To remain safe, its very important to get the MOT done for your vehicle. A Class 4 MOT test is needed in case of cars with mass under 3000 kg and having more than 8 passengers’ seats. Class 4 MOT Leicester tests cover a wide range of vehicles, including:
- Cars including those that can accommodate up to eight passengers.
- Ambulances
- Taxis
- Camper vans or motor caravans
- Passenger cars that are classified as being of private use and can accommodate up to 12 passengers.
A Class 4 MOT checks important items such as brakes, lights, tyres, mirrors, seat belts and many others. Any vehicle that is to be taken on the roads must meet all the requirements of the inspection to be considered fit for the road. Class 4 MOT tests Leicester are required for the vehicles to be tested annually to regain road certification.
Define Class 7 MOT test
Larger commercial vehicles that have a GVW between 3,000 to 3,500 kilograms require a Class 7 MOT test. These vehicles have potential to carry load as well as ability to accommodate more passengers. Common Class 7 MOT vehicles include:
- Some of the large vehicles that can be classified under this category include Lorries and trucks.
- Ford Transit vans
- Volkswagen Crafter vans
- Citroën Relay vans
Class 7 MOT tests are more challenging than Class 4 tests because these vehicles experience more wear and tear. This test verifies important safety features in addition to the structural condition and capacity to secure a load. For Class 7 MOTs, these tests are to be done every six months because such vehicles can easily clock up a high mileage.
The following are the essential differences between MOT classes:
While both tests assess roadworthiness, there are some notable differences between Class 4 and 7 MOTs:
Testing Frequency
There is a time limit in terms of frequency defined for the test.
- Class 4 MOT: Annual test (once every 12 months)
- Class 7 MOT: Semi-annual test (2 times a year)
Weight Thresholds
- Class 4: Less than 3000 kg
- Class 7: 3,000 – 3,500 kg
Test Duration
- Class 4 MOT: 1 hour
- Class 7 MOT: Up to 2 hours.
Cargo Capabilities
- Class 4: Mainly cars and light commercial vehicles
- Class 7: Goods vehicles with additional seating
Test Criteria
- Both classes inspect brakes, lights, steering, suspension, and the likes.
- In order to control the structural integrity and load securing of Class 7 vehicles, additional checks are performed.
Why Book a car Service with Your MOT?
It is recommended that you schedule a full service for the car at the same time as the MOT. This helps in ensuring any problems are detected and corrected early before they cause a system failure or breakdown. Other benefits include:
- Cuts costs and is more efficient than making different reservations
- Depressingly, elements such as brakes and tyres, which are most likely to fail an MOT, should be easily identified.
- Check whether repair or replacement is necessary
An interim service is suggested to be done half yearly or after 6,000 miles on the car, whereas the full service should be made once a year or after 12,000 miles.
Is MOT necessary for electric vehicles?
In short, yes. Yes, electric vehicles require MOT inspections, although so far, they have been subjected to an annual emission test instead. However, similar to most other cars, an MOT is not a necessity until the car is three years old. Your electric car and, indeed, any electric vehicle is not required to be MOT tested if it is less than three years old. That first MOT will be due three years from the day your vehicle was registered.
Is there anything that needs to be done to have an electric vehicle ready for an MOT?
Well to sum it up, preparing your electric vehicle for its MOT is as simple as preparing for an MOT of any car. The major checks you should conduct include;
- Tyres: Another reason as to why most people fail their MOT is due to low tire tread depth, which is unlawful. It is always recommended that you should check your tyre tread depth after every few weeks and not only before your mot test.
- Lights: Another everyday item that usually lands vehicles in MOT failures is lights. You should do a check to physically examine them to ensure they are functioning as they should. Sometimes the fog lights and full beams go unnoticed, so should also be checked at your convenience.
- Brakes: In fact, even though EVs have a regenerative braking system, they have normal hydraulic brakes. If your car seems to have a soft braking system, then it is recommended that you take it to be serviced before you take it for an MOT check.
- Wipers and fluid: One of the most frequently occurring failures is the failure of the windscreen wipers and washers for some reason. If you need to pass your MOT you must be able to ensure that your windscreen is clear when you are on the road. Therefore, ensure that the wiper fluid is always full and the wipers do not smear or scratch the wind screen.
