Mechanic warns drivers one item on car windscreen could stop you passing MOTs

An experienced mechanic has spoken about curious MOT failures and how drivers can avoid them, including a surprising item on your windscreen that could cause an issue

The MOT is a mandatory test that all cars over three-years-old have to go through each year. Whilst some cars are MOT exempt, others have to be tested after just one year on the road.

For most, however, it is a once a year process, but not one without anxiety attached to it as its where drivers find out if their car is roadworthy or not. Inevitably, some cars fail, and when they fail their problems need to be fixed.

Speaking to us about the issue, regional network manager and experienced mechanic for Kwik Fit, Martin Delahunty shared one unusual reason cars fail their MOTs, and it’s nothing to do with the car’s mechanical platform.

Martin, an experienced technician, warned that drivers should be careful of where they put stickers on the inside of their cars, urging them not to put them in the wrong place on the windscreen.

Martin said that when windscreen wipers are in operation, they move through a place called the ‘swept area’; this is the area cleaned by the wipers. He said that if something is placed in that area, it could cause an MOT failure.

When asked about some of the weirdest reasons for an MOT failure, he said: “When they go over to these big shows and they get the massive stickers for the carpark, they decide to put it right in the middle of the passenger’s side window so that when the wiper’s on, it’s going over it.

“So you have a swept area as we call it which is the area that your wipers control. If anything’s in that section it can be deemed as a failure on an MOT.”

However, he added that MOT testers can remove the items, but that they need to inform the driver of them doing so. He explained: “MOT testers can remove items such as a sat nav or air fresheners that obstruct the driver’s view of the road, but need to inform the driver they have done so.

“In some cases, MOT testers may be unwilling to remove sat navs or dash cams if they feel there is a risk of damaging either the item or the windscreen. We would advise drivers to not position sat navs or dash cams in the swept area.”

Moreoever, it’s not just stickers that can cause problems, with Martin adding: “You could have rosary beads hanging from the rear view mirror, you could have a dash cam or a sat nav right in the middle of the windscreen. They’re all failures.”

Martin isn’t the only mechanic to have commented on MOT failures in Britain, with CEO of motoring experts at ClickMechanic Andrew Jervis, telling the Express that several problems had repeatedly been flagged by some testers.

He said: “The most common MOT failures remain surprisingly basic. According to DVSA data, the leading cause of initial MOT failure is lighting and electrical faults, accounting for around 11% of failures.

“That’s often something as simple as a blown bulb or misaligned headlamp – but many drivers now rely entirely on dashboard warnings, and not all cars are equipped to alert them when a bulb fails.”

Andrew also said that as well as issues with lighting, car suspension failures were also on the increase. He explained: “While heavier vehicles and the rise of SUVs play a role, worsening road conditions and pothole damage are a major contributing factor.

“Local authority repair budgets have been under sustained pressure, and drivers are paying the price through repeated suspension damage.”