Winter Car Maintenance: Essential Tips to Pass Your MOT
The Cazoo editorial team
Driving your car down to the local dealership or garage for an MOT can be a bit nerve-wracking, especially during the cold winter months. While some cars breeze through with flying colours, others aren’t so fortunate, leaving drivers with a hefty repair bill that could have been avoided with some smart prep.
The combination of icy temperatures and slippery roads makes winter especially tricky for car maintenance. There are many reasons a vehicle may fail its MOT, but the good news is that drivers can take steps to increase the likelihood of passing.
The Eye-Watering Costs of Failed MOTs
Based on our data, about 2 million cars fail their MOT each winter. The cost of fixing the issues leading to failure can be burdensome, especially when holiday expenses compound the cost-of-living crisis.
At an average repair cost of £326.85 per failed vehicle, the collective cost of failed tests across the UK can reach a staggering £653.7 million each winter. Forewarned is forearmed, so it pays to know what causes MOT failures and address these issues beforehand.
The Most Common Reasons to Fail an MOT in the Winter
To highlight where drivers should focus their attention, we’ve pinpointed the most common causes of MOT failures during the winter months. Tyres, brakes, and suspension systems stand out as key areas that require care and attention to avoid MOT issues.
- Tread Depth: Measured in millimetres, tread depth ensures road grip and safe braking, especially in icy conditions. The UK legal minimum is 1.6mm, but we recommend replacing tyres at 3mm to ensure optimal stopping performance. Test your tread with a 20p coin—if you can see the outer band, consider replacing your tyres. Remember also to maintain correct tyre inflation and avoid heavy braking, acceleration, and sharp steering.
- Tyre Faults: These account for various MOT failures, including damaged or improperly fitted tyres. Keeping tabs on tyre health is essential. Inspect for visible damage, such as cracks or exposed cords, and consider replacing tyres every 20,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first.
- Brake Discs and Pads: With brakes critical to safety, it’s no surprise that brake discs and pads rank high in causes of MOT failures. Winter exacerbates wear and tear on brakes, so be proactive by not resting your foot on the brakes for too long, storing your car in a garage if possible, and employing engine braking when slowing down.
- Coil Springs: Essential for your suspension, coil springs are prone to brittleness in icy conditions. Avoid potholes when possible, and wash off road salt to protect them.
Rank | Reason for failure | % of cars that fail an MOT for this reason |
1 | Tread depth | 36.47% |
2 | Tyre faults | 23.06% |
3 | Brake discs | 20.61% |
4 | Brake pads | 18.80% |
5 | Coil spring | 16.42% |
6 | Pins and brushes | 14.62% |
7 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 12.29% |
8 | Rigid brake pipes | 12.10% |
9 | Service brake performance | 12.07% |
10 | Non-component advisories | 11.65% |
11 | Position lamp | 11.50% |
12 | Headlamp aim | 10.65% |
13 | Exhaust system | 10.63% |
14 | Ball joint | 10.62% |
15 | Headlamp | 10.35% |
16 | Engine oil leaks | 10.06% |
17 | Wipers | 9.70% |
18 | Stop lamp | 9.00% |
19 | Shock absorbers | 8.60% |
20 | Joints | 8.27% |
Where Cars Are Most (and Least) Likely to Fail a Winter MOT
Our analysis has identified the UK locations with the highest winter MOT failure rates, primarily in Scotland and the Southwest. Kirkcaldy tops the chart, with 27.75% of winter MOT tests ending in failure. Dundee (26.85%) and Truro (25.96%) follow closely.
The 20 locations where cars are most likely to fail an MOT in the winter:
| Rank | Postcode | Location (postcode area) | Failure rate |
| 1 | KY | Kirkcaldy | 27.75% |
| 2 | DD | Dundee | 26.85% |
| 3 | TR | Truro | 25.96% |
| 4 | PL | Plymouth | 25.56% |
| 5 | AB | Aberdeen | 24.66% |
| 6 | TQ | Torquay | 24.52% |
| 7 | EX | Exeter | 24.42% |
| 8 | PH | Perth | 24.15% |
| 9 | LD | Llandrindod Wells | 24.02% |
| 10 | PA | Paisley | 23.51% |
| 11 | IV | Inverness | 23.42% |
| 12 | HU | Hull | 23.34% |
| 13 | BS | Bristol | 23.30% |
| 14 | EH | Edinburgh | 23.29% |
| 15 | BA | Bath | 23.24% |
| 16 | TF | Telford | 23.11% |
| 17 | BN | Brighton | 23.01% |
| 18= | SP | Salisbury | 22.87% |
| 18= | FK | Falkirk and Stirling | 22.87% |
| 20 | NP | Newport | 22.82% |
The 20 locations where cars are least likely to fail an MOT in the winter:
Conversely, cars in London postcodes are less likely to fail. Enfield leads with a mere 12.87% failure rate, closely followed by East London at 13.32%.
| Rank | Postcode | Location (postcode area) | Failure rate |
| 1 | EN | Enfield | 12.87% |
| 2 | E | East London | 13.32% |
| 3 | RM | Romford | 14.29% |
| 4 | SE | South East London | 14.34% |
| 5 | UB | Southall | 14.66% |
| 6 | IG | Ilford | 14.73% |
| 7 | N | North London | 14.78% |
| 8 | TW | Twickenham | 14.80% |
| 9 | SL | Slough | 14.82% |
| 10 | DA | Dartford | 14.84% |
| 11 | W | West London | 14.88% |
| 12 | CR | Croydon | 14.92% |
| 13 | BR | Bromley | 15.29% |
| 14 | NW | North West London | 15.38% |
| 15 | SS | Southend-on-Sea | 15.63% |
| 16 | HA | Harrow | 16.06% |
| 17 | SM | Sutton | 16.28% |
| 18 | KT | Kingston upon Thames | 16.34% |
| 19 | CM | Chelmsford | 16.58% |
| 20 | SW | South West London | 16.67% |
Top Tips for Winter Car Maintenance
Neglecting car maintenance in winter can turn minor inconveniences into expensive headaches and MOT failures. Our winter car maintenance checklist will help ensure your vehicle stays in top form.
- Don’t Overlook Your Lights: Winter nights are long, requiring extra diligence with your car’s lights for safety and MOT compliance. Regularly check and clean lights to remove salt or grime build-up, and carry spare bulbs for emergencies.
- Check Your Exhaust: Winter causes metal to contract, making exhausts more susceptible to cracks and leaks. Listen for unusual noises and regularly inspect the system for wear.
- Inspect Fluid Levels: Cold weather thickens fluids like oil and coolant, potentially causing engine issues. Check all fluid levels frequently, and ensure the use of winter-grade options when necessary.
Aiming to pass your winter MOT involves savvy planning and staying on top of vehicle maintenance. By preparing in advance, you can keep your car running smoothly throughout the colder months and minimise MOT-related stressors and costs.
Methodology
MOTORS analysed data from the Department for Transport that provided anonymised MOT test details and results. Looking specifically at the time frame of winter 2020 and 2021 (December 20, January 21, February 21 and December 21, January 22 & February 22) they were able to reveal the most common reasons cars fail a MOT as well as the locations where failures are most likely to happen.
Calculating the estimated costs of MOT fails this winter: MOTORS analysis revealed there are an average of 2 million MOT fails each winter. With the maximum fee for a car MOT being set by the Government at £54.85 and research by Good Garage Scheme revealing the average cost of repairs for a failed MOT is £272, the total cost of a failed MOT is £326.85, on average. MOTORS therefore multiplied the number of MOT fails each winter (2 million) by the average cost of a failed MOT (£326.85) to reveal the estimated costs of MOT fails this winter.
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