car underspray prior to MOT

snowmen

does anyone know where I can get my car undersprayed prior to its MOT on Thurs this week?
I live in the glengormley area and will be down in carrickfergus later in the week too.
Can you even do it yourself - has anyone done this themselves without a ramp or is it too difficult?
Was thinking of maybe chancing it without doing the underspray too - I know if you get your MOT done anywhere else in the UK they don't say you have to do this.

trcooke

I have MOT'd both of the family cars here twice each now and have never done any of this stuff. I read a lot on this forum about people doing 'pre MOT' compulsory cleaning etc etc however I have never been told by the garage or the dvta that this is compulsory. Like I say, I've never done any of this and have now done 4 MOT's with no problems or complaints.

36square

A few weeks ago I got a car through the test even though I hadn't done a wash underneath.
The mechanic who prepared the car told me I'd need to have it done because of oil deposits but I forgot and wnet ahead with the test thinking it would fail but I'd only have to pay the re-test fee.
I hate driving up those ramps and coming down again is even worse.

DesG

I never clean my cars either inside, outside or underneath. I've had a few cheeky comments, but unless the car is so dirty, ie an inch of mud covering underneath, that they can't inspect it, that is not a reason to fail an MOT.

Boucher Rd and Lisburn are the 2 centres I use if it makes any difference

Cheers, Des.

snowmen

Going for the mot tomorrow evening.
I havent got the underspray done after reading your comments.
I go to my nearest centre which is mallusk so I will let you know what happens.

I used to get an underspray and go to a garage to get a pre-mot check done every year. Now I dont bother with the pre-mot check - if the car fails the retest is half the price of the normal test and they only look at what the car failed on.
Probably save money in the long run and when you do have to get work done at least you can go to a garage and pay, say, £25 to get your lights realigned rather than £80 for a pre-mot check most of which will be paying for saying your car is OK.

dmxdave

Wonder how many MOT inspectors are reading this?

Kataratarina

i go to the garage at sandyknowes and pay a quid and wash underneath myself! my car went through fine last sat!

ooo000ooo

There's a car wash place on the main mallusk road that does a good job for a tenner, it's on the left as you head from glengormley near the centra/jolly beggar. I had an mot test cut short a few years back because the underside wasn't clean and the inspector refused to do it. I'd do it out of courtesy for the guy that has to poke about underneath as i wouldn't like a load of dirt in my eye.

snowmen

just back and the car passed OK.
no mention that the car wasnt undersprayed so happy days.
i would imagine they wouldnt carry on with the mot unless it was really bad.

DesG

Glad to hear it.

Cheers, Des.