Why did my Clio pass an MOT with two broken rear springs?

I bought a 2006 Renault Clio three years ago with 22,000 miles on the clock; it came with a new MoT certificate. I do about 6000 miles a year, mainly on local roads, but noticed that when I joined a motorway...

Why is VOSA not interested in faulty horns on Vauxhall Astras?

On 15 April 2011 I purchased, for my wife's use, a 2007 Astra Club 1.4 Estate from a local garage with only 15,813 miles on the clock. We like the car, but a month or so after we bought it the horn began...

Handbrake problem on a Vauxhall Meriva - Is this normal?

I have 2010 Vauxhall Meriva 1.7-litre diesel, and when parked on a gradient (and starting) the handbrake has released by itself, causing the car to roll downhill. Unless you are looking outside you are...

Why did VOSA take my boat trailer off the road after temperature-checking the brakes?

A reader recently wrote of the ridiculously heavy-handed way some VOSA inspectors check on MoT stations. Your readers might be interested in how the VOSA checks boat trailers. In July this year I was pulled...

Ratchet and ruined

My September 2010 Citroen C5 Tourer was recalled by Citroen and VOSA, in November for rectification of handbrake problem. I was instructed to take it to any authorised dealer. The work involved removing...

Perish, the thought

I was recently on a Classic Car Tour in Italy in my 2005 Morgan Roadster. While there, the rubber hose from the fuel filler cap to the fuel tank split open and allowed petrol to cascade onto a very hot...

Rulebook Britannia

Your readers might be interested in how VOSA checks up on the performance of MoT testers. They sit in a car nearby and log into the MoT testing station computer. A Vauxhall Vectra had been passed and was...

Why is VOSA initiating these changes to the MoT inspection, such as visual inspections only for suspension springs?

I just read a letter sent to Car Mechanics magazine (Oct. page 41). It was sent by an MOT tester who went on a refresher course run by VOSA. One of the things he wrote about was that it seems as though...

Category C write-off : legal matters and insurance

Please put my mind at rest, or help me out with what to do! My husband's car, a W reg Renault Megane was recently dented by another driver reversing out of a parking space into the side of his car as he...

My diesel Astra suffered engine failure during an MoT - should the testing centre cover the repair cost?

I hope you can advise me on problems with an MoT test I have had on my Astra 1.7d Merit (mileage 118,000) recently. The test was carried out and I was given a failure notice on emissions, plus a couple...