The MOT has lots of rules and many failures are avoidable
An MOT is an annual requirement for cars over three years old(Image: ChrisSteer via Getty Images)
A viral Reddit post has sparked discussion among UK drivers after one motorist claimed their car failed its MOT because of a small sticker on the windscreen, even though it was hidden behind the rear-view mirror and barely visible. While the story might sound surprising, experts at rental car specialists, Indigo Car Hire, say it’s actually entirely possible under UK MOT rules.
During an MOT, testers must check the driver’s visibility through the windscreen. The area swept by the wipers is divided into zones, and anything that obstructs the driver’s view, including stickers, parking permits, dashcam mounts or phone holders, can result in a failure if it exceeds certain size limits.
In the Reddit story, the driver said the tester failed the vehicle due to the sticker sitting inside the swept area of the windscreen. After removing it while in the car park, the tester rechecked the car and issued a pass certificate shortly afterwards. According to motoring experts, it’s a rule many drivers don’t realise exists.
Cherie Carter, director at Indigo Car Hire, explained: “A lot of motorists assume small stickers or permits on the windscreen don’t matter, especially if they’re tucked behind the mirror or out of the way. MOT testers have to follow very specific visibility rules.
“If anything inside the wiper sweep is considered large enough to obstruct the driver’s view, the tester is obliged to fail the vehicle. It often surprises people because the car can otherwise be perfectly roadworthy.”
The sticker issue is just one of several unexpected reasons cars fail their MOT each year. Other surprisingly common causes include empty windscreen washer bottles – if there’s no fluid to clean the screen, the car can fail – and dashboard warning lights – illuminated engine, airbag or ABS lights are automatic failures on modern vehicles.
Experts say many of these issues can be fixed relatively easily, but still catch drivers out on test day. With more than 30 million MOT tests carried out annually in the UK, small oversights like these can mean the difference between a pass and a frustrating return visit to the garage.
