MOT Testing in Torbay

The English Riviera stretches around Tor Bay, taking in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Hills, seafront traffic and heavy summer visitor numbers make for demanding driving, and demanding driving is exactly what an annual MOT is meant to catch up with.

Automaster serves motorists across Torbay with MOT testing for cars and vans. We carry out repairs after a fail as well, so one garage can look after the test, the fix and the retest without sending you elsewhere.

What does an MOT check on a Torbay vehicle?

The tester assesses lights, brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, exhaust and emissions, visibility through the windscreen, seatbelts, registration plates and the safety of the body structure. Dashboard warning lights are noted too.

Climbing out of the bay and coming back down again puts extra load on brakes and suspension, so those are the areas we look at with most care.

Vans are common around the bay too, from builders and decorators to delivery drivers, and they follow the same checklist under Class 7.

• Light operation and beam alignment
• Brake performance on every wheel
• Steering and suspension wear
• Warning lights on the dashboard

What do dangerous, major and minor mean on a result sheet?

A dangerous defect means the car should not be driven until it is repaired. A major defect is a fail that must be repaired before the car passes. A minor defect is recorded, but the car still passes.

After the test we go through the list with you in everyday language, so you know which items are urgent and which can be planned for.

How can pre-MOT checks save a retest?

Many fails are down to small things that a short inspection would have spotted. Worn tyres, a failed bulb or thinning brake pads can be dealt with while there is still time, which keeps the official test straightforward.

Where a car does fail, we can carry out the repairs and retest it. The retest terms depend on the fault and the timing, so please ask when you book.

Fleet and family cars alike benefit from checking the basics first, because three towns around the bay mean plenty of short trips between them.

How does the MOT date work for Torbay motorists?

Your first MOT is due when the vehicle is three years old. After that it is yearly. You can test up to a month minus a day before the expiry date and keep the same renewal date, which many people use to avoid the summer visitor season.

Booking is online or by phone, and Class 7 testing is available for vans used by trades and delivery firms around the bay.

Do you cover Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, and where is the garage?

Yes. We welcome drivers from across Torbay, including Paignton, Brixham, St Marychurch and Ellacombe. The garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes.

Give us your registration and a short description of the car when you ask for a quote, and we will take it from there.