Many people ask why they need an MOT every year, especially when their vehicles appear to be working fine and hasn’t broken down or been involved in an accident. There are multiple reasons why an MOT is required by law, and also why it’s a sensible measure to be put in place.
The main reason behind an MOT is safety. Every year there are thousands of car accidents caused by vehicles lacking a valid MOT certificate at the time. These occur because faults a driver was unaware of, become major problems on the road and can lead to a severe outcome such as complete loss of car control. Most people only view their car from the surface, so inner faults go undetected, sometimes when it’s too late. When an MOT check is conducted, a vehicle is checked to make sure it is roadworthy and that there are none of these undetected faults looming under the surface.
An MOT is also required to make sure a car is running to environmental standards. Cars contribute considerably to the amount of greenhouse gas we emit into the atmosphere. However, a car that is not running correctly can pump out substantially more carbon if it is left unchecked. This not only makes it’s inefficient for the driver with extra petrol cost, but it is also damaging to the environment, and so part of an MOT check is to make sure the vehicle reaches the emission standards.
Finally, it is the law. For the reason’s above the MOT was introduced in 1988. Any car not carrying a valid MOT certificate is running the risk of severe penalties, not just a £1000 fine but also an invalidation of the vehicle's insurance which can lead to 6-8 penalty points.