Without the MOT test, the testing shop wouldn't be able to notice faults that need costly fixing and would have to rely on the yearly servicing turning up extra work just afterwards.
One of my best friends is a retired mechanic, said MOTs were a waste of time because they have nothing to do with the overall safety of the car.
Note, what was checked 15 years ago may well be different to what’s checked now.
He refused to do them after too many scenarios like,
He mots a car, it passes the mot check but he sees that while it passed, there’s no brake pads left, it’s metal grinding against metal so he failed the mot.
Customer complained as it had passed all the mot checks, mot authorities agree with customer, friend tells mot inspector that if that’s the case, mots have nothing to do with safety and is nothing more than a money making exercise.
This scenario is incorrect, the rules for this are quite clear, it's a dangerous fault and therefore a fail:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/1-brakes#section-1-1-131.1.13. Brake linings and pads
Some brake pads have metal wear indicators so that when the pads become excessively worn the metal indicator touches the disc making a squealing sound. Other pads may have a cut, which if worn away indicates that the pad must be replaced.
An illuminated brake wear indicator is not a reason for failure.
Defect Category
(a) Brake lining or pad:
(i) worn down to wear indicator Major
(ii) worn below 1.5mm Dangerous
(b) Brake lining or pad contaminated with oil, grease etc. Major
(c) Brake lining or pad missing or incorrectly mounted Dangerous
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/introduction7. The MOT inspection manual
Although this manual is publicly available, it’s specifically written for MOT testers. It specifies the applications, procedures and standards to be used for MOT testing. You must read it with any current special notices relevant to the class or type of vehicle under test.
You should familiarise yourself with the contents of the manual and any amendments to it, including special notices which affect test procedures or standards.
Defects found during the MOT test will be categorised in one of the following groups:
minor - defects that have no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment and other minor non-compliances
major - defects that may prejudice the safety of the vehicle, have an impact on the environment, put other road users at risk or other more significant non-compliances
dangerous - defects that are a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having an impact on the environment
If a vehicle has only minor defects, it will pass its MOT inspection and a test certificate will be issued.
If a vehicle has any major or dangerous defects, it must be failed and a refusal notice issued.