Motoring News

Motorists are "wasting money" on MOT failures

17 June 2008

Drivers are being urged to check their vehicles for minor faults before taking an MOT test in a bid to save money.

Car manual publisher Haynes said that many MOT failures can be prevented by running quick tests on small but important details such as lights, wiper blades and tyres.

J Haynes, vice chairman and managing director at Haynes Manuals, recommended having basic faults repaired beforehand.
"This is invariably cheaper than having your car fail the MOT test," he said.

First-time MOT failure rates in the UK are the highest in Europe, with 21.6 per cent of cars unsuccessful last year. The figures, released by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), showed that 271,000 of these failures were down to faults with lighting.

Last week a report released by Insurance.co.uk found that 51 per cent of drivers are planning to decrease their spending on MOTs, servicing and car parts.

The research, undertaken by Tickbox.net, also indicated one in six motorists are considering finding new jobs closer to home to save on commuting costs.