MOTs and Regular Maintenance: How They Are Important For Your Car's Health
In counties like Devon, there are plenty of country lanes which can have a big impact on car health. Of course, driving at fast speeds for prolonged periods on trunk roads like the A30 or the M5 will take its toll on even well-maintained cars. However, the constant shifting of gears and negotiating tight corners on an unclassified single-track road can be just as wearing on tyres, wheels, engines and chassis as can driving in city traffic. This is where the humble MOT test and an annual car service can be so beneficial. Let's talk about the importance of each in turn.
Why Are MOTs Important for Car Health?
To begin with, MOTs are needed by all cars over the age of three regardless of their condition. You don't have to be in your local neighbourhood to have one conducted, either because they can be completed anywhere so long as the mechanic is properly accredited. Overall, the MOT test ensures your vehicle adheres to road safety and environmental criteria. It's mandatory to obtain an MOT before the due date. Failing to do so can lead to serious consequences, including fines and penalty points on your license. To avoid these hassles, it's important to find a reliable garage for your MOT. Let’s say: if you are looking for a professional garage and want to book an MOT in London, you can check with DAT Tyres. Regardless of the specific place you happen to be in when one becomes due, not having an MOT completed on time will invalidate your insurance, making it illegal for you to drive anywhere.
What's more, MOTs frequently pick up problems before they start to impair the performance of cars. Typically, emission levels that are creeping up but beneath the threshold for a failure will indicate you need some work done on the engine exhaust system. Similar issues are often noted with the suspension system, tyres or even the wipers. All of these are essential for good car health, too, and an annual MOT is a good way to spot such problems before they become expensive to put right or, worse still, downright unsafe.
Why Should Motorists Insist on Regular Servicing?
Emphatically, an MOT is not a car service. Although you can book a service to coincide with an MOT, the official inspection alone is not enough to ensure your car is in good condition. For example, if wear is spotted on one of your tyres, the MOT inspector won't change it for you. He or she may recommend action is taken sooner rather than later but won't undertake any remedial work for you.
The same goes for brake pads, engine oil, brake fluid and a host of other components that play their part in car health. With a service, you can expect the mechanic to take action that rectifies issues. In addition, they'll take appropriate steps when something needs changing or fixing before it goes wrong, which might lead to a mechanical breakdown. For big-ticket items that need replacing, you'll usually be informed before they're fitted, though, so you can have your car's health maintained without worrying about large bills at the end of the process.
Summing Up
To be clear, MOTs and servicing are essential for the safety of British roads. Not only do they protect motorists but ensuring cars are properly looked after is good news for all other road users. Pedestrians don't want to be walking alongside polluting cars on city streets and nor do cyclists and horse riders in rural areas want to be overtaken by poor-handling or noisy vehicles. Moreover, servicing your car is an investment that means it will maintain a higher resale price by the time you come to sell it. Cars with chequered MOT and service histories, conversely, lose value prematurely.
