When your car goes in to a MOT test station it will be checked against the strict MOT laws that have been set out by Vehicle Inspectorate. Any vehicle that is over three years old will be checked to ensure that it meets at least the minimum road safety and environmental standard. Any vehicle over three years old will require a new MOT to be carried out every 12 months.

If your car passes an MOT you may be given a list of advisories. This is a list of work that may require attention over the next twelve months and if they are not done the car is likely to fail when it comes to its MOT. Sometimes there are also advisories to state that they could not check a specific MOT standard such as not able to check the sills on a vehicle due the there being a cover on them.

Once you have a list of the advisories, you could speak to the mechanic at the MOT test station to discuss each one and he should be able to advise you of how soon he believes it will need to be addressed.

Don’t necessarily be put off by a long list of advisories as many of the items may be small and relatively cheap to fix.

We’ve all heard of getting our cars ready for the winter die to poor weather conditions that can make driving hazardous and can cause damage to our vehicles but what most people don’t realise is you need to also be aware of the effects the summer weather can have on your vehicle and how you can look after it to ensure that you’re not left high and dry this summer.

Most modern cars are now fitted with air conditioning and as it’s unlikely that this feature has been used much over the winter months you may want to check its working efficiently. If you notice that the unit is not producing very cool air as quickly as it had in previous times then you may need it re-gassing. This can be done at most car garages and shouldn’t be too costly to do.

Checking fluid levels in your car is particularly important during the summer months as with warmer weather engine temperature can be increased and fluid can evaporate more quickly.

Tyre condition and correct pressures are also a must for your summer check list as increased temperature can make tyres more vulnerable to damage.

The craze for private number plates still exists as seen on the cars of many passengers and drivers. They were once considered luxury and were used only by the society’s elite crowd. Things have changed today as the market has come up with multiple cheap number plates. Getting personalised number plates is similar to getting a car registration where numbers and letters are combined to get a unique number plate.

Things Represented on a Private Number Plate: 

These plates usually include the owner’s name or particular words or contain some numbers significant to the vehicle’s owner. If you’re looking for an affordable option, you could get plates containing your initials and you can get this within £300.

Where to Buy?

You just can’t create a number plate containing numbers or letters of your choice. You must follow a specific format as set by the DVLA. You can buy one from the DVLA website or from several online independent dealers.  (more…)

A careful, smooth driving style will help keep many parts of your car in good condition for longer, from the engine to the brakes to the suspension. The tyres are no exception, but taking it easy on them will only preserve them so far. There are a few other things that can be done to keep your tyres within the legal 1.6mm UK tread depth limit.

The first thing to do is check your tyres regularly, looking at the condition of the tyres from both sides. Any signs of uneven wear should be addressed as soon as possible. Wear on both sides of the tread or in the centre are likely caused by under or over inflation. If the wear is on one side of the tread, it could be a problem with wheel alignment or the suspension. This kind of wear is easy to miss if it occurs on the inside tread.

A good way to avoid uneven wear and mitigate the difference in wear between the front and back tyres is to have the tyres rotated roughly every 6,000 miles. The tyres need to be rotated in a specific way relating to the way the cars wheels are driven and the tyres construction.

A few simple steps can make all the difference when washing your car. First off, never allow bird mess or tree sap to remain on the car as it can quickly damage the finish. When washing the car, park it in a shaded area to avoid uneven drying.

A jet wash is a good way to blast off most of the dirt as you don’t want small particles scratching the finish when you use a cloth later. Next, wash the car with a cloth or specialist wash mitt using an appropriate car shampoo. Using two buckets, one to rinse your cloth and one for clean soapy water, wash the car from top to bottom, avoiding a circular motion which could leave swirl marks.

When you’re done washing, rinse of the soapy residue with clean water. When you do this, look for the water “beading” off the paints surface: if it doesn’t do this then the wax coat needs replenishing. To avoid unsightly water marks you should dry the car quickly with a drying cloth or chamois.