MOT Test vs. Car Service: What’s the Difference? | GVE London – Blog

When you own a vehicle, you must learn to maintain it. That’s the rule of owning a car or any vehicle, for that matter. In the UK, for a car to be considered “well maintained,” it must not only be regularly serviced and in proper working condition, but it also needs to pass the MOT test. These two go hand-in-hand. In this blog, let’s explore the difference between them.

What is an MOT Test?

An MOT, Ministry of Transport, test is a legal requirement imposed on vehicles in the UK. Its purpose is to ensure that vehicles meet road safety and environmental standards set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Cars that are three years or older are subject to this test and must take it every 12 months. The MOT checklist focuses on the following:

• Brake performance
• Tyre condition and tread depth
• Lighting and indicators
• Exhaust system
• Windscreen wipers and washers
• Steering and suspension

If your car passes the MOT at the MOT centre, it will be given a certificate—a badge of honour, so to speak—confirming it is safe and roadworthy. A healthy member of the vehicle society. If it fails any part of the test, it’ll be sent to ‘home jail,’ meaning it cannot be legally driven until the required repairs are made. 

Cars that fail the MOT test at the MOT centre have 10 days to make the necessary repairs and take a partial retest. After this period, you’ll have to pay for the entire test again.

Read Also: Is It Illegal To Drive Without An MOT?

What is a Car Service?

The servicing that a car goes through is much more comprehensive and detailed than an MOT test. First things first, it’s not a legal requirement. You don’t have to have your car serviced, though that would be a surefire way to wreck its overall health.

Generally speaking, cars’ manuals mention how often they need servicing. A general rule of thumb is to get them serviced every 6 months, but this varies greatly depending on the type of car, driving style, how often and far it’s driven, etc.

During a service, the mechanic will inspect, clean, and replace various components of the car. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s quite varied what changes are actually made, based on the service type (e.g., minor, intermediate, or major service) and your car’s make and model.

Key aspects checked during a car service include:

• Oil change and filter replacement
• Checking and topping up fluids (coolant, brake fluid, etc.)
• Replacing spark plugs (if needed)
• Inspecting belts and hoses
• Checking battery condition
• Engine and exhaust system inspection

An MOT is a legal requirement, but a car service is essentially to take care of the machine; ensuring its long-term health and reducing the chances of it breaking down.

Regular cars can be serviced by a professional mechanic, but supercars are extremely complex and highly sophisticated machines that should only be serviced by a supercar service centre like GVE London or a trained professional who has experience working on them.

The Key Differences

Conclusion

These were the differences between an MOT test and a car service. An MOT is a legal necessity—a safety test that determines if a car is safe for both the public road and the environment. A car service, on the other hand, is the choice of the car owner, and this choice must be made to keep a vehicle running in top condition. Both are essential for the long life of your vehicle and, simultaneously, the environment. GVE London offers an extensive array of services that can help keep your vehicle in its peak condition, especially if you are looking for supercar wrapping, repairs, detailing, PPF, and more.