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Tips from the workshop

Honest, jargon-free advice to help you keep your car healthy, sail through the MOT and avoid those nasty surprise bills.

MOT Express mechanic explaining a car check to a customer
Featured · MOT Tips

10 things to check the night before your MOT (and save a fail)

Around 1 in 3 cars fail their MOT first time — and a huge chunk of those are for tiny things you could've sorted at home in five minutes. Here's our mechanic's checklist to give yourself the best shot at a pass.

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More to read

Practical know-how, written in plain English by the people who actually work on your car.

Servicing

Full vs interim service: which does your car actually need?

They sound similar but do very different jobs. Here's how to pick the right one and not pay for more than you need.

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Brakes

That squeal when you brake: what it really means

A squeak isn't always a four-figure bill. We break down the noises your brakes make and what each one is telling you.

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Seasonal

Getting your car summer-ready in 6 easy steps

From air-con regas to tyre pressures, a few small jobs now will keep you cool and safe through the warmer months.

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Money Saving

5 driving habits that quietly cost you money

Little things behind the wheel add up to big bills at the pump and the garage. Here's what to ease off on.

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Diagnostics

Engine light on? Don't panic — read this first

An amber warning light isn't always an emergency. Here's how to tell when it's "drive carefully" and when it's "pull over".

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Tyres

The 20p test: check your tyre tread in 10 seconds

You don't need fancy gauges to know if your tyres are legal. All it takes is a 20p coin and ten seconds per tyre.

2 min readRead

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