Servicing And MOT Check: Exactly What is the Difference?

When you think about vehicle maintenance and measures you can take to keep your car in roadworthy condition, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? We’d hazard a guess that you answered either a regular service or an annual MOT test.

Both are good answers, but many drivers confess that they don’t know the difference between the two – or even what goes on when they bring their car into the garage for these essential checkups. In fact, our latest research shows that as many as 59% of Britons are confused by what’s included in their MOT and service, so we thought we’d take a moment to explain the differences and also dispel a few common myths.

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What is an MOT check and what does MOT stand for?

In a recent survey we found that 85% of drivers didn’t know what the acronym MOT stood for, so what better place to start than this. Despite being defunct since 1970, MOT stands for Ministry Of Transport.

But while the Government department responsible for our transport network has gone through several identity changes in the four decades since and has been known as the Department for Transport since 2002, the name has stuck as far as the MOT test is concerned.

What is included in an MOT?

The test is an annual inspection of your vehicle that is required by law. It follows a strict checklist of criteria set out by the DVSA that determines if your vehicle is fit for purpose and in roadworthy condition. Your vehicle may require additional work in order to pass your MOT but the test itself does not include any repairs or replacement parts. Here’s a full list of what’s included in your MOT test.

The test ensures the vehicle is safe to drive but doesn’t mean the car is running as well as it could be. That’s because the MOT test covers what’s ‘safety critical’ in your vehicle, not necessarily the health of the vehicle. So while things like brakes, lights, tyres, and seatbelts are covered in the MOT test, things such as your engine are not. That’s where a service will help.

So what is a Vehicle Service?

A service is a vehicle inspection based on guidelines set out by your vehicle manufacturer rather than the DVSA; it keeps your car in a reliable, safe, and fully-functioning condition. In some ways an MOT test and service are quite similar and both include checks such as tyres, brakes, and seatbelts.

However, a service is more thorough in that it covers the vehicle health, not just the ‘safety-critical’ aspects of your vehicle. It also includes the replacement of some parts such as the engine oil in order to maintain the smooth running of your car. A full service can also include replacement spark plugs, fuel filter, and air filter (where applicable) to further improve vehicle performance. Here’s a full list of what’s included in a service and how our service packages differ.

To put it another way...

To help explain how an MOT test differs from a service, let’s imagine a mountain climber preparing to climb Mount Everest. Before setting off, you need to make sure that your body is up to the task. You visit a doctor who checks your general health to make sure you meet the minimum requirements for such a demanding expedition and have no health conditions that could put you in danger.

This is like your MOT, the test ensures your vehicle is roadworthy and meets minimum safety requirements set out by the DVSA.

With a bill of clean health, you could at this stage attempt the expedition – but that might not be such a good idea.

Instead, you visit a fitness trainer who gets you into peak physical shape to take on the climb. Without this training you may find you are exhausted and have to give up, or even seriously injure yourself in some way. The fitness trainer is like the vehicle service which prolongs the life of your car. By not servicing your vehicle, you may end up breaking down and, in a worst case scenario, doing irreparable damage to the engine.

Some common myths surrounding MOT and Servicing

As well as confusing an MOT for a service and vice versa, there are also a lot of misconceptions about what it means to have an MOT or a service carried out on your car. Here's just a few.

Why should you have an MOT and Service?

If your car is 3 or more years old, it is a legal requirement to have an in-date MOT certificate. Not only is it against the law to drive a car without an MOT test but your insurance will also become invalidated.

Having your vehicle serviced is up to the driver but here are 4 reasons why we think regular servicing is essential:

• Improved safety: wear and tear builds up over time and just because your car feels ok, that doesn’t mean all is well. Regular servicing can highlight out-of-sight issues and provide peace of mind that the vehicle is safe and roadworthy.
• Vehicle lifespan: the better you look after your car, the longer it is likely to last. Regular servicing is crucial if you intend to keep your vehicle for a long time and want to enjoy many years of trouble-free driving.
• Save money: the upfront cost of a service may be off-putting but avoiding your service can be much more costly in the long run. Regular servicing can help to identify issues early on that could later become costly and expensive to rectify. In addition, new oil and filters replaced during your service can make your car more fuel efficient.
• Increased resale value: when it comes to selling your beloved car, evidence of regular servicing or, better still, a full service history is likely to attract more buyers who will be willing to pay a higher price for such a well-maintained vehicle.

MOT and Service from Kwik Fit

Kwik Fit offers MOT testing and servicing at over 500 centres across the UK. If your MOT and car service dates are close together, why not book your MOT and service at the same time at your local Kwik Fit centre? In doing so, not only will you save time but also money as we offer a discount when you book online for combined services.

Get in touch with your local Kwik Fit centre today.

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