3 areas of testing that new vehicles need before their first MOT

By Pavan Jheeta

You’ve upgraded your fleet with a batch of brand-new vehicles. They’re in top condition, and it feels like nothing could go wrong.

But by the time that first MOT rolls around, they might not be as perfect as you think.

There’s a reason why new vehicles need an MOT within the first 12 months. They’ve had enough time and use for issues to appear, which means you need to be diligent if you want them to pass.

Here are the most critical areas to focus on:

 

Brakes

The average brake pad lasts between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

Not every new vehicle will cover that distance in its first year. But when we’re talking brake pads, there are lots of variables to think about:

Some fleets take their trucks on international journeys, bumping up the mileage far beyond the average.

Some cargo routes cover difficult roads with climbs and descents, or travel through chaotic traffic in challenging weather.

And of course, some drivers are a little rough with their vehicles!

This all has an effect on the lifespan of your brake pads. So, if you want to be certain about passing your first test, you can’t afford to ignore your brakes.

The best way to get a complete health check is with a dedicated brake tester. You’ll get in-depth data about the condition of your entire braking system — so you can go into your MOTs with full confidence.

 

Tyres

The average tyre lasts for around 20,000 miles (for front tyres).

For vehicles doing long-haul journeys, that’s a number they could easily reach in their first year. But just like with brake pads, you can’t rely on an average mileage:

Rough conditions and aggressive driving can wear the treads on your tyres faster than average. And for heavy-duty vehicles carrying heavy loads, the extreme weights of the vehicle and its cargo are putting extra pressure on those tyres every day.

So if you’re coming up to your first MOTs, checking tyre treads should be a regular part of the testing you carry out.

 

Lights

Lighting problems are one of the most common ways vehicles fail their MOTs.

While a new vehicle is unlikely to suffer a blown lightbulb in its first year (especially with newer long-lasting LEDs), headlamp alignment is a different story.

Even a small bump or nudge can knock a headlight assembly out of position, creating a misalignment that could count against you in your MOTs.

It could be something obvious, like a collision with a kerb or a bump with another vehicle. But it could be something much more mundane:

Potholes or road debris can cause an impact that’s strong enough to change the alignment of your headlamps, even if the impact left no visible damage.

That means you won’t always know when your alignment has taken a beating — you’ll need the precision of an electronic headlamp tester to be sure your vehicles are fit to pass the test.

 

MOTs on the horizon?

New vehicles in your fleet need as much care as the old ones — to protect your investment, and give them the long lifespan they deserve.

So if you’re coming up to your MOTs and your test equipment’s seen better days, we’re right here:

Take a look through our full range of brake testers and headlamp testers — or start a chat with an expert if you have any questions.