As a motorist, the thought of having to take your car in for any kind of adjustment or repair likely sets you on edge. However, with the best team of mechanics and car repair professionals behind you, there’s never any reason why that should be the case! What we do understand, too, is that not everyone knows the main difference between MOT and service visits. Unless you’re a real petrolhead, you’ll be forgiven for getting confused!
At Auto Inspire, we offer both MOTs and services to cars of all shapes, sizes, makes and models. Before you bring your four-wheeled friend in for a quick checkup, however, make sure to keep reading for the full lowdown on what you can expect.
An MOT is a yearly checkup that makes sure your car is legally fit to take to UK roads. This is crucial, as it makes sure that your vehicle isn’t just keeping you safe, but other road users free from harm, too.
An MOT is more of an in-depth checkover more than anything else. You don’t have to bring your car in for your MOT if you’re experiencing any specific problems, for example. Your MOT will simply let you know if there are any major concerns that you might need to cover, and if so, what the prescribed course of action is likely to be.
Your MOT takes place once a year providing your car’s over three years old. It’s super-important to get your car into us as soon as you can before you start driving again. Otherwise, police and DVLA services could fine you up to £1,000 on the spot if you’re caught without an up to date check.
What’s more, you might end up with points on your licence. That means if you keep avoiding your MOT, you might risk losing access to your vehicle altogether. Is it really worth the risk?
A car service is different from an MOT in the fact that it’s not a legal requirement. You won’t get fined if you miss a recommended service, however, it’s always a good idea to follow them.
Services are generally recommended by your car’s make, meaning that the engineers who designed your vehicle will know when certain parts are likely to need looking after the most.
The whole point of a car service lies in taking your vehicle in to ensure it is still healthy and running at speed. Rather than waiting until problems may occur further down the line, it’s an efficient plan of action to follow what your manufacturer says.
Servicing can be interim, full, or major. An interim service generally takes place twice a year, and will take into account your oil, your suspension, steering and brakes. This generally occurs if you use your car a lot.
An annual service will be a thorough inspection that takes into account all of the highly sensitive areas of your car. It’ll also make sure that you are topped up on the fluid your car needs to keep running.
Major servicing, as you might expect, is the whole package. That means no stone or part is left unturned, and that your local service experts will make sure your vehicle gets a full inspection. This type of service normally won’t take place sooner than once every two years.
What is an MOT? What is a car service? Essentially, they both exist to make sure that your vehicle is performing to the standards you expect. Without these checks, you are potentially at risk of running an unsafe car on the roads.
In the case of an MOT, you’re also at risk of breaking the law, incurring a hefty fine, and even losing your licence – if you choose to miss one, or fail to attend in time. It’s another reason why it’s so important to make sure you have a local service centre ready to help you get your checks and measures underway at short notice.
Auto Inspire is ready to help you plan out your MOT and service calendar. Don’t let worries about car inspections get you down. Providing you take good care of your vehicle, and make sure to report any problems to your service centre as soon as they arise, you’ll likely have very little to worry about.
The experts at Auto Inspire are here to ensure you get the best out of your vehicle – call us on 01246 555995 or book your checks online now.