Everyone who uses the roads
must ensure that their car is in a roadworthy condition and that
it also meets certain environmental requirements. To make sure
that it is you have to present your car for inspection at a MOT
garage every year.
When your car is tested, the MOT looks at some
important items to see if it meets the legal requirements. Your car
will be tested on the following:
Vehicle Identification Number |
Seats |
Registration Plate |
Fuel System |
Lights |
Exhaust Emissions |
Steering and Suspension |
Exhaust System |
Wipers/Washers |
Vehicle Structure |
Windscreen |
Doors |
Horn |
Mirrors |
Seatbelts |
Wheels, Tyres,
Brakes |
Some garages will give you a free
MOT re-test if your car fails the first time.
Once your car passes you will be given an MOT
certificate. The MOT certificate is not a guarantee
of the general mechanical condition of a vehicle however.
Vehicles should receive their first
MOT when they reach 3 years of age.
For
more information on MOT's, where to find your nearest
MOT garage and other aspects of MOT's please visit
the VOSA web
site.
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Car insurance
Car insurance is something else that you
legally must have. This is one expense though that is not fixed and
is something you can reduce by comparing prices with different insurance companies. How
much the car insurance will cost depends on many things such as
(deep breath)... your age, male or female, where you live, what
you do for a
living, completed the Pass Plus course, any points on your
license, any 'no claims' bonus, the type and model of your car,
the engine size, will it be in a garage, on a driveway, security
on the car, mileage, any modifications and how old the car is! If
you don't make a claim on your insurance and as you get older, every year your
car insurance premium should steadily go down resulting in a 'no-claims'
bonus.
There are
different types of car insurance:
Third Party. This is the legal
minimum and the cheapest policy. The third party is anyone you might
injure or whose property you damage. Third Party, Fire
and Theft. This also
covers other people, property damaged and against your
vehicle being involved in a fire or being stolen. Comprehensive. This is the
complete and best cover, but the most expensive. Depending on the terms of
the policy it provides cover for damage to your own vehicle and
personal injury to yourself.
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