An MOT test ensures vehicles adhere to essential health, safety, and environmental regulations.
In the UK, this test is mandatory for most vehicles. As a driver or van owner, your MOT status will determine whether you’ve passed or failed, depending on the car’s compatibility with certain safety standards. Here’s how to check your van’s MOT history.
Check the van’s MOT history
The only way to formally declare your van roadworthy is to opt for MOT testing. But you may be uncertain about your van’s MOT status, especially if it’s a second-hand vehicle. The previous owner likely did an MOT test for the vehicle, so you can check the van’s MOT history. Luckily, doing that has become easier with the Ministry of Transport’s introducing its services online in 2005. You can also check a car’s MOT history right here to determine how many times your van has been MOT-tested and when next you need to visit the testing facility.
Check the MOT certificate validity
When buying a second-hand van in the UK, asking for an up-to-date MOT certificate is crucial. Driving without it is illegal. Also, buying your van without MOT could mean it has failed testing due to significant maintenance needs indicating that you need additional funds for auto maintenance expenses. After testing your van at the MOT facility, owners are given certificates with an MOT test number.
Suppose you’re looking to buy a second-hand van and are uncertain about the authenticity of the certificate that has been issued; you can check online whether your details have been locked into the system. Van owners can compare the details written on the certificate and the online data from the website to determine whether the certificate issued has been forged by the van’s seller or previous owner.
Determine if your van is exempted from MOT
There could be various reasons why you’re finding challenges in determining your van’s MOT status. One of them is that your van may be exempted from mandatorily getting an MOT. Disabled vehicle owners and vans used by organisations to bus disabled people are not mandated to test their vehicles before driving.
The laws also exempt mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. Such vehicles are called invalid carriages. To qualify for this perk, owners must prove that they have a maximum speed of 8mph.
Also, MOTs are significant in the United Kingdom’s quest to reduce vehicle pollution and carbon emissions from vehicles. The MOT structure demands vehicles likely to emit more CO2 to pay more in MOT fees. For this reason, you may be exempted from mandatory MOT status if your van is an electric vehicle.
Connect with where you got your MOT from
According to the UK Department of Transport, there are over two thousand MOT testing facilities nationwide. To know the MOT status of the van, you can reach out to the source of your MOT certificate or testing facility.
The personnel at these testing facilities are required to complete training purses accredited by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. So they can adequately assist you with information about your van’s MOT status. Another alternative is to relay your complaints to VOSA. It’s the governmental agency responsible for standardising MOTs and ensuring that MOT testers adhere to the best industry practices.
Know the different MOT classes
There are seven MOT classes, with some classes featuring subcategories to make it more expensive. Most vehicles belong in the Class 4 MOT category. This includes taxis, private cars, ambulances, motorhomes, campervans, and other vehicles weighing up to 3,000 kilograms.
But it’s crucial to know the different sub-classification under the class 4 MOT. For instance, a class 4 MOT subcategory deals with vans with more than an 8-seater seating capacity. Vehicles under this category are passenger vehicles with nine to 12 seats.
Prepare for a check
You can opt for a full-blown MOT test if you want to determine your van’s MOT status. Note that only cars that have been on the road for more than three years are eligible for certification. For your first test, you’ll need your vehicle log books or VC5, especially if your car has a new registration number.
MOT costs are most controlled, so the fees of one testing facility may not differ too much from another. Typically, your van’s maintenance costs will determine its MOT class and the number of repair works needed to obtain your certificate.
To succeed in your MOT test, your brakes, registration plates, tires, and windscreens are critical areas you should consider. Brake problems account for about seven percent of all MOT failures. You can check for excessive wear patterns that make your van’s brake system inefficient.
Determine the age of your van
MOT regulations see new updates from time to time. Before 2018, only cars first registered before 1960 could consider not taking an MOT test. Due to an update to the previous regulations in May 2018, cars, vans, motorcycles, and other light passenger vehicles aren’t mandated to have an MOT if they’re over 40 years old.
If your van fits this category, then you already know your MOT status. But note that there are a few details that can disqualify your old van from enjoying this perk. The new regulations only apply to vehicles that haven’t been substantially changed in the past 30 years. These changes can range from chassis, axle, or body replacements to engine upgrades for more horsepower.
Generally speaking, getting an MOT certificate for your van is non-negotiable. As a van owner, failure to comply with this regulation can lead to fines of up to about a thousand pounds. These methods can help you determine the status of your van’s MOT. After, it’s crucial to keep tabs on the MOT number and the renewability date, so you don’t miss it.
