MOT tests

At duck2water Car Insurance Services, we are dedicated to helping our customers find their ideal car insurance quote. We go to all sorts of lengths to make sure it is as quick and easy as possible to get an online car insurance quote with us, and as a result we manage to match-make thousands of motorists with their perfectly-priced motor insurance policy each year.

Although we specialise in cheap car insurance quotes, this isn't the extent of the help we can provide. We also love to advise motorists on issues that will keep them and their cars in one piece - and hopefully save a few pennies in the process.

One such issue is that of MOTs. Most of us get our cars MOTed every year, just like we search around for our car insurance quotes and buy a new road tax disc, but don't know a great deal about just what an MOT represents.

All about MOTs
"MOT" actually stands for the now defunct Ministry of Transport. In 1960, this body decided that all cars over ten years old should have their safety and emissions checked, and so the annual MOT was formed.

Nowadays, it applies to all cars over 3 years old, so, on a car's third birthday, it should be taken to a MOT station. A lot of garages are accredited MOT testing stations so are able to perform MOTs on any car that is brought into them. However, you should ensure that a garage definitely has MOT approval before you hand over your car to them.

Since 2006, the MOT system has been computerised in all stations across the UK. This was implemented to allow better monitoring and administration, improved testing standards, reduced theft and fraud, and improved consumer protection.

The primary functions of an MOT test are to check that a vehicle is safe and does not produce more emissions. These tests are done with consideration to the age of the equipment, so an old car will not be required to perform to the same standard as one built more recently.

An MOT consists of more than 150 tests, which focus on a number of areas, including:

• Tyres
• Brakes
• Seatbelts
• Lights

• Engine emissions

• Steering and suspension

If your car passes its MOT, you will be issued a VT20 certificate, which you will later need when buying road tax for the vehicle. If the car fails, however, things get a little more complicated.

Since September 2006, the law says that any MOT station must provide a free retest of any cars that have failed their MOT within 10 days, as long as the vehicle does not leave the site. If the vehicle does leave the site but is returned within 10 days, MOT stations are allowed to charge half price for the re-test. If the vehicle is not tested within 10 days, the station can charge the full amount.

However, what an MOT pass does not do is guarantee that a car will be roadworthy for the next twelve months, although this is the length of time covered by the certificate. For example, a car that passed its MOT in May 2006 but was badly damaged two months later would still be covered up until May 2007, even though it may not be in a roadworthy condition. However, do be aware that a damaged car may contravene other road regulations.

It is vital that your car is serviced as well as going through the MOT test, as MOTs do not cover key areas such as the clutch and the gear box, nor will the engine be fully inspected. This way, you can be confident that you aren't risking an accident and expensive car insurance claim through neglecting your vehicle's condition.

First class car insurance quotes with duck2water Car Insurance Services
Whilst we can't help your car to pass its MOT, we can help you find the very best car insurance quote around.

We pride ourselves on cutting out all those unnecessary costs and streamlining our processes so that our motor insurance policies are cheaper than our rivals. Also, we don't undertake any expensive advertising campaigns on TV or radio to attract customers. Instead, we rely on word of mouth and our online presence to do that work for us, allowing us to give you car insurance quotes at rock bottom prices.

With duck2water Car Insurance Services, you don't have to worry about hanging around waiting for pages to refresh and complicated questions. We know that there are 101 more fun things to be doing than getting a car insurance quote, which is why we make it as quick and easy as possible for you to use our online quotation system.

It takes less than 3 minutes to fill in our simple car insurance quote form so why not give it a go? You have nothing to lose, and you could save up to 30% on your motor insurance.

Get a car insurance quote now.

For more information, please see:

• Why choose duck2water?
• How to buy online
• Breakdown cover
• Glossary
• Customer testimonials

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