New MOT rules soon here.

nicklouse

The main changes
Electronic parking brake
Electronic parking brake controls are now included and must be present and not inappropriately repaired or modified - repair obviously likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or modification that has seriously weakened the component.

(The 'inappropriately repaired or modified' check is to be applied to a wide range of systems and components throughout the vehicle.)

The car will fail if an Electronic Parking Brake warning lamp is illuminated to indicate a malfunction.

Electronic Stability Control
Checks of antilock brakes will be extended to include Electronic Stability Control if fitted. The tester will check for the presence and correct operation of the ESC malfunction warning light together with looking for obviously missing, excessively damaged or inappropriately repaired or modified components and electrical wiring, as well as an ESC switch missing, insecure or faulty.

Warning lights
As well as electronic parking brake and electronic stability control warning lights (where fitted) the MOT test will also include checks for the correct function of the following, where fitted;

Headlight main beam warning light
Electronic power steering warning light
Brake fluid level warning light
Seat belt pre-tensioner warning light
Steering & suspension
The new test includes a check on the presence and correct function of the steering lock where fitted as standard.

Missing, or split/damaged dust covers on steering and suspension ball-joints will result in failure if they will allow dirt to enter the joint.

Power steering fluid level must be above the minimum level indicated on the reservoir.

Lighting
Products on the lens or light source that obviously reduce the light's intensity or change its colour will become a reason for failure – applies to front/rear position lamps, registration plate lamps, stop lamps, rear fog and direction indicators,

Headlight requirements are updated to take account of the particular characteristics of High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

HID headlights can cause dazzle if they are dirty or aimed too high, so they are generally (if light output exceeds 2000 lumens) fitted in conjunction with headlamp cleaning and levelling systems. Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted the tester will switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

The car will fail if a headlamp levelling or cleaning device is inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

If a headlamp bulb is not seated correctly the resulting beam pattern will be indistinct and this will result in a test fail.

Electrical wiring and battery
An insecure battery will be a reason for failure as will a battery that is leaking electrolyte.

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Trailer/caravan electrical socket
There will be a basic security/damage check of 7-pin sockets,

13-pin sockets will be subject to a full electrical connectivity check and incorrectly connected or inoperative circuits will result in failure.

Tyres
Tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction.

Supplementary restraints
The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure.

Seatbelt load limiters that are missing where fitted as standard or folding webbing type limiters that have obviously deployed are also reasons for failure.

The vehicle will also fail if a Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) malfunction indicator lamp indicates a system malfunction.

Speedometer
The car will fail if a speedometer is not fitted, is incomplete, inoperative, has a dial glass broken/missing or cannot be illuminated.

Seats
It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors
A rear door that cannot be opened from the outside using the relevant control is a new reason for failure.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

Towbars
Inappropriate repair or modification to the towbar assembly will be a reason for failure if judged likely to affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer.

Exhaust
A catalytic convertor fitted as original equipment but missing will be a reason for failure.

Fuel system
Damaged or chafed fuel pipes will result in failure.

(updated 5 March 2013)

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ca ... -2012.html

Clank

Yowsers. That'll catch a few people out.

Cheers for the update!

tlw1

Great news - I work in the aftermarket car industry

allthegearnoidea

all that to prove your cars roadworthy for a day!
i got caught on the arb link boots last year, if it put it n 7 days earlier it would ave passed!! (mot's mid jan)

Northwind

Ooh, missing cats is nasty, that'll catch a lot of bikes.

Actually it'll catch my car as well if they notice... But you can't see it's missing and it still passes the emissions tests so doubt they will. Hope not, because **** refitting it frankly, I don't have enough skin on my knuckles or elbows in my arms.

HID headlights seems to suggest that well-fitted aftermarket kits without washers and levellers will officially pass now? (Mine passed 3 tests even though most folks reckon it shouldn't have... But then it was better than most. test rules always seemed vague)

The ESC rules... Seems like removing the system entirely would be a fail? Seems a bit off that, since it's not mandatory, I'd have thought that'd be "if present must work"

mrmonkfinger

How is the "missing cat" thing going to be tested? Just based on emissions?

allthegearnoidea

i'd assume that there would be a physical check to see its there and also the emissions check???

Northwind

Very hard to get to a lot of them (half the job of removing mine was removing covers and heatshields and scuttles). Some will show up in emissions testing I suppose.

pete_s

Are these new tests going to be for cars built after a certain year only or across the board?

97th choice

Got an mot next week, everything checked out ok but I have an egr warning light on, am I doomed?

Wardy74

I'm a bit worried about the insecure items. Do they need a psychological exam or can you get away with them not being UN-secure.