With up to 46.5% of vans failing their first MOT, it's apparent there are several vans being driven that are unroadworthy. We’ve put together a quick guide on the essential tasks that will keep your van legal and safe to drive.
The majority of vans on the road in the UK are used for business purposes and treated like tools. This means they often aren’t cared for in the same way a car would be. Whether it’s your own van or a fleet van, here are some basic things you can do to keep your van legal.
Van cleaning
It sounds simple but keeping your van clean will help keep it roadworthy. Dirty windows, reflectors and registration plates could render your van a danger, as you may have reduced visibility or other drivers might not see you. Washing your van costs very little, and even makes your van more presentable to others, which is a real plus if you’ve got your business name all over it.
We’ve got a range of van cleaning products in our valeting section.
Windscreen wipers
Such an obvious one, but when did you last check your windscreen wipers? Drivers spend all their time in the van looking out the windscreen, but huge numbers of light goods vehicles fail their MOTs over worn windscreen wipers.
You’ll know your wipers need replaced when they start smearing or streaking across the windscreen. You should also check them for any splits caused by them sticking to the window in cold weather. Hard, cracked blades are also worth replacing.
With the cost of new windscreen wipers starting at just a couple of pounds, its money well spent, both for your safety and to minimise downtime caused by your van failing its MOT.
Learn how to change your windscreen wipers here.
Bulbs
An astonishing 30.5% of large vans that fail their MOTs do so because of lighting and signalling defects. As part of your weekly or monthly checks, we recommend you check all bulbs on your vehicle – it only takes a minute.
Check indicators by putting the hazard lights on and walking round the vehicle. Sidelights, headlights, and main beams should be checked to ensure no bulbs are out – you may need to switch the engine on to do this.
Checking your own rear lights can be tricky, so if you’ve got another person who can help that's great. Check the rear sidelights and brake lights separately, as many vehicles have double filament bulbs, so just checking the sidelight works isn’t enough. Check your reverse lights and fog lights at the same time.
If you don’t have an assistant to check the back, a top tip is looking at your van’s reflection against glass. Carefully reverse up to a window and then look in your mirrors to check each bulb in the glass reflection.
Another set of bulbs that are often overlooked are the side marker lamps. On the largest vans on the road, orange side lamps are required, but they often suffer damage. These are very cheap to replace, and help people see your van during dark nights.
Mirrors
Some vans are driven by multiple people, and not everyone will take care of their work vehicle. With vans being bigger than the cars many people are used to driving, many suffer damage to their wing mirrors. If it’s just the casing that's damaged, it’s not the end of the world – unless the mirror contains the side indicator! However, if the glass is damaged, it is essential you get this replaced immediately as visibility will be restricted and changing lane will be terrifying for the driver and any other motorists nearby!
Damage
Once your van is clean, check it over for any damage that could be dangerous. Cracked or missing light covers are common on vans, and a very easy fix. You can choose to replace lamps with manufacturer originals from the likes of Ford or Vauxhall, or you can shop cheaper aftermarket products which do the same job.
Bodywork is another potential MOT fail, so while the van is clean, look for any damaged bodywork and consider repairing it. Missing bumper panels may cause a failure, as will any sharp edges which could cause injury to a pedestrian.
Rust
Rust is more common on old vans than new ones, but it’s more likely to occur on a van that has suffered damage or where a poor repair has been carried out. Some models used to be synonymous with rust, but modern paint techniques have seen it become less common. The sooner you deal with any rust on your van, the less likely it is to spread. There are preventative treatments and repair kits you can buy, but if the panel is too far gone with rust you may need to replace it.
Rust can cause failure on components under your vehicle, as well as on panels which no longer do the job they were intended to do.
Tyres
With vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes when fully laden, it's essential the tyres are in good condition. They are the only part of the van making contact with the ground you’re driving on, so checking them regularly makes sense.
First, check the tread depth. Legally, you cannot drive on a tyre with less than 1.6mm of tread, so measure across the tyre and ensure they aren’t bald. Pay particular attention to the edges of the tyres, which can often wear faster than the centre of the tyre. Although the legal limit is 1.6mm, we recommend changing your tyres when they drop below 3mm, and many fleet companies will want them replaced when they reach 2mm.
Next, check the condition of the tyre; it should be free of any bulges or tears. Make sure the side wall of the tyre isn’t cracked, as this can be a sign of age.
Finally, you’ll want to check your van’s tyre pressures are set properly. Each van’s optimum tyre pressure will be different, so consult your vehicle handbook and consider the kind of load you’ll be carrying before topping up the air. Some vehicles will also have a handy guide sticker inside the fuel cap or on one of the door sills.
Replacement tyres are available at almost any garages, but if you are driving a fleet vehicle, consult with your company handbook or fleet management team to find out where to go for replacements.
Driving with illegal tyres is punishable with a fine and penalty points for the driver, so check the tyres of a van regularly, and if it’s not your own everyday van, check them before each journey.
Brakes
Braking defects are the second most common MOT failure reason, and to the untrained eye, they aren’t as easy to check as bulbs and tyres. However, there are still checks you can do to ensure your brakes are still effective.
Visually inspect the brake discs and look for any signs of corrosion or scoring. Around the outer edge of the disc, look for any pitting, where the edge of the lip is raised from the surface of the disc.
If you can see your brake pads, check there is plenty of life left on them. We sell a measurement tool which will indicate the wear on the pads.
Changing your own brake discs and pads isn’t for everyone, but we believe it’s one of the easiest jobs to do yourself, especially if you’re used to working with tools as a tradesperson. We sell jacks, wrenches, rewind tools and, of course, the discs and pads you’ll need if you do want to try it yourself.
Suspension
The third top reason for vehicles failing their MOT is their suspension, and it’s no wonder when you consider the roads we drive on.
When you drive, watch for the van pulling to one side, or any knocks or clunks. If you feel the van excessively bouncing or you notice one wheel arch gap has suddenly become smaller than the rest, you could have something wrong.
Warning lights
Since 2012, it’s been an MOT fail for cars built after July 2003 to have an engine management light or other fault light showing on the dashboard. This means that pesky light you’ve never had investigated will need to be diagnosed and the fault fixed before putting the van in for an MOT. Diagnostic machines range in cost if you want to do it yourself; from around £20 for a Bluetooth dongle that plugs into the OBD port, to several thousand pounds for a professional workshop standard machine.
Interior
Another thing to do when checking your van is to make sure the interior isn’t dangerous. Loose rubbish on the floor can easily get caught behind your pedals, preventing them from being pressed properly. Any loose paperwork or rubbish on the dashboard can also fall off when the vehicle is being driven, so make sure nothing is loose in the interior. If the van is going for an MOT, remember that hanging air fresheners or phone holders attached to certain areas of the windscreen that obstruct the driver’s view can also lead to failure.
Secure your load
When driving, it’s important the load in the cargo bay of your van is secure. Consider using ratchet straps to stop any objects moving about, and make sure the weight of your load doesn’t shift causing the vehicles handling to be difficult. Your vehicle handbook will also state what the maximum weight of your load should be – make sure you don’t exceed this, as it can cause additional wear to your vehicle, affect handling and could even land you a fine if you are stopped while driving. You could have scales fitted to your van to check the weight anytime or, if you’re unsure about a load, visit a weigh station to make sure you aren’t overweight.
Check out our recent blog on our top tips to keep your van secure for more ideas.
Admin
Finally, keep on top of your admin. The police now have powers to seize any uninsured or untaxed vehicles, with hefty recovery fees and fines going alongside. They can also tow a van with an expired MOT. Being without your van undoubtedly causes disruption to your business too. If the vehicle is shared, we recommend a sticker in the windscreen featuring all the important dates to make sure no drivers get caught out.
