The Top 20 Locations Where Cars Are Most, And Least, Likely To Fail Their MOT In Winter
The team at our headline partners MOTORS have continued their deep dive into winter MOTs, and having shared their insight into the top reasons your car might fail its MOT in winter, MOTORS can reveal the 20 places where cars are most, and least, likely to fail their winter MOT
Where are cars most likely to fail their MOT in the winter?
Overall, Scotland and the Southwest topped the locations across the UK where you are most likely to fail your MOT in the winter. The postcode KY, which covers the Kirkcaldy area on the east coast of Scotland, was ranked first as the location where you are most likely to fail your MOT. MOT tests taken within the KY postcode had a 27.75% failure rate with 32,853 failures over winter 2020 and 2021.
The postcode DD, which covers Dundee and is also on the east coast of Scotland, follows in second place with an MOT failure rate of 26.85%. Out of 86,606 tests, there were 23,254 failures. The third area where you are most likely to fail your MOT is within the TR postcode, which covers Truro in Cornwall. Here there’s a failure rate of 25.96% from 133,345 tests.
Where are cars least likely to fail their MOT in winter?
The postcode EN, which covers Enfield, has the lowest failure rate of all locations across the UK at 12.87%. Out of 115,317 tests in winter 2020 and winter 2021, there were a lowly 14,847 failures. MOT tests taken in the postcode E, which covers East London, have the second lowest failure rate of 13.32%, a total of 21,706 failures out of 162,969 tests. It’s also good news for residents who live in the postcode area RM which covers Romford as MOT failure rates are just 14.29%.
Top Tips for maintaining your car in the winter month
The winter can create issues and make existing issues worse with your car, escalating problems from relatively easy-to-solve minor inconveniences to expensive repairs and a failed MOT. To help you keep your car on the road throughout the winter, we have compiled a winter car maintenance checklist to ensure your vehicle stays in top condition.
1. Don’t overlook your lights
As the winter nights roll in it’s vital that you are regularly checking your exterior lights. Number plate lights and headlights need to be working properly, not only for the safety of you and other drivers but also for you to pass your MOT and comply with legal requirements.
To avoid getting into difficulties make sure you check and clean your lights regularly – dirty and salted roads can cause build-up that reduces the brightness of your lights. It is also worth carrying spare bulbs with you. With darker mornings and evenings your lights will be getting more usage which may cause them to blow quicker.
2. Check your exhaust
The freezing temperatures of winter can cause the metal in your exhaust system to contract creating cracks, holes, and other damage exacerbated by salted roads that can cause corrosion.
Avoid damage by checking your exhaust regularly to spot and address any wear and tear early on. If possible, park your vehicle indoors overnight to protect it against nighttime temperature drops. We’d also recommend washing your exhaust system regularly, particularly after driving through gritted and snowy roads, to remove any lingering debris.
Cleaning your exhaust is a simple yet often overlooked task. To begin, use soap (with a mild polish abrasive), water, and a cloth to clean the exhaust tip. Then, taking a hard bristle brush, scrub the inside of the tailpipe as far down as you can.
3. Keep on top of your antifreeze
Antifreeze is essential to maintaining the good health of your engine and, despite its name, should be used all year round to prevent water in the engine cooling system from getting too hot or cold.
In the winter, it is vital that you check your antifreeze and keep it topped up to protect your engine from freezing over and to protect it from corrosion and scale build-up.
4. Look out for oil leaks
Cold weather can put added pressure on your car’s components, with excessive acceleration affecting your gasket which can result in engine oil leaks.
If you notice a brown or black puddle under your car it could be a sign of a leak coming from the engine. More often than not it’s likely to be a small leak – such as one from a valve cover gasket that has come loose and simply needs tightening. If it’s a larger leak, regardless of where you think it’s coming from, it is time to call the garage and get it checked out. An engine leak can cause your engine to fail in as little as half an hour with a replacement costing over £1,500 in most instances.
Ultimately, regular maintenance of your vehicle and following the owner’s manual is the best way to ensure it runs at full capacity. If you have any concerns about the running of your car you should take it to a specialist and most importantly, don’t just wait for the MOT.
For more tips on everything from buying your next car, to driving tips and info on the latest car tech and EV’s make sure you head over MOTORS Advice Hub for more expert advice and insights.
