The MOT test has been with us for a long time now: to the point that it has become just part of driving life in the UK. But because it has been around for so long, its origins are beginning to get a little lost in the mists of history. Let us take a look at everything you need to know about the MOT test.

In the Beginning

In the 1960s, driving in the UK was booming. Private vehicle ownership was on the up, nearly every business had a van to run about and conduct business in, and the newly minted motorway network was beginning to snake its way over the country. Unfortunately, this was accompanied by a sharp rise in road accidents due to older vehicles from the 40s and 50s being poorly maintained. The government, in the form of the then Ministry of Transport, voted to have a roadworthiness test that all vehicles over the age of ten must be subject to.

The Big Three and Beyond

The first MOTs were voluntary, held on big trucks and lorries, and only looked at three items: the brakes, the steering and the lights. Even with this relatively generous criteria a shockingly high number of vehicles failed the MOT. Over the next few years, the government gradually reduced the length of time before a car needed its first MOT and increased the number of items on that checklist.

The Current Checklist

After a brief stop at seven years, the MOT settled on the third anniversary of the car's registration as being the date that its first test was due, which still applies today. The checklist has grown from just three items to well over thirty, and more items are added as modern vehicle manufacturing improves and road safety standards rise. You can find the full current list here and see if your vehicle has any points that might need sorting out as soon as possible.

Now you know what your MOT is all about and understand that it is to keep you and other road users safe on the UKs now very extensive road networks, you can book the MOT testing service at Elite MOT Centre, London, to ensure that your car is kept in the best shape possible, so your driving is trouble-free and easy.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.