Does An MOT Mean That A Car Is Legal And Roadworthy
Today whilst in Holmfirth centre, a vehicle, driven by gentleman in a position of authority and influance pasted me. It was obvious that all was not well with the vehicle as it was emiting a noise from the rear wheels that would indicate (and I must stress that I was unable to inspect the cause, but I am going on my experiance of 35 years as a trained motor vehicle mechanic) that the rear brake pads had worn away.
Shortly after this I bumped into the driver in a shop and commented on the fact that his car required attention and it was my opinion that the rear brakes were in need of repair. The answer I got was not what I was expecting as I was told very curtly that the vehicle was legal as it had an MOT, how wrong he was.
Below is a quote from the official VOSA web site on the MOT: -
The MOT certificate
The MOT certificate confirms that at the time of the test, without dismantling it, the vehicle met the minimum acceptable environmental and road safety standards required by law. It doesn’t mean that the vehicle is roadworthy for the length of time the certificate is valid. The MOT certificate is also no guarantee of the general mechanical condition of your vehicle. The test doesn’t cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.
So to the gentleman conserned I am sorry but the fact that your car carries a current MOT does not mean that all is well with your vehicle or that it is legal. A vehicle should be kept in a good roadworthy state, not just for the safety of the ocupants but also for other road users, pedestrians and children that may be around your vehicle should a fault occer. PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE CORRECTLY.
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