‘I’m a mechanic - drivers can pass MOT tests with damage due to loophole’
A top mechanic has suggested motorists may be able to pass their MOT test despite damage to one of the most important features of any vehicle.
A leading car mechanic has revealed motorists can still pass their annual MOT test even with sizeable car damage to a key part.
Craig, a mechanic at Walsall Wood Tyre and Service claimed road users could still secure a pass certificate with a cracked windscreen due to a simple loophole.
The DVSA’s MOT inspection manual states that windscreen Zone A must not have any cracks larger than 10mm in diameter.
There should also be less than 40mm of damage in the remainder of the windscreen’s swept area.
But, Craig suggested that motorists could avoid failing their test as long as the damage isn’t located in the centre of the windscreen.
He made the revelation on the garage’s TikTok channel where they share a range of top motoring secrets.
Speaking on @walsallwood_tyre, Craig said: “OK so a lot of people still have the misconception of the old 10mm and 40mm rule. Which does still apply but there’s an amendment or an addition to this in the manual.
“So we can see we are still talking about Zone A being in the driver's view and Zone B being anywhere in the swept area and we still have the old rule of 10mm of damage in Zone A and 40mm of damage in Zone B would constitute to the point where it starts to be considered a failure.
“However, we have this wording here, ‘failure for damage is only justified if the damage significantly affects the driver’s view of the road’.
DON'T MISS
DVSA issues fresh MOT warning to impact all UK driver after major rule change [LATEST]
Popular prestige brand ranked most likely to pass MOT despite many being old [ANALYSIS]
Thousands push back at MOT test changes which may punish the elderly [COMMENT]
“And it goes on to say that you don't need to make an assessment about how tall or short the driver would be. So yes you can have damage more than 10mm. As long as it's not seriously affecting the driver's view of the road.
“I.E. it's right up here on the windscreen and it's just blocking your view of the sky or it's right down here and it's only blocking your view of your bonnet. You're not going to fail it for that.
“The same applies obviously for Zone B as well. Damage greater than 40mm in Zone B could be considered a fail but only if it’s seriously affecting the driver's view of the road.
“So by technical rights, you can have a crack that goes from one end of your windscreen right across the other end of the windscreen. As long as it's not actually affecting the view of the road it will only be a pass and advise.”
Zone A is considered the space directly located in front of the driver’s steering wheel.
If the damage is located in the centre of the glass, getting it repaired should be enough to pass without needing a replacement.
The DVSA’s MOT inspection manual adds: "Repaired windscreens must be judged solely on whether the repair interferes with vision.
“An ‘invisible’ or barely detectable repair, finished flush with the surrounding glass, does not count as damage.”
