We did have to do this once years and years ago, but after that we were changing our cars every 4 years so never had to do it again. Our current car is coming up on 6 years old and we got a notification of it having to be tested on the 10th August. We recently had it serviced as that was due and also had the garage check it over ready for the MFK so hopefully everything’s going to be fine.
But what happens if it’s not? I’m asking because we’re considering heading to the UK about a week after the test and obviously if it fails then I’m not sure how much we can drive the car until whatever is wrong gets fixed and it gets tested again. I believe that if the engine isn’t pristine clean it might fail, but would that mean we can’t drive it for a while until we book another test? If it’s something major then of course we wouldn’t be going and would get it all fixed and tested again.
I’m just a bit lost on how it all works having only done it that once so long ago.
I suppose it depends on the Kanton, but have it cleaned, even the motor and the floor. A normal cleaning is not enough.
I usually pay a mechanic to do the MFK for me; he may sign to fix any smaller problem without having to go there again. But then my car is 22 years old. Not sure if this is still the case, was Kanton Zurich.
If you had it serviced recently it’s highly unlikely that it will fail.
If there are minor issues they mark it on the form and tell you to take it to get them fixed but you’d don’t need to take it for a retest and you can still drive it. I think you either have to sign the form agreeing to do the fixes and they trust you or you have to get the form stamped and send it back once it’s done and there is a time limit.
It’s bern a while so my memory is a bit hazy but our son was told his car needed a new clutch but it didn’t actually fail the test. He had it done by our regular mechanics.
For more major stuff they give you a date for a retest and you have to get the car fixed and take it back to be tested or you will no longer be allowed to drive it.
We have never had a car fail for a dirty engine and we never wash the engine before the test.
I failed for exactly that reason once. The clown said he could not read the chassis number. There was some dirt probably from the 20 km I had to drive there in the rain/snow, cleaned it with my finger and it was visible. Too late he said…
That is the main reason why I don’t go there myself any longer. I don’t want to spend 20 years in prison for murder…
Yeah, the garage got it all ready for us, but there’s about 3 weeks/a month from the service to the test date. We’re not driving it very much to try and keep everything as clean as possible.
Define clean.
Normal driving in a modern car should cause anything that requires the engine to be cleaned.
We just take ours through the car wash (including the chassis wash) and vac it out the day before and Bob’s your uncle. Never had an issue and we’ve done it multiple times with various different cars.
Our mechanic told us that they are more suspicious if the car is ‘too clean’ as they think you’re trying to hide something and will be extra vigilant with their checks.
The car should be “sufficiently clean” so they can actually see that there are no oil leaks etc - it does not have to be pristine by any means.
If it fails such that it requires a retest, you must present it again I think within 30 days - for this reason it is a not a good idea to do the test immediately before a planned holiday
It would have to be something seriously wrong to require a retest that soon. Something with the steering, the tires/tyres or brakes for example. If you can postpone it then do so otherwise the likelihood of something so serious to fail you is quite low. And if does have such a problem you do not want to be driving to Scotland without having it fixed.
My car is only 15 years old, but I’ve been paying the mechanic to take it to the MFK from the beginning.
The mechanic is a local guy, he knows the inspectors, knows what they might be picky or laissez-faire about. He checks the car first, does what needs to be done, cleans it appropriately, and takes it to the test. The car always passes.
It’s a small price to pay for convenience, peace of mind, and the ability to remain in blissful ignorance of all things automotive.
If a retest is required and you do not present it for a retest within the required time, the car can no longer be driven at all, not even for a retest. It would then have to be driven to the MFK on garage plates.
I think they give you an option to reschedule the appointment within a certain limit, isn’t it? It should be explained in the test “summons” letter. Just reschedule after the holidays.
Otherwise what was already said - unless you have a major fault (i.e. brakes don’t work at all) you are given a time frame to fix and retest. Or for minor issues (e.g. misaligned lights) just a notice to fix
I took various old bangers with over 300,000km that I had home serviced for at least 120,000km & never had an issue. The test is very basic & nothing to worry about, once I had a blowing exhaust which I fixed by wrapping a coke cane around with a jubilee clip, the tester was amused by this ‘un Swiss’ repair, but had to pass it! When one of the headlights did not move up & down he suggested I cut the wire of the working one! I just had to sign that I would!
It’s definitely not worth paying a garage to check it over, they may do loads of unnecessary work, see what needs doing, the retest fee is less than 30 min of garage time.
Exactly - garages see a pre-MFK service as a nicer earner: do lots of work- (just in case).
Also, garages have a reputation and none of them will risk having a serviced car failing an MFK so they’ll go all out to ensure a pass - at your expense.
The one and only time I had a garage do the MFK for me, was after getting who knows what fixed in preparation. Consequently it failed the test. They were upset because they had to go back after replacing the brake booster vacuum reservoir. Most garages never check it because the MFK hardly ever checks for it. The garage told me that in all their years of doing MFK mine was the only one that failed. Broke their record.
