Drivers warned over £109 charge for common MOT mirror mistake

Drivers are being warned not to fall foul of a mirror problem which could cost you a £109 charge on your MOT.

It’s an annual £54.85 test cost for every driver in the UK with a car older than three years; and it can even yield more outgoings when your mechanic discovers problems.

The MOT is UK law from the DVLA to monitor and assess the general safety and roadworthiness of vehicles in Britain, protecting everyone else on the roads from exhausts falling off or smashed headlights not being visible in the dark.

But Chris Jevons, Commercial Director at JTAPE* is sharing some advice on essential mirror checks that drivers should be doing to be safe on the roads, some of which may even potentially save some drivers from MOT failure which could cost you £109 - £54.85 for your failed MOT and another £54.85 again to re-test it once fixed.

JTAPE explained how “Unsecured, broken or improperly adjusted car mirrors can not only make it difficult for drivers to see their blind spots properly, but they can also lead to other dangers and MOT failure in some cases. To make sure you avoid these mistakes when driving and do your bit to keep you and other drivers safe, here are some of the most common car mirror mishaps to watch out for.

1. Mirrors not being properly secured

Whether your car mirror took a knock recently or the glass has been replaced, making sure the mirror is properly secured is essential. If your car mirror becomes damaged, lost, or ineffective, these defects could land you with an MOT failure. Because of this, it’s worth checking your mirrors every few months, especially if you think they might’ve been hit. Strong mounting tape can be used to help secure a loose or mirror and keep it in place.

2. Improperly adjusted mirrors

It goes without saying that if your mirrors aren’t adjusted properly, you won’t be able to see most of your blind spots when driving. While this won’t necessarily mean that you’ll fail an MOT since adjustments are different for everybody, broken mechanisms for adjusting your mirrors could lead to a failure. If the mechanisms don’t work, this could mean that maximum visibility isn’t possible which can be dangerous when changing lanes, turning corners and looking for hazards.

3. Broken mirror indicator lights

If your car has mirror indicator lights, these must be functioning properly otherwise you could fail an MOT. This is because a malfunction that causes the light to flash continuously or not flash at all could be seen as misleading other drivers who might be looking at the lights to know when you’re changing direction. You can check whether yours are working properly by looking at the reflection of the indicator lights when parked.”