Motorists advised to drive down MOT costs by maintaining a safe car

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has today issued advice on how motorists can keep their cars safe on the road, along with tips on how you can save time and money on an MOT.

Of the 29.5 million MOTs carried out in 2015/16, 37% of car tests initially resulted in a fail. Many can be due to a simple, avoidable reason. Some of the fails you can sort yourself, others will need a professional, but either way, sorting it before the test is usually cheaper.

Full info can be found in our Cheap MOTs guide, but in a nutshell:

• Busted lights are the cause of an MOT failure 19% of the time. If one of your lights is out you can usually buy a new bulb and replace it for a couple of quid.

• Dodgy suspension will cost you in an MOT 13% of the time. To see if the shock absorbers have gone, quickly apply your weight to each corner of the car then release. It should quickly settle back.

• Issues with a car's tyres trigger an MOT failure 8% of the time. You should regularly check the air pressure and tread of your tyres.

Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA chief executive, says: "Carrying out regular checks on lights and tyres will help you to stay safe and legal, as well as saving you time and money when your car's MOT is due."