Windscreens, or windshields as they are called in most of North America, have been around as long as cars themselves. Originally, car windscreens were made from just the same sort of glass as early 20th century motorists had in their car windows. Over the years, the design of windscreens has changed considerably, and now toughened safety glass is used as standard. The windscreen is one of the most important aspects of the MOT checks as the inspector has to be absolutely sure that you can see through it properly. There are however plenty of things which drivers regularly do which could lead to a MOT failure.
Tinted Windscreen
They were all the rage in the 80s, and some drivers still like the look of heavily tinted windows. Tinted windows aren’t illegal, but there are restrictions on the level of tinting allowed on the windscreen, and the front windows on both sides. The law states that for the windscreen and front windows, at least 70% of light must be able to pass through the windows. Any level of tinted film added to the window is going to take your windows under that 70% limit. If you are stopped by the police, you will probably be given a vehicle defect notice. This isn’t a fine or points on your licence, it’s just an instruction to fix your windows by pulling off the film as soon as possible. Similarly, a mechanic will not be able to pass your vehicle if there are tinted films on the window.
Cracks and Chips
Stone chips and cracks in the windscreen are often unavoidable, as they’re thrown up off the road by the traffic in front as you are driving along. The exact location of the chip or crack in your windscreen will determine whether the car passes the MOT or not. The testing guidelines state that there can be no chips or cracks larger than 10mm in the direct line of vision of the driver, or 40mm elsewhere on the windscreen. The problem with stone chips and cracks is that they can get much bigger, very quickly. This is especially an issue in cold weather due to water expansion when it freezes. The good news is that chips and small cracks can usually be repaired rather than replacing the entire sheet of glass. Many insurance policies will cover the cost of chip repair in the windscreen. If not, expect to pay around £200 for someone to come to you and repair the chip. If you need a whole new windscreen, the cost will depend very much on the make and model of your car.
Stickers and Obstructions
Vehicles have also been known to fail their MOT because there are just too many stickers and other items on the windscreen. This is particularly a problem with satellite navigation equipment which fixes onto the windscreen with a suction cup, or other technology like dash cams. Drivers are allowed to use this sort of tech in their cars, as long as the units are positioned in a way so that the view is not obstructed. If you are using a satnav, then get rid of any stickers and other objects before taking your car in for the MOT. If you need a parking permit or other type of sticker for work, then use the spot at the bottom left of the windscreen, where the old-style tax disc used to go. That’s the spot which will cause least obstruction to your view when driving. If you can’t bear to part with your car stickers, use them on the rear windscreen rather than at the front.
Washers and Fluid
During the MOT the mechanic will also check to make sure that your windscreen washers are working properly. This means turning the engine on and testing the jets to make sure that fluid comes out onto the glass. The MOT doesn’t stipulate what type of liquid you should be using in the windscreen wash reservoir. Plain water will do the job, but freezes readily during the winter months, and isn’t great at removing grease and dirt from the glass either. A budget-busting tip is often to add washing up liquid or other domestic cleaning products, but this isn’t great advice either. All of the large supermarkets and car superstores will sell a range of windscreen wash fluids. There’s no need to buy the top of the range, a mid-market fluid will work just as well. For winter motoring, try to choose a windscreen wash which will stay liquid to low temperatures. If your jets are faulty or blocked, get them seen to before the MOT date.
Before you take your car to the garage for its MOT, check the levels of windscreen wash in the reservoir. It doesn’t have to be full to the brim, but should be around half full. It’s best to get into the habit of topping up your windscreen wash on a weekly basis. Look also at the condition of the wiper blades. They should remove the water clearly and efficiently from the windscreen. If the blades leave smears, or stick as blades move, it’s probably time to get them replaced. This isn’t a big job, and a new set of wiper blades can cost as little as £20.
Getting Problems Fixed
If you have identified problems with your windscreen before the MOT, this gives you the opportunity to put things right first. If you know you need work done, you can take your time finding the best price for the job rather than being forced into making a decision on the spot when you get that call saying your car has failed the MOT. If your car does fail, then have the repair done and then put the car back through a partial re-test. This is cheaper than another full test, and will just look at the items which failed the first time. Take advice from your mechanic if you are not sure whether your windscreen is up to scratch.
