of course, the other 10% are the “couldn’t give a toss” brigade. These drivers turn up with their cars from hell. the car in the article image is a prime example. Worst than this some cars turn up with badly worn tyres and half the lights missing.

In general though things are good between our customers and testers. In fact we have a great reputation for fairness and honesty and that why we are always busy.

MOT test stations across the country are continuing to report dangerous defects and MOT horrors. One tester recently submitted pictures of a 2001 Nissan Micra to the DVSA after the station came across a cracked axle and
Source: Latest MOT horror submissions: have you seen worse than these?

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