Prepare Your Truck or Trailer for Its MOT

Like cars, trailers and trucks need an annual MOT. Unlike cars, which only need testing after their third birthday, trucks will usually need an MOT 12 months after they were first registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). And a trailer must undergo the test yearly, starting from 12 months after the date it was first supplied or sold. 

The MOT is designed to ensure that vehicles over a certain age are fit to be driven on the UK roads and meet certain environmental standards. It’s also a legal requirement, so there are penalties if the date is missed and the test isn’t taken. So while it might not be always convenient, it is important that you make sure you book the test at the right time and that it passes. If the MOT inspector fails it, it’s considered not roadworthy and you won’t be allowed to drive it until its faults have been rectified.

What Can You Do to Make Sure Your Vehicle Passes the MOT First Time?

1. Have your truck or trailer regularly serviced

It may sound obvious, but trucks and trailers in the working environment have a lot of stresses put on them. It’s well worth paying out for a regular service – which should be done in line with the manufacturer’s recommended schedule – as this will often identify any problems early on, before they become more expensive to rectify.

2. Check Glass, Mirrors and Lights

Among the most common causes of MOT failures are glass, mirrors and lights. To avoid having to have a retest, and to prevent any interruption to your business, it’s a simple matter to check these on your truck beforehand, and trailer too where applicable. If any of your lights are not working, head to a good trailer and truck spares company and ask about lighting supplies – you can buy new bulbs, replacement glass and so on, and it’s easy to fit them before your vehicle gets that fail. Likewise, if mirrors are broken, they can usually be replaced from a  seller of truck parts. Clean off the glass in all windows – visibility must be good.

3. Check Your Tyres

Trucks and trailers are often driven over rough terrain, so there’s plenty of wear and tear on those tyres. Check them over before the MOT to look for worn tread, bulges, lumps and tears and get them fixed – or replaced. Remember, damaged tyres put you and other road-users at risk so it’s worth doing this routinely anyway.

4. Check Brakes and Clutches

While the MOT doesn’t cover the clutch, it certainly considers the condition of the brakes and the overall drivability of the vehicle. Test both out when driving before your MOT. If the truck or trailer is veering to one side of the road when braking, if there’s a grinding, metallic noise or there’s judder through the steering wheel, brake pedal or the car generally, you could be looking at replacing parts or all of the brakes.

If you need truck parts, lorry parts or van parts in Shrewsbury to get your car up to scratch before its MOT, come to Shropshire Truck and Trailer Parts Ltd. We can deliver parts in stock anywhere in Shropshire on the same day you order them. We also carry tools and plant machinery parts, and are battery suppliers for all types of vehicle.