The MOT advice you need to follow as one in six suffer breakdown
One in six drivers who didn't act on advisory notices following an MOT were involved in a collision or suffered a breakdown in the last 12 months, research suggests.
With finances tight for many families right now, and the cost of car insurance soaring, many are neglecting their vehicles to save money.
Read more: Most common reason for car MOT failures revealed – and it’s easy to check
NimbleFins previously reported how nearly half of drivers (49%) were putting off vehicle repairs due to rising costs. This is despite 39% of drivers questioned worrying their car will break down due to negligence.
Now new research by RAC found 39% of drivers who had been given an advisory notice on their MOT didn't plan to resolve the issues.
Advisory notices include worn brake pads, tyres close to the legal limit, corrosion and suspension issues.
They don't cause your vehicle to fail its MOT, but are early warnings for issues that should be addressed.
If the 17% of those respondents who had a crash or breakdown after ignoring advisories represented the whole of the country, it could mean up to six million drivers are at risk on the roads unnecessarily.
Vehicle defects were a factor in 1,350 collisions in 2023 according to Government figures. That's the highest number in five years. And 36 collisions involved one or more fatalities, again a five year high.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “Advisories indicate the potential for the vehicle to become unroadworthy in a matter of months or even weeks, depending on the nature of the issue and how often the vehicle is driven.
“We recommend drivers remove the guesswork altogether. Alongside frequent checks at home, it’s vital to get vehicles serviced at regular intervals, depending on what the manufacturer recommends. This allows any problems to be picked up early, reducing the chances of them becoming an MOT advisory or even a reason for failure further down the line."
How does this impact car insurance
While failing an MOT does not directly affect your car insurance, if poor maintenance leads to a claim - either due to breakdown or accident - insurers may view the driver as higher risk at renewal.
In serious cases, failing to maintain the car properly could even invalidate a claim if it contributed to an accident.
If a car crash investigation finds that worn tyres, brakes, or other known advisory issues contributed, insurers may partially or fully refuse to pay out.
This can lead to huge out-of-pocket costs for repairs, legal fees, or third-party injury claims.
Regular maintenance and dealing with advisories promptly reduces the chance of breakdowns, accidents, and costly insurance claims.
What a driver should check before MOT
The most common advisories that drivers are given are:
- Tyre tread depth close to limit
- Brake disc wear
- Suspension issues
- Fluid leaks
Addressing these early keeps your car running well and will reduce the risk of failing an MOT.
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