RE: MoT warning for unwary motorists
Wednesday 30th August 2006
A vehicle is more likely to fail its MOT test when using a garage that also carries out repairs, according to a recent survey, and women are especially at risk.
MoT warning for unwary motorists
Garages wil try it on, finds survey
According to a random survey conducted this year of 838 Nottinghamshire motorists, we risk being handed a list of unnecessary jobs when applying for an MOT certificate. The conclusion -- hardly surprising perhaps -- is that some garages use the test as an opportunity to look for, and even create, work.
Failing brakes when only adjustment is required was the most common complaint, according to mail order specialist Car Parts Direct.
The survey also found that women taking a vehicle for an MOT were 12 per cent more likely to fail than men. Those using an MOT station where repairs are also carried out were 18 per cent more likely to fail their MOT test.
According to VOSA, the Government body responsible for overseeing MOT centre activities (see link below), 32 per cent of vehicles failed their MOT test last year. Around 10 per cent of all motorists driving in for an MOT failed due to a brake related problem. A similar number failed because of a smoky exhaust or high exhaust emissions.
Car Parts Direct boss Mark Cornwall said: "Dishonest garage traders profit from vulnerable motorists. Checking brake pads and discs is an easy job for motorists and a smoky exhaust can normally be reduced by adding an injection cleaner to the fuel – it’s one of our best selling products to help pass the MOT emissions test."
Cornwall claimed that more than half of all motorists could avoid the need for an MOT re-test and expensive unnecessary repairs by following a few simple rules. Naturally enough, his company provides an online check list -- for free -- on how to pass your MOT first time and avoid garage scams.
Links
Discussion
Totally agree.
Over the years I have had some shocking experiences regarding MOTs.
The worst have been at the national barn retailers, who surprisingly normally fail cars on exhausts and tyres.
I always check my cars over before taking them in, so that there are no surprises.
Case 1
My wife took her Escort to a small independant, who took the car to a national company. It failed on exhaust and tyres. Luckily my wife did not accept this, and I got on the case.
When I queried the tyre situation, as I was convinced they were legal, I was told that they were "nearly illegal"!!!!!
When I queried the exhaust, I was told that it was the wrong exhaust for the car. The garage was most surprised to hear that they had infact fitted that exhaust only two months previously.
Case 2
Citroen AX, failed emissions test, having passed on a friends machine. I was told that the car would need some major surgery, including pi system, new exhaust (which was new anyway), CAT etc. Likely bill £5/600 quid. Car was worth less. So they suggested scrapping it. (only 50,000 on the clock and 1995).
I then had it checked in two other garages, where guess what?, it passed with flying colours.
Case 3
Citroen AX. National barn company failed it on dead CAT, and suggested that the whole exhaust system "might as well be replaced", at a cost of £180.00. I queried this, and went to look for myself. I was told that the CAT matrix had collapsed. I asked for proof of this, only to find that the CAT heat shield was rattling!!!! NO REPLACEMENT NEEDED.
My tips are these:
Get to know your car
In particular look at the tyres and exhaust system before taking it in
If you are a woman don't take it in, they will try to rip you off (not being sexist myself, but many of the garages my wife has had experience of have been).
Query the fails. If you are not happy go to VOSA direct.
We are all being ripped off so don't take any bull.
Over the years I have had some shocking experiences regarding MOTs.
The worst have been at the national barn retailers, who surprisingly normally fail cars on exhausts and tyres.
I always check my cars over before taking them in, so that there are no surprises.
Case 1
My wife took her Escort to a small independant, who took the car to a national company. It failed on exhaust and tyres. Luckily my wife did not accept this, and I got on the case.
When I queried the tyre situation, as I was convinced they were legal, I was told that they were "nearly illegal"!!!!!
When I queried the exhaust, I was told that it was the wrong exhaust for the car. The garage was most surprised to hear that they had infact fitted that exhaust only two months previously.
Case 2
Citroen AX, failed emissions test, having passed on a friends machine. I was told that the car would need some major surgery, including pi system, new exhaust (which was new anyway), CAT etc. Likely bill £5/600 quid. Car was worth less. So they suggested scrapping it. (only 50,000 on the clock and 1995).
I then had it checked in two other garages, where guess what?, it passed with flying colours.
Case 3
Citroen AX. National barn company failed it on dead CAT, and suggested that the whole exhaust system "might as well be replaced", at a cost of £180.00. I queried this, and went to look for myself. I was told that the CAT matrix had collapsed. I asked for proof of this, only to find that the CAT heat shield was rattling!!!! NO REPLACEMENT NEEDED.
My tips are these:
Get to know your car
In particular look at the tyres and exhaust system before taking it in
If you are a woman don't take it in, they will try to rip you off (not being sexist myself, but many of the garages my wife has had experience of have been).
Query the fails. If you are not happy go to VOSA direct.
We are all being ripped off so don't take any bull.
Perhaps we should learn from other countries which prevent 'repair' garages from carrying out MOTs. This stops them finding work for themselves (and they are prohibited from referring a failure to one of their friends - the customer has to choose where to go for any remedial work). This seems a very easy way to stop the problem.
I once took my car to a big chain of fitters that might have rhymed with "Rational". They'd been quite trustworthy and cheap up to that point when I'd used them, so I thought I'd take advantage of their half-price MoT offer.
When I picked the car up, they claimed corrosion, and also pointed out a massive oil "leak". (Assuming the engine would leak oil that was several years old!)
When I mentioned that I wouldn't be in the area for a re-test, and would have to get the car tested somewhere else, the examiner became quite aggressive. To the point where he was effectively trying to tell me I couldn't take the car anywhere else but that MoT station.
Of course, that made me even more determined to get a second opinion.
Which incidentally, not only ignored the rust as a "They all do that sir, might be best to get it fixed one day though" issue, but actually did fail the car on a completely unrelated point.
I still have no real idea why they failed it. It's not as if the chain in question do any welding. The only thing I can think of is that when I asked about sorting the rust, the tester did happen to "know a mate" that could do the job...
When I picked the car up, they claimed corrosion, and also pointed out a massive oil "leak". (Assuming the engine would leak oil that was several years old!)
When I mentioned that I wouldn't be in the area for a re-test, and would have to get the car tested somewhere else, the examiner became quite aggressive. To the point where he was effectively trying to tell me I couldn't take the car anywhere else but that MoT station.
Of course, that made me even more determined to get a second opinion.
Which incidentally, not only ignored the rust as a "They all do that sir, might be best to get it fixed one day though" issue, but actually did fail the car on a completely unrelated point.
I still have no real idea why they failed it. It's not as if the chain in question do any welding. The only thing I can think of is that when I asked about sorting the rust, the tester did happen to "know a mate" that could do the job...
The problem is that much of the MOT is subjective. You will find many cases where a particular garage always "fails" cars on headlamp alignment for instance. It's just that they look carefuly for that there.
The system is way too loose for my liking, and there is too much fiddling going on.
With regards the emissions testing, you can vary the results dramatically depending upon "fiddling with" the location of the sensor.
Surely we are not naive enough to think that if a garage is a bit quiet, they are not going to look more carefuly for problems to repair!!
The system is way too loose for my liking, and there is too much fiddling going on.
With regards the emissions testing, you can vary the results dramatically depending upon "fiddling with" the location of the sensor.
Surely we are not naive enough to think that if a garage is a bit quiet, they are not going to look more carefuly for problems to repair!!
I've once had a car fail on things not even on the MOT checklist.
Took parts off, bought new bits and took them to show the MOT tester, who then suggested the problem may be elsewhere on the car. I pointed out that his job was to determine what was the problem, and to have failed on a given component which wasn't actually failed and then suggest I did something else was grossly un-professional (citroen garage).
Took the car elsewhere passed with two notes, one on windscreen and one on a TRE...
Dave
Took parts off, bought new bits and took them to show the MOT tester, who then suggested the problem may be elsewhere on the car. I pointed out that his job was to determine what was the problem, and to have failed on a given component which wasn't actually failed and then suggest I did something else was grossly un-professional (citroen garage).
Took the car elsewhere passed with two notes, one on windscreen and one on a TRE...
Dave
This article on Martin Lewis' site explains how you can go to the MOT testing centres run by the council to test their own vehicles. As they don't do any repairs themselves, there's no ulterior motive for failing the car.
I had a Peugeot once that went in for an MOT and that failed on emissions so they started with sensors (Aparently) then said the CAT needed a clean out in which they said they did but all they seemed to do was break the heat sheild at a join so that it started rattling. then came the expensive bit a brand new ECU which amazingly sorted the emissions problem when they plugged it in.
I quized them about about all of this but I was young at the time and did not really know much, so ended up with a bill of about £1500 not happy
Unfortunately they saw me coming, now after that I shall never fall for that again or buy another French car.
The Garage In Question If I Am Aloud to put this was The Main Peugeot Dealer in Romsey Hampshire, they were absolute SHITE.
I quized them about about all of this but I was young at the time and did not really know much, so ended up with a bill of about £1500 not happy
Unfortunately they saw me coming, now after that I shall never fall for that again or buy another French car.
The Garage In Question If I Am Aloud to put this was The Main Peugeot Dealer in Romsey Hampshire, they were absolute SHITE.
I'm so glad my mate runs a garage and does MOT's. I was very relieved when he took the place on - I know that if he failed one of my cars it wouldn't be to rip me off.
Shame my mother-in-law doesn't take my lead though. She just spent £250 getting her Clio through the MOT with a chain called something like low-q (!) and that was, guess what, brakes and exhaust!
Reminds me of my brother's AX which failed a 'pre-MOT' when owned by my brother-in-law. Confronted with a bill of £300 to get it through he binned it off to my brother for free. Cost £90 including MOT fee to pass it at my mate's! He couldn't understand why half the things had failed. Perhaps he's not the better businessman!
Shame my mother-in-law doesn't take my lead though. She just spent £250 getting her Clio through the MOT with a chain called something like low-q (!) and that was, guess what, brakes and exhaust!
Reminds me of my brother's AX which failed a 'pre-MOT' when owned by my brother-in-law. Confronted with a bill of £300 to get it through he binned it off to my brother for free. Cost £90 including MOT fee to pass it at my mate's! He couldn't understand why half the things had failed. Perhaps he's not the better businessman!
"Failing brakes when only adjustment is required was the most common complaint, according to mail order specialist Car Parts Direct."
Seems a strange statement - if the brakes were out of adjustment, then it should fail the MOT.
Anyway, what adjustment? Most are (meant to be) self adjusting now. Plus the tester isn't *allowed* to adjust them during the test if he wanted to.
Seems a strange statement - if the brakes were out of adjustment, then it should fail the MOT.
Anyway, what adjustment? Most are (meant to be) self adjusting now. Plus the tester isn't *allowed* to adjust them during the test if he wanted to.
So whats new? I agree with the poster who said it is a subjective view. The thing that is annoying me about the new MOTS is the what I call "suggestion box". Yes I know in the future the Micra may need a new rear box but that to me is a pain now its written in black/white. It may have last for a year now will NEED to be changed as when I come to sell it the 1st thing a buyer is going to ask is has the rear box been changed?
Oh and another thing. These new MOT's are supposed to stop fraud/fake MOTs getting into the system BUT it does not stop the dodgy MOT stations writing out their own ones as before!!
Also does anyone else think the new MOTs look s
t compared to the old ones? At least the old ones looked like an offical document and for £44 I want my moneys worth!
Oh and another thing. These new MOT's are supposed to stop fraud/fake MOTs getting into the system BUT it does not stop the dodgy MOT stations writing out their own ones as before!!
Also does anyone else think the new MOTs look s
t compared to the old ones? At least the old ones looked like an offical document and for £44 I want my moneys worth! Edited by scared but happy on Wednesday 30th August 18:08
My girlfriends car is due an MOT soon and i must admit i have been rather concerned that she will get ripped off because she is young and blonde and obviously not a car expert. Her family all run Renaults and have always used the same renault garage for servicing but loyalty seems to mean nothing these days.
Her mothers '96 clio cost £400 to get through its last MOT. It failed on a headlight bulb and front discs and pads. The garage also recomended that she have a new set of shock absorbers because 'they weren't genuine renault ones and could cause her to crash'. Ironically the shocks were fitted by the renault garage.
This kind of bullsh!t really annoys me so ive told my girlfriend to make sure the garage know they arent to do any work on the car, just the mot test. We'll just ahve to wait and see if they kick up a fuss.
Her mothers '96 clio cost £400 to get through its last MOT. It failed on a headlight bulb and front discs and pads. The garage also recomended that she have a new set of shock absorbers because 'they weren't genuine renault ones and could cause her to crash'. Ironically the shocks were fitted by the renault garage.
This kind of bullsh!t really annoys me so ive told my girlfriend to make sure the garage know they arent to do any work on the car, just the mot test. We'll just ahve to wait and see if they kick up a fuss.
I always take my car to the local Council to be tested (Doncaster). I've only ever had one near fail, but rather than mess about with paperwork, the tester replaced the bulb for me free of charge.
I won't be using anyone else now.
Had my 306 tested last week, and they are currently charging £35, rather than the full amount.
I've had some very questionable fails in the past, including a broken front number plate on one of my minis when the examiner broke it driving the car onto the brake test rollers to quickly
and windscreen wipers that were too slow, they worked perfectly fine for me though.
I won't be using anyone else now. Had my 306 tested last week, and they are currently charging £35, rather than the full amount.
I've had some very questionable fails in the past, including a broken front number plate on one of my minis when the examiner broke it driving the car onto the brake test rollers to quickly
and windscreen wipers that were too slow, they worked perfectly fine for me though.
you can always appeal if the car fails the test providing the car does not leave the premises and no work is carried out after all a fail is a fail regardless if it is a baulb you don't have to have the work carried out at that garage you can take it away.
All the information is on the back of the vt30 of fail sheet and you can check the code of test to see if your car should fail on items your unsure of but unfortunatly most testers are correct, but i have seen cases where a garage has done something like cut a c.v or rack gaiter to generate work, My only advise is to make sure your car is regularly serviced along side the mot at your local garage so that any extras are done before the test or find some one you trust or is recomended to you thats in the trade.
All the information is on the back of the vt30 of fail sheet and you can check the code of test to see if your car should fail on items your unsure of but unfortunatly most testers are correct, but i have seen cases where a garage has done something like cut a c.v or rack gaiter to generate work, My only advise is to make sure your car is regularly serviced along side the mot at your local garage so that any extras are done before the test or find some one you trust or is recomended to you thats in the trade.
Wacky Racer said:
Best is in Malta, the MOT there is called a VRT, lasts for two years, and usually, if your car has got four tyres, a steering wheel and an engine it will pass.....
Same idea in France, You only have to M.O.T every 2 years, And you should see the state of my mates Mercedes Van, more rust than the titanic, Exhaust blowing at the manifold sounding like it was "radial" aeroplane engine, crappy brakes, etc, still passed tho!!!
ratbane said:
If you are a woman don't take it in, they will try to rip you off (not being sexist myself, but many of the garages my wife has had experience of have been).
No, DO take your car in but be sure to know all about your car, and proceed to humiliate the hapless grease monkey trying to full a fast one on you
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