Guidance

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

Updated 26 February 2019

This guidance was withdrawn on

This guidance was published to help MOT testers prepare for changes made to the MOT test on 20 May 2018.

The guidance is no longer current. It is not being updated.

Check the MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles or MOT inspection manual for motorcycles for the current testing standards.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-changes-from-may-2018-guidance-for-mot-testers/lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment

Overview

This guide summarises some of the main changes to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment when the MOT changed on 20 May 2018.

This is not a full list of all the changes in this section of the manual. Check the manual if you find a defect and are not sure if you need to test the item.

1. New failures

There are new failures for:

  • daytime running lamps (DRLs) on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018
  • front fog lamps
  • reversing lamps on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009
  • light source and lamp not compatible
  • headlamp washers tested on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009

2. Daytime running lamps and front fog lamps

You need to check DRLs and front fog lamps on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018.

Record a ‘major’ defect if a DRL or fog lamp does not work.

Vehicles that need their first MOT after 3 years

You will not test these vehicles until 1 March 2021.

Vehicles that need their first MOT after one year

You’ll test these items on these vehicles from 1 March 2019.

3. Reversing lamps

You need to test reversing lamps on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009.

One or two may be fitted, but all must work.

Record a ‘major’ defect if one or more does not work.

4. Other information you need to know

Interaction of lamps

When DRLs are used as front position lamps, they might:

  • dim when rear position lamps are switched on
  • go out when headlamps or front fog lamps are switched on

End-outline marker lamps

You need to inspect end-outline marker lamps on class 4, 5, and 7 vehicles that have a width longer than 2.1 metres.

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