MOT Testing in Loddiswell

Loddiswell lies in the River Avon valley, and the lanes heading towards Kingsbridge are narrow and steep. Cars that use them every day lean on their brakes going down and their engines going up, so wear builds quietly until the MOT shows it.

At Automaster, our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, we carry out Class 4 MOT testing for cars and Class 7 for vans, then repair and retest if something fails. This page explains what happens, in the order you will meet it.

How do I book an MOT from Loddiswell?

Start with the booking, because that is when the useful questions come up. Tell us whether it is a car or a van, the registration, the fuel it runs on and anything that has been worrying you. You can book online or by phone and ask for a quote on any work at the same time.

Drivers from Loddiswell, Hazelwood, Kingsbridge, Modbury and Bantham all use our garage near Totnes.

What does the tester look at on the day?

The list is fixed by the MOT rules. Lights and indicators, brakes, tyres, steering and suspension, exhaust and emissions, mirrors and windscreen, seatbelts, registration plates, the condition of the body where it affects safety, and any dashboard warning lights are all checked.

A valley car that goes up and down steep gradients every day will often show it first in the brake discs and pads, so that is a good thing to think about before the test.

• Brakes and brake pipes
• Steering and suspension
• Tyres and wheels
• Lights, glass and mirrors
• Exhaust and emissions

What do dangerous, major and minor failures mean?

A dangerous defect is a direct safety risk, and the vehicle should not be driven until it is fixed. A major defect is a fail that has to be repaired before the car passes. A minor defect is written down but does not stop a pass. Advisories are the tester's note of wear that is developing.

If you notice a soft brake pedal or loose steering on those steep lanes, stop driving it and talk to us.

Is it worth a pre-MOT inspection before the real test?

It is, particularly on a car or van that has covered a lot of hilly miles. A pre-MOT inspection means we go over the areas the test covers and tell you what looks likely to fail, so the MOT preparation can be done in advance.

That often means one visit for the test instead of two, because a failed item does not need to come back for a retest.

What happens if my vehicle fails the MOT?

You are given the defects and what category each falls into. We can quote for the MOT repairs and then retest. What a retest involves depends on the fault and how soon the vehicle comes back, so ask when you book.

What drives the time and cost is the fault, the part and how much else needs to come off to reach it. Ask for a quote and we will talk it through.