MOT Testing in Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge is a South Hams market town at the head of the estuary, with a steep main street, a waterfront and rural roads in every direction. Daily use of the A379 and the hills around the town is hard on brakes, tyres and suspension.

Automaster at Longcombe Cross near Totnes carries out Class 4 MOT tests for cars and Class 7 tests for vans. If your vehicle needs work to pass, we can do that and retest it.

What does an MOT involve for a town car?

The tester inspects lights, brakes, tyres, steering and suspension, exhaust and emissions, visibility, seatbelts, registration plates, safety-related body condition and warning lights. It is the same list whether the vehicle does short town trips or longer commutes.

Steep gradients and frequent braking show up in disc and pad wear, so the brake check often matters most for hill-town cars.

Emissions are tested too. On petrol and diesel vehicles the exhaust is checked for leaks, security and emissions limits, and the dashboard is checked for warning lights, such as engine management or ABS, which can cause a fail.

• Brake efficiency and wear
• Steering and suspension joints
• Tyre depth and condition
• Lights and visibility

What do dangerous, major and minor mean?

Dangerous: the vehicle is a direct risk and should not be driven. Major: a fail that needs repair. Minor: a pass with a note. Advisories mention wear that is worth monitoring.

If you suspect a brake or steering fault, do not keep using the car; ask us what to do first.

Why bother with a pre-MOT inspection?

A pre-MOT inspection lets us look at the likely trouble spots before the test. You hear what needs doing and can choose to have it fixed, which often means a clean first test rather than a fail and retest.

It suits vans used for work, where a failed test means a vehicle off the road.

Many Kingsbridge drivers use their vehicles every day, so a pre-MOT inspection suits them: you know what is coming and can choose a sensible day to leave the vehicle with us for the repair.

What happens after an MOT fail?

We list the defects, explain them, and quote for MOT repairs if you want us to do the work. We then retest. Retest terms depend on the fault and how soon you return, so ask us.

Do not continue to drive with a dangerous defect.

What drives the time and cost of an MOT repair is the fault itself, how easy the part is to reach, whether parts need ordering and whether other wear turns up once the job starts. That is why we ask you to request a quote rather than quoting blind.

Do you cover Kingsbridge and where do I bring the vehicle?

Yes. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Loddiswell, Modbury and Thurlestone use it. You can book online or by phone.

Say if you have a car or a van, the fuel it uses and any warning lights, and ask for a quote.