A Guide to Preparing Your Van for its MOT

KEEPING your van on the road is a high priority – particularly if your business depends on it. The annual MOT test may fill many van drivers with dread, but if you get everything in order early on, it’ll save you all that stress…and money further down the line.

It’s a good idea to give your van a once over about a week or so before it’s due for the MOT. That way, you can get problems ironed out. If your van doesn’t pass because of some defect, you’ll need to splash out for repairs and another MOT test.

Here’s an easy guide to getting your van ready for the MOT:

Check out the WWWs

NO, we’re not talking the internet here, it’s windscreen, wipers and washers. Firstly, make sure your wipers are working and that none of them are broken or cracked. Run every setting of your wipers to make sure they’re all in order.

Have a good look at the windscreen and make sure there are no cracks – your van could fail its MOT if a crack is deemed big enough. Make sure there is water in your washers and that they are working right.

If any of your ‘Ws’ are a bit wonky, get them fixed straight away.

Get the wheels in motion

MOT examiners will give your tyres a real thorough going over, so you should too. Check the tread and make sure there is at least 1.6mm, that’s what you’ll need to pass your MOT. The cost of replacing a tyre before the test will be less than doing it afterwards and then spending more money and time getting a second appointment.

If you have alloys on your van, check that all the wheel nuts and the locking wheel nut key are all present and correct.

See the light

All your lights must be working, so give them a check before your MOT. It might be a good idea to drive the van into a warehouse or garage or even wait until the evening when it’s dark.

If you have a mate handy, get them to stand outside and check the indicators are working while you flick the switches inside (if it’s cold or wet out, you can always flip a coin to see who gets which job!). Check the hazard and fog lights too.

One of the most common forms of MOT failure is lights which aren’t working properly.

Better safe than sorry

Make sure the seatbelts in the cabin click properly into place on the driver and passengers side. Also, it’s important that any other safety features in the cargo area of the van are in working order.

Giving your van a quick check like this will flag up some minor problems which can be easily fixed before your MOT.

Don’t forget to check your van insurance at MOT time, quite often they both expire at the same time so make sure you are still covered.

Handy Advice and Guides from VanInsured.com