In case, like me, you don't/didn't know:
The MOT test (or simply MOT) is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old.
this post was submitted on 27 Apr 2025
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In the US they're normally called car inspections, if the state/county even has them (yes, we're monsters over here more and more).
Why would you need to talk to anyone for an annual test? Is it typical to try and upsell a repair, like in the cheap oil change places? All the inspection centers I've ever used they want you in and out, and the most they'll try to sell is a replacement wiper or bulb because what you have won't pass. They just ask if you want to pay for it installed now to pass or come back later after you do it.
Not really. In California it's called a smog check
And many American states do not have any kind of mandatory inspection
The UK MOT covers a lot more than just emissions. The vehicle needs to have appropriate tyre tread, windscreen in safe working order, no check engine light, etc. And mileage is recorded to reduce potential for fraud. Many other things are checked.
US state inspections are all that too. Emissions is actually the first thing to expire being checked on older cars, since it becomes impossible to maintain the standards as parts age. Also new cars (3 years or less) are exempt from the emissions check/charge (in my state anyway) I guess because it's assumed they are working as designed.
Again, this is if they even do them. And while I don't agree with it, I can see some areas eliminating emissions for some reasons. But you can tell places that don't do inspections at all, because the cars on the road can be very questionable from even a novice if they are safe to be around at speed. Why basic safety issues isn't a federal thing mandated to all is beyond me.
Also new cars (3 years or less) are exempt from the emissions check/charge
This might sound obvious but: EVs and motorcycles (without modded exhausts) are also exempt from SMOG. The former for hopefully obvious reasons, the later because motorcycles pollute so much less than cars that it's not worth the bother
So those don't ever have to go in for any kind of looky-loo at all
Maybe it's state-specific, but both of them in my state still require a safety inspection (which is obviously less cost).
Looking up California, that's where the confusion on my part is. All they care about is emissions. I guess you can have bald tires and only one light working, as long as you don't emit too much CO. That's ridiculous.
In Finland the places doing the inspections only do that, they don’t offer any car repair services.
No conflict of interest.
In my memory, they will get you to try and do a brake fluid change, a transmission fluid change (if your car does those), steering fluid, expensively change your air filters, swap brake pads, pay for rotor something-or-other, bla bla bla.
Some people drop money because they don't want to NOT do something important, and they don't know any better.
I was wondering how a car could get a Message Of The Day. I use Arch btw.
I feel like I've been rickrolled.
As a vegan, I'm pretty sure he means Mushroom, Onion, Tomato.
Well now I'm hungry at 2AM. Thanks.
Hey me too! I first discovered the abbreviation when configuring a Minecraft server years ago.
Melted: Over-Toasty
?
Apparently,
The name derives from the Ministry of Transport,[5] a defunct government department, which was one of several ancestors of the current Department for Transport, but is still officially used.
My brain immediately 1984'd that to MiniTrans and then immediately imagined trans mini me from Austin Powers
This wasn't useful information to anyone but I figured at least one other poor soul needed to go on that journey with me
I work in cyber security and have gotten to work with some very talented female engineers. It’s always shocking to me the amount of disrespect some third party will display towards them. Like talking down or whatever.
What’s also entertaining is watching my coworkers absolutely destroy these ass hats.
once some middle aged lady came up to me in public and asked me for help to pick what oil she should buy at a gas station for her car. I have never driven a car in my life so I asked why she wouldnt just ask the person workin in the gas station and her answer was: "cuz shes a woman".
"personally, I like to run my camy on Peanut oil, it's got a high smoke point and fairly neutral smell."
I'm going to press (X) for Doubt.
I've been watching F1 for decades, and I can't remember there ever being a chief mechanic who is female. In addition, there was a lot of press a year ago about the first female mechanic in F1. Not chief mechanic, just mechanic.
Also, for those who don't know, the mechanics in F1 are also the pit crew. The person who decides when it's safe for the car to leave the box after the tires are changed is typically the chief mechanic. They used to be known as "the lollipop man" because they carried a sign at the end of a long pole that they used to tell the driver when to leave the pit box. These days they use a digital stoplight sort of device, so they're not literally standing out in front of the car anymore, but they're still near the front holding a signalling box. The lollipop man / chief mechanic is a very visible position in F1, and a female chief mechanic would have definitely drawn a lot of attention.
This guy says that he knows nothing about cars. Could he have been referring to someone who was an important mechanic but not the chief mechanic? Sure. Could he have meant Formula 2 or some other racing formula instead of Formula 1? Sure. Could this just be a bullshit story made up for internet points? Yes. I really don't think there has been a female chief mechanic of an F1 team yet. But, if I'm wrong, I'm certainly interested in who it is/was.
Lying? For karma??? Not on my Internet!
I've seen this loads of times and it's a really funny meme. Everyone in the know says it's not true sadly, but I'm glad OP posted it
a bullshit story made up for internet points? Yes
Uh... A BULLSHIT STORY?
At this time of the year, at this time of day, in this part of the Internet, localized entirely within this instance!?
...
May i ear it?
I knew one you formula 1 nerds would come out swinging.
It's an obvious bullshit story.
i hate this shit. when its my wife's decision to get/do something, she always starts the conversation but the person regularly turns and talks to me.
i dont know what the fuck my wife wants, im here as arm candy. you deal with her.
i had to tell the same salesman this 4 times in the same 2 minute conversation when we went to pep boys.
Your first mistake was going to Pep Boys. Maybe just me (I have a longstanding vendetta against them), but they are the worst of the auto parts chains.
Napa or O'Reilly's. AutoZone and AAP only exist for me if I can abuse their online coupons. Pep boys may as well not exist.
There's a test my job does where during a interview, if the candidate doesn't address the woman at the table or answer her questions, they don't get hired.
That experience really gave insights to those subtle red flags.
Wife and I do that now to every single service we meet. We both walk up to the counter, I don't say a god damn thing and my wife starts speaking. And if they start responding only to me, we leave.
just pull out your phone and play a videogame when they start ignoring your wife. Give them the same treatment as they give your wife and never make eye contact. Then just go “bruh my wife is talking to you, I don’t know shit” while you stare at your screen.
I used to work at a petrol station, that used to be part of an auto-shop.
I was young and could barely a thing about cars. My boss, a grown woman, had worked there for several years, knew every item we had in stock, what they are used for and all the different names people have for them.
Whenever we worked together, people would still ask me for help even though I was busy doing something else. They’d rather stand and wait for me to be free, than ask her for help.
I’d make a point out of asking my boss for help with finding the items they needed.
Years ago, I had a Jetta and while stopped at a red light someone rear ended me. Ficked the trunk up and the muffler was dragging on the ground. Insurance couldn't pay for the entire thing to be fixed but I hella needed the muffler to not drag on the street so I went to a shop to see what they could do. I just wanted a quote. They instead took the liberty of tack welding it to the frame, then tried to charge $300 for it. It took less than 10 minutes of time and used no parts. Told them I wouldn't pay more than $25 for that; I may not know cars, but I know how easy (and shitty) a tack weld is.
Her name is Mona Lisa Vito and she was in My Cousin Vinny.
What's an MOT?
British car road worthiness inspection.
LOL! I would pay to be there to see that!😀