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MOT Tester study notes

Inspection Manual — Cars (Group B)

The class 3, 4, 5 and 7 inspection manual: vehicle identification, steering, glazing, tyres, suspension, fuel system, towing equipment and more.

What this topic covers

The class 3, 4, 5 and 7 inspection manual: vehicle identification, steering, glazing, tyres, suspension, fuel system, towing equipment and more. The full MOT Tester Annual Assessment app contains 60 questions on this topic, each referenced to its section of the DVSA manual.

Worked examples

Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.

Example 1

A car is presented and its VIN cannot be found anywhere on the vehicle. What is your action?

A. Major ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Pass
D. Dangerous

Explanation: A VIN missing or that cannot be found is Major, as are an incomplete, illegible or obviously falsified VIN and more than one different VIN displayed. Minor and Dangerous are not used in this section. Passing would leave the vehicle unidentifiable against its record. (Section 0.2, defect (a))

Example 2

The steering gear casing is not properly attached, but the attachment is not dangerously loose and there is no relative movement to the chassis. What is your action?

A. Pass
B. Minor
C. Major ✓ correct
D. Dangerous

Explanation: A steering gear casing not properly attached is Major. It becomes Dangerous once the retaining devices are dangerously loose or there is relative movement to the chassis, which the question excludes. Minor is not used in this section. (Section 2.1.2, defects (a)(i) and (a)(ii))

Example 3

The power steering fluid reservoir on a car is found to be completely empty. What is your action?

A. Major ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Pass
D. Dangerous

Explanation: An empty power steering fluid reservoir is Major, while fluid merely below the minimum mark is Minor. The distinction is whether any fluid remains. Passing would ignore a system with no fluid in it. (Section 2.1.5, defects (b)(i) and (b)(ii))

Example 4

A windscreen is damaged to the extent that visibility through the swept area is seriously affected. What is your action?

A. Pass
B. Minor
C. Dangerous ✓ correct
D. Major

Explanation: A windscreen in such a condition that visibility through the swept area is seriously reduced is Dangerous. Damage affecting the driver's view without reaching that level is Major, and damage or discolouration not adversely affecting the view is Minor. (Section 3.2, defects (c)(i) and (c)(ii))

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