Common car accessory could cause drivers to fail MOT test - it's a 'safety hazard'
Motorists may be at risk of failing their 2024 MOT test this spring by not removing one simple object from their vehicle.
Drivers could fail their annual MOT exam if they use one of the most common car accessories on the road, according to experts.
Specialists at motor firm InsureDaily.co.uk have warned that simply having an air freshener inside the interior could dramatically backfire.
They warn the simple fragrance product could block motorists' view of the road and be described as a hazard.
This could breach strict MOT safety rules and see drivers issued a fail certificate by DVSA testers within minutes.
Failing an MOT test could then have disastrous consequences with vehicles effectively banned from the roads until another exam is completed and passed.
InsureDaily.co.uk explained: “Drivers may not even notice their hanging air fresheners, but the MOT test, however, deems these as a fault.
“Any objects dangling from the rear-view mirror, including car air fresheners, pose a potential obscuring of the driver's view and are therefore considered safety hazards during the test.”
They commented: “You need complete visibility whilst driving so be sure to remove any fluffy dice or novelty air fresheners that might earn you a failure on your MOT test.”
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They accepted that air fresheners can be a “trivial” reason to not pass but highlighted the possible safety risks.
They warned: “Anything in the dash and windshield area that could act as a distraction from the view of the road is enough to warrant a fail — including, but not limited to: air fresheners, poorly positioned sat navs, car window stickers, and other decorations.”
Previous data from August 2020 revealed that a staggering 72 percent of MOT failures were down to the driver’s view.
This was only just behind tyre problems which made up 7.7 percent of problems and brake issues with 10 percent of failures.
Paul Daly, Director of InsureDaily.co.uk added: “The MOT test is comprehensive and covers a wide range of vehicle aspects, not just the major mechanical components.”