What are the new MOT test rules and who is exempt?

The MOT test is conducted essentially to ensure the protection of drivers while driving on the road and to make sure your car is in the good condition to hit the road. The MOT in Warrington is supervised by the local committees and the administration itself. If you are operating a vehicle without an up-to-date MOT history, it is against the law. It will indicate your vehicle insurance is invalid, and you would not be able to refresh your tax record as well. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, many changes are executed across the country. And also, MOT rules are modified with the altered protocols. Nevertheless, lockdown means are gently being rolled back, and many car owners may inquire if anything has changed related to MOT checks.

Photo source - Ashcroft Auto Centre - Facebook Page

Take a look at the following points if you want to know the new MOT test rules:

• As per the information, MOT expiry dates were earlier extended by six months for all vehicles such as cars, vans or motorcycles, which were due for a test on or after 30 March 2020. But according to new rules, any cars, vans or motorcycles which are due for MOT tests from today, will be needed to get a test pass.

• As the rules have changed from today, those who are qualified for the six-month extension can however use that extension. It means if your vehicle was due an MOT test between 30 March and 31 July, your MOT test is still valid. Your history will show that your MOT is valid till the six months.

Get more information about new MOT test rules. We are always here for our customers to provide the best. There are many MOT Test centers where you can book your appointment and get the best customer service!

 

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Springtime Driving Hazards Everyone Should Know

The spring season is full of hidden hazards for all drivers. Some of these issues can be more serious than you think. When the season’s temperatures drop to below freezing and nights and mornings are pitch black for many drivers whilst driving to work. Safe driving habits should always be used when driving, especially during the cold winter periods where snow and ice make driving more dangerous. Safe driving is a mindful choice that every driver requires to make. The major role of safe driving involves keeping your vehicle well maintained, whether it is a new or used car or vehicle. If you are driving an older vehicle, then there are more possibilities that you could end up broken down on the side of the road in the freezing weather. Nevertheless, if you follow the maintenance program, you can make your old vehicle more reliable for driving. Taking some necessary precautions may help ensure your safety and your vehicle's reliability while driving to your next destination.

The following are six major springtime driving dangers you should know:

Getting stuck: Getting stuck in an isolated place can be a risky situation, especially when you are far away from your destination. If you get stuck someplace due to being stuck in snow or some roads that you want to travel on are sealed, you should have some basic emergency stocks such as blankets, some food items, water, flashlight, first aid box, and more in your car. Also, you need to have some other items in your vehicle such as a scraper, jumper cables and a wheel wrench and wheel jack.

Unexpected weather: Weather change can create a huge difficulty for drivers, especially during spring. The best way to be safe from unexpected weather situation is to keep your radio on so that you will be aware of the weather conditions. News and weather stations will let you know about any hazards, whether to watch out for ice, snow, rain or fog. Also, you will be informed if any roads are closed or require connections.

Black ice: Black ice is one of the most serious springtime hazards you can experience when driving. You usually can not understand you are on it until your car start sliding. It could be more dangerous if you hit car brakes. It can cause you to push even more reverse. The best protection for black ice is only to drive slow in areas where you grasp the area is frozen and it is been raining or storming. Also, you can use caution when using your brakes if you begin to slide. Apply your brakes gently if you find your car is starting to slide. You need to stay alert and keep driving slow and carefully.

Improperly inflated tyres: During the winter season, your tyres can slightly lose air pressure. So, you need to ensure that your tyres maintain good air pressure. Make sure to check your tire pressure regularly. Several gas stations allow free air, so provide some air to your tyres when needed. Besides, the tramp on your tyres helps your car from sliding over snowy and icy roads. Over time, it becomes weakened from use, so you should be informed during the winter periods of how much tread is left.

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Wet roads & hydroplaning: Melting snow, ice and spring rains can create perfect circumstances for hydroplaning, which is a dangerous driving situation. Overly wet road circumstances may make your tyres not have enough grip, possibly causing a lack of traction and handle at faster speeds. Moreover, oil deposit can combine with all that water to produce particularly slippery driving situations. So, you need to maintain safe driving habits at all times, including driving on safe tyres with optimal traction, following the speed limit, and maintaining a secure distance from vehicles ahead of you.

Wild animals: Unexpected braking can create hydroplaning conditions when the roads are slippery, and many wild animals can create the necessity for such a fast reaction. So, you should be on the lookout for wild animal crossing symbols.

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The Importance of Wheel and Tire Balancing

Tyre balancing and wheel adjustment are some of the most basic measures to have done to your vehicle regularly. Having tyre balancing and wheel alignment done can save you a lot of repair expenses in the long run. When you buy new car tyres in Warrington, you may consider doing a wheel alignment. Car owners who do not get tyre balancing done regularly could end up creating major damage to their car over time. Though, tyre balancing can be done by a certified auto technician or professional. This is not an easy task that is suggested for you to do it yourself, except you are skilled enough. The purpose that you should get your tyres balanced is to stay away from difficulties like any kind of vibrations. This situation is usually caused by a miss-match between the tyre and wheel. Many people have a perception that this is not something to bother about because they can purchase new tyres and wheels. But this will be a vital thing to deal with and think about.

 

Photo by Petr Urbanek on Unsplash

Commonly, when a car user starts to notice an unbalance in the tyres on the front side, this is because the fluctuations from the front wheels will affect directly your steering wheel. The fluctuation from the rear wheels will not be handled because you cannot remark the back tyres as surely it is more probable that they have further problems. This indicates that it is usual to have the tyres balanced regularly. Also, it is a great approach to have tyres and wheels balanced every few months or every few thousand miles. It also depends on how frequently you drive and the circumstances of the road. Now take a look at the importance of wheel and tyre balancing in detail:

Significance of tyre and wheel balancing:

• Tyre balancing is important when you purchase new tyres. Tyre balancing is done to ensure that all tyres match with wheel measurements to support the soft rolling of the tyres. If there is an inequality, the steering wheel will move back and forward while you drive, particularly when you arrive at a defined speed. 

• During the tyre balancing, the technician will fix it on a rim and apply a machine that is intended to rotate the tyres and inspect the area of inequality and how critical it is. After repairing the issues, the auto professional will rotate the tyres again use the device to ensure the tyres are well balanced. 

• Tyre imbalance can happen when the used rubber causing it wears off over time. Hence it is essential to inspect your tyres for imbalance every six months and take your car to the auto technician to ensure they are well balanced. Tyre imbalance can be the one reason for severe accidents, particularly when the car is operated at high speeds. 

• Performing a wheel alignment will help to extend the life of your new tyres. Throughout the wheel adjustment, the steering and suspension of your car will be repaired to ensure that the tyres do not wear out over time. Wheel alignment is also significant to ensure the car handles turns easily. 

• Wheel alignment is required because when you drive, your car's steering and suspension arrangements are driven making the ball and socket joints, bushings and other mechanical joints to fade out. This situation causes the alignment to divert from the manufacturer's terms. If your wheel alignment is not done, your car will have bad cornering and handling that also makes the tyres fade out. 

• A wheel alignment includes three types such as camber, toe and caster. The camber side covers whether the top of the tyre is turning outward or inward because of old ball links or critically worn out wheel applications. The toe side influences the vehicle's tyre and steering wheel. If the angle is too inside or outside, your tyres will start to fade out fast and the steering wheel will seem disorganised. The last is caster angle that is liable for the steering wheel reverting to its original state when you make a turn.

Tyre balancing and wheel alignment can be done together. These settings will help you to evade spending money on purchasing new tyres frequently. However, purchasing new tyres will prevent dangerous accidents and improve the service life of your car. Simply remember to visit a reputed auto repair garage and get a technician who is experienced and equipped to provide these services.

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Tips to Help You Through a Car Breakdown

A breakdown is the most uncomfortable situation for all drivers, it can stress you out and create unnecessary issues on the road, especially if you are driving late at night. However, if you are a driver as well as a car owner, you must be informed of the basic suggestions and precautions for a car breakdown. Car breakdown recovery in Warrington is not considered as the requirement by many people. However, it is an imperative necessity for the people who travel frequently and for those who own a car. We all understand that the number of old cars is especially rising the cases of breakdown. As it is said that prevention is better than the cure, we need to be prepared for this kind of situations. The most reliable way to keep your car safe from a break down is maintaining it on the most reliable and healthy condition as much as possible. This indicates you need to provide your car with regular checks and ensure that the proper servicing includes everything. There are some safety measures that can help you to manage a car breakdown situation. This way, you will be able to reduce the chances of having a breakdown. Have a look:

 

Frequent battery checks: Your car requires a good working battery, so you need to check your car battery frequently to avoid needlessly wasting it if your car is turned off. It is important to give simple checks like turning your lights off including inside and outside lights of the car. Although batteries are manufactured to be much more effective and long-lasting these days, weather conditions can still considerably influence the performance of your car's battery. Throughout cold days, there is a higher chance that your car battery might get discharged and it will create problems for you to start your engine again. So, it is best to regularly check your car battery so that you can ensure that it is doing well and it is able to transfer the charge. Asides from this, many people believe that the car battery gets reviewed at car's MOT test, but this is usually not enough, so it is good to check your car battery frequently, especially before a long journey.

 

 

Check your car’s tyres: Your tyres must be checked. It is good to take a look at all tyres before you get into your car. Avoid rubbing the tyres on the edge when parking your car as it can destroy the sidewalls of your tyres. Also, this can then create a tyre puncture which can cause more difficulties. Make sure that your tyres are stretched correctly to the correct pressure for a good drive.

 

Check filters and sensors: It is vital to clean the filters and ensure that your car's sensors are working well. It is most satisfying to ensure that there is no dirt, dust, clogs, vapour lock and captured moisture in the flaming filters of your car.

 

Avoid fixing the car breakdown yourself: If you are a trained car mechanic, then it is fine to fix the problem yourself. Otherwise, you should not attempt repairing the car yourself. Instead of this, you can call a car breakdown recovery service to help you out.

 

Car breakdown cover: Whether you are travelling to a long trip on monthly basis by your own vehicle or you drive the car daily from your house to office, it is possible that you face a breakdown while travelling. It will be more dangerous if you are far away from your residence. You can avoid this condition by having car breakdown cover insurance. If you have breakdown cover support, you and your car will be protected in case of any breakdown.

 

Besides the above tips, there are many other safety tips such as keep your mobile phone charged, call for help, keep a road-map in your car, and more that you need to keep in mind.

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Car Damaging Habits That Are Hurting Your Car

All car owners want to keep their car in a good condition. People take it to the garage to get cleaned and detailed, take care of repairs, and get the oil replaced. Remembering to take your car to the garage for maintenance and repairs can be very helpful as it will help you to detect the potential damages. Doing so will save you money in major car repairs and save your time. It is necessary to keep proper care of your vehicle. However, there are some common things that most people do that really may destroy their car, or hit it thoroughly before its time. These habits will eventually damage your car.

 

 

There are some common habits things that can damage your car, such as crashing it. Take a look:

 

Ignoring oil change: Many people have a habit of ignoring or forget when their oil change is due, this habit can harm their car the longer they go without changing the oil. Changing the oil is vital when you are supposed to do, it will help you keep your vehicle working and in good health. According to your car type or model, you can use different types of oil. Most oil needs to be replaced about every 5,000 miles, but some manufactured oils don't require to be changed till about 10,000 miles. If people don't get their oil changed frequently, they are reducing the life of their engine.

 

Shifting before your car stops: Changing your gears without actually occurring can be very dangerous to your car. People who have automatic cars shift from reverse to drive without coming to an absolute stop. This move can destroy the transmission of your car because of the wrong reversing the movement of the fluid in the vehicle. The simple solution for this is to help your car out by getting to a complete stop before shifting gears. If you choose to drive with your grip on the gear change, it can create lasting harm to the gears. If you put your hand on the gear change, it generates pressure on the gear selector and gearbox. If you continue doing this, you will destroy the gearbox creating crunching and scraping sounds when shifting.

 

Cleaning engine: Many people desire to have a clean engine to maintain a clean vehicle. Keep in mind that a dirty engine that works well is much more useful than a clean engine that does not work well at all. If you observe that your car's engine is being influenced by dirt, take it into your neighbourhood auto repair shop to check it out. There are many auto repairs shops and Car Body Repairs in Warrington. It is advised don't attempt to repair the difficulty on your own because if your water line has much pressure, it can create a lot of hurt to your engine and remove important engine parts to it.

 

Forgetting to apply the parking brake: Not applying a parking brake, particularly on an approach, puts huge pressure on your car and on its transmission. Emergency brakes are helpful in several situations. It is good using your parking brake every time you park your vehicle.

 

Ignoring your gas level: It is important to pay attention to your gas level. It is recommended to never top off your container when filling up. Many gas plants have a purifying system that helps prevent gas vapours from vanishing into the air. So, people need to change bad habits now so they do not cause more damage to their car. Many times, we do these things without understanding them. Make good choices and keep in mind that taking care of your car is your most reliable way to save money on significant car repairs

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