MOT Testing in Hazelwood

Hazelwood is a small rural hamlet in the River Avon valley area, reached by narrow lanes, so a car or van from here is often a working vehicle with a lot of country miles behind it. That makes a regular check on safety items especially worthwhile.

Our garage, Automaster, is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns such as Loddiswell, Kingsbridge, Modbury and South Brent bring us their cars and vans for Class 4 and Class 7 MOT testing.

What is an MOT, in plain terms?

An MOT is a yearly check that a vehicle meets the legal minimum standard for road safety and exhaust emissions. It is not a service and it does not say the engine is in good health, but it does look at the things that matter most if something goes wrong on the road.

Cars are tested as Class 4, and vans as Class 7. If you are unsure which applies, ask us when you book.

Brake and tyre wear are the usual surprises, followed by suspension parts that have taken knocks from potholes and rough lane edges. The tester will look at all of these and record anything that is worn, advisory or failing.

What gets checked on a country car or van?

The tester looks at lights, brakes, tyres, steering and suspension, exhaust and emissions, mirrors and windscreen, seatbelts, registration plates, the structure and body where it affects safety, and warning lights.

Lane-side mud and stones are tough on lamps, plates and tyres, and a plate that cannot be read or a bulb that has failed is a fail, so a quick clean and look before you come is time well spent.

• Lights and plates
• Brakes
• Tyres
• Steering and suspension
• Exhaust and warning lights

Will my vehicle pass? How do I find out first?

A pre-MOT inspection is the sensible answer. We look at the same areas as the test, tell you what seems worn or likely to fail, and you decide what to have repaired beforehand. That is often easier than finding out after a fail.

It matters even more if the vehicle is your only way of getting around, because a fail with no plan is awkward.

The first MOT falls due at three years. After that it is yearly, and you can book up to a month minus a day early without losing the renewal date, which leaves room to fit repairs in around work or farm and home commitments.

What are dangerous, major and minor defects, and what happens after a fail?

A dangerous defect means the vehicle should not be driven. A major defect fails the test. A minor defect is noted but passes. After a fail, we can repair what is wrong and retest, though terms depend on the fault and the timing, so ask.

Never continue to drive with brakes, steering or tyres that are unsafe.

Minor defects and advisories matter too: a worn tyre or a slightly corroded pipe noted now is a likely major fail next time, so many people use the result as a to-do list.

Do you take bookings from Hazelwood?

Yes. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. You can book by phone or online, and then tell us the make, model, age, fuel and anything unusual.

Ask for a quote on any repairs, and we will explain what is involved in simple terms.

Our garage is a simple place to deal with for a test, repair and retest in one go. Bring the vehicle's details and we will do the rest.